Consultant: Child Poverty Evidence and Policy Analysis, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), Bangkok, Thailand

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 fulfilling 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 better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region.  This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference? 

The Social Policy and Economic Analysis Section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), is seeking an individual consultant to review evidence generated on child poverty in the region, and support the identification of the appropriate methods and tools to be implemented at regional, national and local level. The scope is to analyse the real paths of child poverty in East Asia and Pacific taking into consideration the changes occurring, the theoretical and methodological challenges, and the policy demand for interventions.

Purpose/Background: 

The consultant will work under the guidance of the Regional adviser Social Policy and Economic Analysis, in collaboration with the Social Policy team in EAPRO, and in collaboration with the Country offices in the region. The overall purpose of this assignment is to compile the most recent evidence on child poverty in the region, identify and promote proper research methods and tools for the assessment and monitoring the impact of the socio- economic crisis on children in the EAP region, for the identification of new groups of poor children and their dynamics, as well as crafting related policy advocacy and initiatives to be promoted in the region.
 

Work Assignment:

The consultant will

1. Review the existing materials produced within and outside UNICEF and in the region and reports from other agencies some of which already include micro-simulations to model the poverty effects of COVID19 on households and children using different scenarios (e.g. Philippines, Mongolia, Indonesia); The review will include a mapping of key regional players involved in the generation of evidence on child poverty.
2. Produce a review paper on child poverty in the region consolidating the existing evidence, with an analysis of pre and post COVID trends.
3. Produce one methodological paper identifying good practices in data collection analysis and explore potential scope of a regional analysis that is comparable across countries given differences in country-level methodologies.
4. Produce at least two policy papers providing policy recommendation on addressing child poverty in the region.

The consultant will also support the Social Policy session in the adaptation of the policy papers into different formats for UNICEF channels such as articles and social media content.

She/he will also support the RO in the provision of technical assistance to CO in the area of child poverty evidence and policy, and collaboration with HQ initiative.

Details of all different papers will be finalized during the inception phase of the consultancy and may include topics such as: Who are the new poor children; Impact of the COVID on the existing poor children who were in poverty before the pandemic; How countries and UNICEF offices shall research and measure the new changes based on assessment of data availability?

Work Schedule & Deliverables:   

The consultant will prepare in consultation with the Social Policy team a work plan that will include an inception phase, a list of planned outputs, at least one regional webinar and finalized draft of at least 5 policy papers.

Key Deliverables are as follow.

• A review paper on child poverty data and evidence in the region with a mapping of key research institutions and researchers.
• One methodological paper identifying good practices in data collection analysis and explore potential scope of a regional analysis.
• At least two policy papers providing policy recommendation on addressing child poverty in the region.

Please note that details of all different papers will be finalized during the inception phase of the consultancy.

Duration of Contract:  60 days over 24 November 2021 – 15 May 2022

Working Location:  The consultant will work remotely.

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

• University degree in Economics, Social Sciences, Business administration international relations, or related areas;
• Excellent oral and interpersonal communication skills in English;
• Proven ability to produce conference reports to a high-quality professional standard;
• Familiarity with child poverty technical language is preferred;
• Ability to work under pressure in an organized and systematic way;
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision;
• Willingness to cooperate with country focal points to facilitate their outputs;
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team;
• Consultant based in Bangkok is also preferable.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV or P-11, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed daily professional fee in USD by 24 November 2021.

 FORM P11.doc

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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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. 

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.

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