Consultant Public Finance for Early Childhood, Home Based, Brasilia

Background & Rationale

In 2020, UNICEF and IPEA developed a methodology to identify social spending on children and adolescents, applied primarily in the federal budgets from 2016 to 2019. The methodology allows identifying the portfolio of public policies that impact the lives and rights of children and adolescents through budgetary information. It also allows qualifying such impact by the degree of specificity or adherence, separating specific policies for this population from others that, although also been crucial for children, do not benefit them exclusively. In summary, and in line with other experiences in Latin America and Brazil, the methodology more precisely identifies the volume of resources allocated for policies for children and adolescents and proposes a set of indicators that assists in balancing the non-exclusive resources. The methodology can be applied by age groups and adapted to the reality of state and municipal budgets. It will be seen as a source of inspiration for the Working Group, which will deliberate on its adaptation for the age group from 0 to 6 years, focusing on the budgets of the Union, States, and Municipalities. 

The Parliamentary Front for Early Childhood (PFEC), ensuring compliance with the Legal Framework, mainly concerning budget allocation, has been a fundamental player for the national development plan to include early childhood as a priority. In this context and within the partnership framework with UNICEF, the working group on public budget will be organized to design mechanisms and tools to ensure the adequate financing of early childhood-related policies/programmes and services.  A national consultant needs to support the coordination and provide specialized technical assistance to WG on the public budget. 

Purpose 

Under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Chief of Social Policy, the consultant will provide technical support on public budget. This consultancy aims to provide specialized technical and operational support with the PFEC and will act as the focal point and coordinator of the WG on Public Budget. S/he will interact with the UNICEF team and the members of the WG on Public Budget that includes members of parliament and CSOs, and coordinate and execute the required activities to get the products agreed on the GT work plan. 

02: Report on UNICEF and IPEA methodology to identify children-related budget and ways to adapt/apply it at federal level. Deadline: 90 days from the date of signing the contract (3 months). Payment: 15%. 

03: Document including specific recommendations for monitoring municipal PPAs’ focused on early childhood prioritization and budgetary allocations by the Municipalities. Deadline: 120 days from the date of signing the contract (4 months). Payment: 20% 

04: Document with recommendations for prioritization of early childhood at the municipal budgetary cycle, including Parliamentary amendments to the next LOAs. Deadline: 180 days from the date of signing the contract (6 months).  Payment: 20% 

05: Final report on WG’s work, including steps forward, reports on events promoted within it, and on the study case of municipal implementations of WG’s recommendations. Deadline: 210 days from the date of signing the contract (7 months).  Payment: 30% 

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. 

A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants and individual contractors are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.  

The payment will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant. 

Restrictions 

Consultants and individual contractors may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF.  Notwithstanding, consultants and individual contracts must complete the applicable mandatory trainings.  

In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​, or unless on leave without pay. 

UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, race, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.