SHORT TERM NATIONAL INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANCY: Conducting a Situation Analysis of Children and Adolescents in Türkiye

Consultant Programme & Policy Monitoring & Evaluation

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, education

UNICEF globally considers the Situation Analysis (SitAn) of children’s rights and well-being in a country as a flagship product for informing policy dialogue, partnering and interventions to improve children’s lives. The Situation Analysis (the SitAn) is an assessment and analysis of the country situation, with respect to children's rights and critical issues affecting their realisation. The SitAn is a crucial part of the child rights monitoring (CRM) framework and represents a key UNICEF’s programmatic output that helps focus on knowledge gaps related to inequities and child deprivations. The SitAn reflects UNICEF’s role to urge all levels of government and key stakeholders to use the Convention on the Rights of the Child as a guiding mechanism in policy making and legislation to:

• Develop a comprehensive national agenda.
• Develop permanent bodies or mechanisms to promote coordination, monitoring and evaluation of activities throughout all sectors of government.
• Ensure that all legislation is fully compatible with the Convention and, if applicable the Optional Protocols, by incorporating the provisions into domestic law or ensuring that they take precedence in cases of conflict with national legislation.
• Make children visible in policy development processes throughout government by introducing child impact assessments.
• Analyse government spending to determine the portion of public funds spent on children and to ensure that these resources are being used effectively.
• Ensure that sufficient data are collected and used to improve the situation of all children in each jurisdiction.
• Raise awareness and disseminate information on the Convention and the Optional Protocols by providing training to all those involved in government policymaking and working with or for children.
• Involve civil society – including children themselves – in the process of implementing and raising awareness of child rights.

The New Country Programme Document (CPD) is transitioning into a more agile phase where it is necessary to deepen the link between humanitarian and development nexus to fulfil the needs of the most vulnerable populations (Migrants, Refuges, disability, Roman population etc).

The latest UNICEF Türkiye SitAn is from 2019, and since then, changes in socio-economic and political contexts have occurred. Despite overall positive trends, disparities in child development persist, worsened by the February 6th, 2023 earthquakes, affecting 11 provinces, with significant human and economic impact. Child population in the affected areas is estimated to be 5.6 million (above %36), which is significantly higher than the Türkiye average of % 26.5.

*Please see the attached ToR for further information

How can you make a difference?

The main purpose of this assignment is to conduct a human-rights based and equity-focused Situation Analysis of children and adolescents with respect to the realisation of children’s and adolescents’ rights. The Analysis should be objective and verifiable and is expected to be used by all partners and stakeholders in the country in addressing key challenges preventing children and adolescents, especially the most disadvantaged, from enjoying their rights ensured in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international obligations of the country.

The SitAn report aims to identify strategic priorities, reduce disparities, and address vulnerabilities in the country. It contributes to shaping the national development agenda and accelerating the achievement of development goals for children and adolescents, including SDGs.

The SitAn is expected to present robust evidence and highlight opportunities for socially inclusive development. It should unpack and examine the bottlenecks to realisation of child rights, as well as the interrelated roles of duty-bearer institutions. Besides presenting an analysis of why inequities exist, it should also present contextualised recommendations and strategies on what could be done by key stakeholders to attain/ sustain inclusive social development that guarantees equal inclusion and participation of all groups of children and adolescents. The analysis should follow youth-led participatory action which will address different issues that affects them in diverse contexts and setting. By having a strong equity focus, the SitAn should shed light on the situation of children and young people who are most deprived, left invisible or uncounted for.

The main objectives of a rights- based, equity focused SitAn in Türkiye are the following:

• Develop a deep understanding of the situation of children and adolescents (including relevant groups of young people in particularly vulnerable situations) by analysing the policies and strategies, social and economic trends affecting them (data disaggregated by age, gender, urban/rural, ethnicity, socio-economic status and other relevant factors);
• Identify and analyse the barriers and bottlenecks that prevent children and especially the most disadvantaged children and families from benefiting from social services across sectors and enjoying their rights; draft strategies and recommendations on how the bottlenecks and barriers can be removed.
• Provide national government partners with comprehensive equity-sensitive and evidence-based analysis on children and adolescents for result-based decision-making;
• Provide essential information to non-government partners (NGOs, community-based organisations, civil society, media and business sector) to be used in their planning and interventions to address the most urgent issues affecting children and adolescents;
• Contribute to the (re)formulation of key national strategies so that the priorities for the most disadvantaged children and adolescents are integrated into the socio-economic development agenda;
• Identify critical data gaps and contribute to the generation of evidence that can improve the monitoring of the rights of children and adolescents, especially the most vulnerable groups;
• Assess the current or potential presence of emergency risks (disaster risks and other potential shocks); the likelihood of their occurrence, the underlying vulnerabilities and the capacities and coping mechanisms of families, communities and local and national institutions;
• Analyse to what extent there is an enabling environment for the realisation of the rights of all children and adolescents, and analyse how evidence-based interventions and services needed to address deprivations are prioritised in national policies, laws, strategies, plans and budgets;
• Capture new or emerging area of concerns regarding children and adolescents, such as environmental issues affecting them, mental health issues etc.;
• Analyse the role/impact of business sector on child and adolescents’ rights fulfilment as well as public financial management.
• Identify issues and possible solutions about the lives and priorities of adolescents through youth-led participatory action to advocate for changes based on evidence and improve their well-being.

The process of developing the Situation Analysis anticipates engagement with the government and key stakeholders, including children and young people. It serves as an opportunity to promote meaningful dialogue between the main child rights actors in the country on children’s and adolescents’ issues.

Deliverables:

No.

Key Tasks

Deliverables

Timeline

Payment

1

Primary data collection from all relevant stakeholders (Government, CSOs, UN agencies and others)

Support preparation and coordination interview questions. Compile and share raw data using hard and softcopy to the team leader and UNICEF TCO

10 working days

40% of the total consultancy fee

2

Primary data collection through the adolescent participation (age-specific focus groups that separates younger participants (ages 13-17) from older participants (age 17-24). The group will be centred on themes that will be identified during the inception phase in order to facilitate group comfort and take a strengths-based approach.

Data collection tool and facilitation of the adolescent engagement sessions including travel to Istanbul and Gaziantep for the adolescent participation session

6 working days (including travel dates)

30% of the total consultancy fee

3

Draft Report of the adolescent engagement sessions

Draft report adolescent participation engagement prepared and shared with UNICEF TCO and the team leader

5 working days

10% of the total consultancy fee

4

Support in Desk review and in-depth analysis of existing evidence regarding the situation of children and adolescents in Türkiye

Provide Data inventory for SiTAN

5 working days

20% of the total consultancy fee

Total

26 working days

* All deliverables as per the scope of work must be satisfactorily completed and accepted by UNICEF TCO to facilitate payment. Delivery estimated working days are tentative.

Remark:

The Consultant will work 26 days for the assignment, until 31 December 2024 to allow for final feedback and adjustments including the update of the SITAN with the expected DHS 2024.Consultant will be required to incorporate the key results and findings of the 2023-2024 Demography and Health Survey (DHS) into the SitAn final report as soon the final DHS report and data is publicly available.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• At least 7 years of conducting data analysis of primary data collected within the scope of multi-disciplinary research assignments. Additionally, for adolescent engagement should have at least 5 years of experience in facilitating sessions with adolescent participation.
• Advanced degree in the social science (sociology, economics, anthropology, development Studies, etc.) or related fields relevant to the assignment
• Proven track-record of desk reviews and structured analyses of secondary evidence.
• Strong ability to rationalize and process quantitative and qualitative data using dedicated analytical tools and software.
• Prior experience in working with young people within the scope of research/evaluation
• Solid analytical, communication and drafting writing skills in English.
• Ability to analyse and interpret information and data.
• Ability to work independently.
• Familiarity with ethical protocols in research.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners will be considered as an asset.

Criteria for technical evaluation

Max points

Having the required academic and language qualifications as indicated above

Max. points: 15

At least 7 years of conducting data analysis of primary data collected within the scope of multi-disciplinary research assignments. Additionally, for adolescent engagement should have at least 5 years’ experience in facilitating sessions with adolescent participation.

Max. Points: 25

Prior experience in working with young people within the scope of research/evaluation

Max. Points: 10

Having UN experience

Max. Points: 10

Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners.

Max. Points: 10

Maximum total points

Max points: 70

Award criteria: Cumulative Analysis.

The evaluation and award criteria used for this ToR are cumulative analysis evaluations (point system with weight attribution). The weighting ratio between the technical and financial proposals will be 70:30. The respective importance between technical and financial scores will be weighted as 70% and 30%.

An offer is considered technically acceptable (and therefore eligible for opening of financial offers) when it obtains 49 Points out of 70 during the technical evaluation. The final selection of the consultant/expert will be based on a combination of the technical and financial proposals with a weighting of 70% for the technical proposal and 30% for the financial proposal. In the case of cumulative analysis, the proposals scoring below 70% of the available technical points will be considered non-compliant and will be rejected and not further considered (e.g., in the case of 70:30, the passing score is 49 points out of 70).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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Added 6 months ago - Updated 6 months ago - Source: unicef.org