Consultancy (30 days, home-based): Support the participatory review of the National Committee ongoing response to COVID-19 at country level, Country Relations, Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) & Evaluation Office

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

Since the start of the outbreak in December 2019, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread to over 215 countries and territories. As of February 2021, there are over 110 million reported cases of COVID-19 worldwide and nearly 2.5 million deaths.  As noted by the UNICEF Executive Director, children are “the hidden victims of the COVID-19 pandemic.”[1] Lockdowns and school closures are affecting their education, mental health and access to basic health services, raising the risks of exploitation and abuse. 

The onset of COVID-19 triggered the first ever global L3 emergency activation and the subsequent need for a truly global response by UNICEF. This has further accelerated UNICEF’s learning and reflection in the area of Programming in HICs and its operationalization at the country level, especially in countries with a National Committee. To support this, PFP in close consultation with Programme Division (PD) issued a Guidance Note for Programming responses in the context of the COVID-19 Pandemic for HICs, specifically those with a National Committee. To date, 31 National Committees have submitted Strategy Notes which have been compiled in a consolidated results matrix.

Given the rapid acceleration of the National Committee’s programming efforts at the country level and the significant changes in their operating environments (both internal and external), understanding the quality of their overall response and adaptation is essential. At a time where countries are further grappling with the socio-economic consequences and secondary costs of what started as a public health crisis, the opportunity to pause, take stock and reflect on how to adapt further as the crisis unfolds, while contributing to the development of the Programming in HICs framework and the next generation of workplans, is particularly timely and relevant for UNICEF.

How can you make a difference?

The overall objective is to contribute to further learning, guidance and capacity strengthening to support the overall design and monitoring of programming in HICS through undertaking a participatory review and reflection of the programming responses of the National Committees to COVID-19 pandemic in their countries. The exercise is also a means to guide UNICEF in their support role.

More specifically, the participatory review will consider:

• Effects of COVID-19 on NatCom operations and planning (including the extent of adaptation and the longer-term institutionalization of these changes)
• Relevance of NatCom strategies and programming (including alignment with UNICEF policies & quality of analysis and planning)
• Effectiveness of NatCom response (including results achieved; challenges; enabling factors)

The findings will be consolidated to generate cross-country learning and timely actions to strengthen the ongoing response and contribute to the ongoing learning work for programming in HICs.

MAIN TASKS

The consultant will work closely and support the Evaluation team leader who has chief responsibility for managing the overall review, including design, data collection and analysis, conducting the debriefing sessions and preparing the review deliverables and reports.

The consultant will assist the Evaluation Team Leader and contribute to the review processing, including on data collection, analysis, drafting, finalizing the report and undertaking dissemination activities.

Methodology, Approach and Scope:

The analytical framework and methodology will build on and reflect the emerging conceptual framework for programing in HICs.

The methodology will consider both secondary material (reports, guidance etc,) as well as primary data through online survey, key informant interviews/focus group discussions (conducted remotely through zoom and skype) with both staff from within UNICEF (RO, HQ), the National Committees as well as partners and if possible, children themselves.

In order to provide diversity, a sample of countries with a National Committee will be selected based on a number of criteria, including: geography/region;  the size and capacity of the National Committee; Government capacity and systems to respond to outbreak; outbreak size/level of disruption of basic services; focus of UNICEF National Committee’s programme response (e.g. social protection; child protection; education etc.).

The participatory review will reflect on five dimensions:

1. Programming focus and strategies
2. Strategic positioning and fundraising
3. Operating model and results
4. Effectiveness of support from UNICEF
5. Lessons learned & future planning

DELIVERABLES

This review phase will be undertaken from March 2021, with a synthesized report ready by end of May 2021. The table below provides an overview of the tentative timelines and main deliverables of this phase of the evaluation.

15 – 30 March 2021	Support the Evaluation Team Leader in the preparation of draft Inception Report and document review, that includes scope, methodology, draft review data collection instruments, etc.
31 March – 23 April 2021	Assist in the rollout of the baseline survey to all National Committees; and deep dive data collection in specific National Committees, including identification and interviewing of potential respondents from governments, CSOs and communities.
26 April – 14 May 2021	Contribute to the analysis and drafting of the report; support the workshop to present emerging findings to inform learning and piloting work at HQ level and country planning
17- 31 May 2021	Assist in the drafting of the final participatory review report, including key recommendations for all stakeholders, and support the workshop with key stakeholders to present the findings.

ESTIMATED DURATION OF THE CONTRACT AND PROPOSAL

Up to 30 working days in the duration tentatively from 15 March to 31 May 2021.

REPORTING TO 

Advocacy and Policy Specialist, PFP

WORKPLACE

The Consultant will work remotely and undertake the review through remote means.

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

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in development studies, public policy, economics or other relevant social sciences is required.
• At least 5 years of professional work experience, supporting evidence generation and data collection in the context of evaluations/assessments/reviews to inform strategic decision-making of organizations is required.
• Fluency in English is required. Excellent oral and written communication skills (in English) is required. Working knowledge of another UN official language is considered an advantage.
• Strong skills in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, including leading focus group discussions and participatory methods.
• Experience with the ethics of evidence generation, including through remote methods is desirable; familiarity with ethical safeguards is desirable.

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.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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

Remarks: Please indicate your ability, availability and gross daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered. Also, please mention the earliest date you can start.

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.

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.