UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting applications for a Programme Review Consultant (Open to Non-Zimbabwean Nationals Only)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, A fair chance!

UNICEF has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1982. We are a team of passionate professionals committed to the protection and fulfillment of children’s rights.

Supporting the Government’s vision of a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society, the country programme is aimed at contributing to sustainable socioeconomic development that provides all children, including adolescents, with opportunities to fulfil their potential, lead a healthy life, access quality learning and protection and meaningfully participate in society.

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https://www.unicef.org/zimbabwe/work-us

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Zimbabwe is seeking to hire an innovative and self-motivated individual consultant to support the Country Office (CO) in the analysis and drafting of programmatic shifts/adjustments in sectoral strategies and developing sections’ narratives fit to accelerate programme implementation in the second half of the Country Programme (CP) Cycle and guiding a participatory process.

BACKGROUND

As Zimbabwe enters a post-election period (from August 2023) and into the second half of the Country Programme Document (CPD), the sectoral programme strategies will need to reflect the political, economic and funding landscape, as it relates to the social sectors, to ensure that UNICEF CO continues to meet the needs and support the country requires to transition to an upper middle-income country as outlined in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1). The CO has recently conducted a CMT (Management) Retreat to discuss i) key sectoral strategic shifts that could possibly be implemented in their respective programmes; ii) how the CO can accelerate results for children in order to meet CPD targets; and iii) keep Zimbabwe on track to meet its SDG commitments. In this regard, it is recognized that Programme sections are at different levels of supporting an enabling environment for children (upstream) and service delivery (downstream). There is need for the programmes to look at strategic shifts in programme approach around finding an appropriate mix of upstream policy, advocacy and system development work, as well as downstream service delivery to the Government. Each section has conducted strategic programme meetings with their teams and regional advisors, as needed, to think through and document the proposed programmatic shifts.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The purpose of this assignment is to support the Country Office (CO) in the analysis and drafting of programmatic shifts/adjustments in sectoral strategies and developing sections’ narratives fit to accelerate programme implementation in the second half of the Country Programme (CP) Cycle and guiding a participatory process. The consultant will collect inputs from programme sections and senior management. The product will inform the enhanced Annual Review in December, the Programme Budget Review (PBR) next year and the development of an enhanced Country Programme Management Plan (CPMP).

ASSIGNMENTS:

The consultancy will specifically aim at achieving the following objectives, but not limited to:

Support the drafting of programme adjustments/shifts

The consultant will draft the programme shifts that are required to accelerate results for children in order to meet CPD targets and keep Zimbabwe on track to meet its SDG commitments, including the articulation of shared mission and values, and measurable and realistic goals and objectives.

S/he will ensure that the content is qualitatively adequate for inputs feeding into the enhanced Annual Review, PBR and enhanced CPMP.

Support to Section and Unit discussions

The consultant will support the sections in developing their narratives to accelerate programme implementation for the next 3 years, more specifically write up and consolidate all proposed programme shifts and relevant issues drafted by the teams required to deliver the remainder of the CPD from 2024–2026. The assignment will comprise of the following activities:

• Undertake a review of the current programme environment, including the political and economic context, progress in the mid-term review of the national development strategy (priority of the Government), key progress against the CPD outcome results, funding trend and partnerships opportunities.
• Identify key programme priorities based on the analysis above, and informed by UNICEF comparative advantage, Government investment and opportunities to leverage results from partners in Zimbabwe, including issues to de-prioritize for the next two years, including data gaps and issues to be de-prioritized (with technical justification)
• List key strategies and enablers to accelerate results against the identified priorities, including but not limited to adjustments to the outcome results, programme focus, and potential for innovation.
• Conduct consultations with chiefs and teams on programme adjustments and using an agreed set of questions/criteria to prompt discussion of key issues if the team is having challenges dealing with these issues.
• Participate in meetings with stakeholders, in particular government partners and civil society to ensure their inputs are reflected in the analysis.
• Support sections to determine to what extent the staffing structure aligns with programmatic shifts and facilitates efficient programme delivery.
• Determine the extent to which the current country office resource mobilization strategy would raise predictable resources to meet the needs of proposed programme shifts and deliver the CPD results.
• Ensure the document contributes to the preparation of the PBR documentation and enhanced CPD.
• Presentation of draft Programme Review Document to CO management, and programme teams.

Submit all documents and full package which meets quality standards as set out by CO.

Major tasks and deliverables

Tasks/Milestone:****Deliverables/Outputs:****Timeline, % invoice- Review the following documents and prepare a concise methodology, work plan and roadmap in response to the objectives of this assignment.

• Desk review draft country programme document (CPD)
• Programme strategy notes
• Management Retreat report
• PMP
• Theories of change and other supporting documents

• Multiple Overlapping Deprivation Analysis, etc.

• Consult with Programme sections and Senior Management

• Analysis, discussions/consultations with Country Management Team (CMT), programme sections and communications regarding the programme shifts and strategy
• Consultations with relevant stakeholders

Inception Report, work plan and roadmap

A summary document of analysis and recommendations of programmatic shifts and strategy

4 days (home)

Expected completion: 10 November

(15%)

21 days (in-country)

Expected completion: 2 December

(35%)

Draft Programme Review Document - narrative document, including key findings of programme with recommendations on the way forwardDraft Final Programme Review Document3 days

Expected completion: 5 December

(25%)

Submit final reportProgramme Review Document2 days

Expected completion: 20 December

(25%)

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

Education:

An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Social sciences, development studies or a related field.

Experience:

A minimum of 10 years’ experience in designing, analysis, leading, and developing situation analysis, strategy development, multi-year programmes , including Planning and M&E.

Languages:

- Fluency in English required

- Excellent writing skills in English

The detailed consultancy terms of reference is downloadable via this link Terms of Reference.pdf

If interested and available to undertake the individual consultancy, please submit your application online and attach the required documents including the technical proposal and an all-inclusive financial proposal incorporating an approximate number of travel days for field (local) travel.

Technical proposal: The Technical Proposal should articulate an understanding of the TOR and include the proposed Tasks/Milestones, Deliverables/Outputs, Timeline and level of effort by deliverable. The similar table provided in the TOR is indicative. Applicants may use the indicative table as a guide or deviate as per the proposed approach. The proposal should also cost-effectively propose the local travel proposed by the applicant to undertake the assignment.

Financial proposal: The Financial Proposal should include the costs (providing a daily rate as justification) for each task, including consultant fee, proposed travel costs and perdiem, communications costs and any other proposed cost.

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.