Individual Consultancy – Monitoring, Research and Evaluation Consultant, Generation Unlimited (GEN U), New York, USA (Remote Home based) 11.5 months REQ#540322

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, hope…

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere. Over the decades, UNICEF has worked to protect the rights of children of all ages — from earliest childhood through adolescence – and will continue to deliver for all children and adolescents under the five goal areas of the Strategic Plan. In recent years, our work to support the unique needs of adolescents has gained momentum, as the challenges facing them have come more sharply into view. The second decade of life is a time of tremendous opportunity – but for far too many adolescents, great risk and increasing challenges.

Building on work across the UN with and for young people, and in line with the UN Youth Strategy, in 2018 UNICEF launched a new global partnership dedicated to expanding opportunity for young people, ages 10-24.  Generation Unlimited (Gen U) is centred on finding new ways to ensure that every young person is in school, learning, training or employment by 2030 — with a focus on those in the greatest danger of being left behind, including girls, the poorest, those with disabilities, young people on the move and those affected by conflict and natural disasters. This partnership brings together leaders from governments, UN agencies, the private sector, academia, international and civil society organizations, and young people, and identifies, co-creates, resources and scales-up innovative solutions to expand opportunity for young people. Young people participate meaningfully in the co-creation of solutions, informing, advising and helping implement at every step of the way.

How can you make a difference?

The Monitoring, Research and Evaluation (M&E) Consultant – GenU is primarily responsible to support the advancement of GenU’s M&E framework and efforts, particularly related to its Impact evaluation, research agenda, and stakeholder coordination. She/he is to work with internal and external partners and stakeholders to ensure that GenU’s programmatic ambitions are documented, measurable and in a position to be operational both at global and country level consistent with the goals, targets and priorities set in the programme of activities approved by the Board and the Global Leadership Council of Generation Unlimited.

EXPECTED RESULTS

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Advisor Country Support, and the overall guidance of the  Senior Adviser of Planning and Programmes, and in collaboration with UNICEF and GenU partners, the consultant will support the finalization and activation of  GenU’s impact evaluation approach and framework.  This framework aims to measure GenU’s partnership contribution to the SDGs as well as track progress against a clear set of achievable Key Performance Indicators for its priority areas on scaling up digital connectivity, skilling, employability, entrepreneurship and engagement.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Standard UNICEF Performance Evaluations will be conducted every 6 months and/or at end of contract. The performance indicators for evaluation of results will be the quality and timeliness of outputs delivered by consultant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The consultant will be responsible to:

• Articulate and support the activation of a phased approach to measurement and impact evaluation as part of the GenU’s monitoring and research plan as well as dissemination strategy, including which measures will be prioritized in the short, medium, and long term
• Map existing data collection tools/process withing GenU programmatic scope and make recommendations on gaps including IT enabled tools to better measure impact from the time a young person receives training to when they are certified and find employment.  Consider a variety of methods including government surveys, RCTs, thematic evaluation, cohort studies, sample surveys, etc.
• Support the development of a technical advisory group of leading experts from the relevant agencies to roll-out the plan (e.g. UNICEF, ILO, World Bank, UNESCO, UNDESA, private sector, academia, civil society)
• Explore opportunities/feasibility to develop and roll out a global dashboard with real time monitoring capacities
• Support on reach and impact reporting to the GenU Board other stakeholder groups
• Develop/collate a standard M&E toolkit with guidance to be disseminated to UNICEF Country Offices and GenU partners in the field
• Support the facilitation of internal and external partner meetings/engagement on M&E
• Support Country Offices to design and implement their M&E for GenU and Reimagine Education programmes as needed
• Support global activities in promoting GenU M&E advancement, such as presentations, proposal writing for fundraising, etc.
• Other duties and regional/country support upon request of the supervisor and senior management.

Below is a list of possible deliverables and an estimated number of units that may be needed during the course of the assignment. Adjustments to these deliverables (type and quantity) may be necessary during the assignment.

 

Deliverables	Duration	Deadline
With support of the supervisor, internal and external stakeholders:
Articulate and support the development and activation of the M&E (and research plan) for GenU, with a focus on impact evaluation and which measures will be prioritized in the short, medium and long term based on mapping of existing data collection tools and evidence	Ongoing	Ongoing
Ensure a technical advisory group of leading experts from the relevant agencies to articulate, commit to, and roll-out the GenU M&E (and research) plan is established and operational. This can include members from UNICEF, ILO, World Bank, UNESCO, UNDESA, private sector, academia, civil society.	Ongoing	Ongoing
Develop and disseminate a M&E and research toolkit for UNICEF Country Offices and GenU partners including guidance, process and good practice, and will include reporting on progress/results.	Ongoing	Ongoing
Support global activities in promoting GenU M&E, exploring on-line dashboard, presentations,  proposal development, and undertake other duties as requested by the supervisor/senior management.	Ongoing	Ongoing

TIMEFRAME

• 11.5 months
  • Start date: 7 June 2021
  • End date:  22 May 2022

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

• Advanced university degree in Economics, EdTech, Statistics or other relevant field; or related practical experience;
• At least 5 years of work experience in monitoring & evaluation or quantitative research in the field of education, education technology or relevant areas.
• Strong experience in database and platform development in the social development sector;
• Proficiency in at least one statistics software an asset (e.g. R, SPSS, STATA)
• Experience in working with organizations focused on engaging and empowering adolescents and youth, especially the most marginalized
• Fluency in English is required, strong written and verbal competency is necessary
• Working knowledge of another UN language an asset             

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Works Collaboratively with others (1) 
• Demonstrates Self and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1) 
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1) 
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1) 
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1) 
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1) 

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

More information is available in the Child Safeguarding SharePoint and Child Safeguarding FAQs and Updates

Remarks:

Applicants are invited to include a cover letter of interest, CV, and proposed fees (daily rate in US Dollars), to undertake the above TOR.  Applications submitted without a proposed fee will not be accepted.

You are advised to take into consideration as part of your bid for the assignment the cost of health insurance.

DUTY STATION 

Home based – Remote 

PAYMENT METHODOLOGY

Select proposed methodology Monthly Payments will be made monthly. The proposed rate should be inclusive of all professional fees, daily allowances, living allowances, and other administrative costs.

TRAVEL (IF APPLICABLE)

No travel is expected due to current COVID-19 restrictions. However, in case of these restrictions being lifted or unforeseen official business travel is required, the actual cost, including the visa fee, vaccination will be reimbursed in accordance with UNICEF Policy/procedure on official travel.

 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.

At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage and the consultant must provide proof of health insurance. Consultants and individual contractors are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the period of their services as they consider appropriate.

GEN U is hosted by UNICEF. The Fund is administered under UNICEF’s financial, human resources and administrative rules and regulations, while operations are run by the Fund’s own independent governance structure that provides strategic guidance and oversight to its investments. GEN U’s day-to-day activities are carried out by a Secretariat under the direction of the Generation Unlimited, Director.

If selected for this consultancy, the resulting appointment will be limited to GEN U, a UNICEF hosted fund.