UNICEF recruits 01 National Consultancy

• UNICEF recruits 01 National Consultancy

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.

Background 

Governments undertake Situation Analyses of Children and Women which contribute to national research and knowledge on children and women and form the basis for development of Country Programmes between governments and UNICEF.

However, the absence of a comprehensive rights based Sitan which provides an analytical approach to understanding of the situation of children in the state and an analysis of the gender and equity issues that continue to determine and, in many cases, hinder the realization of positive outcomes for children remains a major gap. Thus, UNICEF intends to support for 2019/20 selected states covering the six-geopolitical zone (other states will be targeted in 2020), to realize a Sitan that will bridge this gap and guide prioritization of interventions for children by government and non-governmental actors and help to remove the bottlenecks to the realization of child’s rights in the state. The Sitan report will therefore highlight strategic entry points in the national development process that will reduce disparities and address children vulnerability and contribute to shaping the national development agenda while accelerating the achievement of national and international development goals for children.

A Sitan, conducted with respect to children’s and women’s rights or critical issues affecting their realization, serves to increase understanding and to identify necessary remedial actions. The process is used to understand the causes of and linkages between problems affecting children and how a state’s human, social, economic and organizational resources and structures (including its laws, policies and institutions) can contribute to solving these problems. The Sitan flags disparities (geographic, ethnic, gender, etc.) that may be the cause of inequities in child outcomes and shed light on potential solutions to address them.

By focusing on the key knowledge gaps related to inequities and child deprivations, and promoting the broad engagement of all stakeholders, the Sitan is intended to make an important contribution to shaping national development strategies to accelerate achievement of the child-related goals with equity. The Sitan is meant primarily to be analytical, establishing causalities of non-realization of child’s rights and responsible actors for realizing the rights and making positive changes in the lives and well-being of children and women in the state.

Reaching the SDG targets with equity moreover, requires all development partners to intensify efforts to monitor programmes that serve the most disadvantaged children. By refocusing on equity, the Sitan will systematically examine patterns of inequities in the realization of child’s rights including understanding their immediate, underlying and structural causes.

It is expected that this process will be done while ensuring involvement of all national stakeholders including MDAs, International partners, NGOs, private sector, media and communities. The process will build consensus on the status of indicators, analytical results including the use of nationally and internationally recognized data and standards. The process will be led by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning with involvement of national stakeholders including MDAs, civil society, international partners children and women. This is important for its effective contribution in guiding policy and strategy formulation, budget allocation, programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Thus, stakeholders’ involvement will be strategically planned and managed throughout the process.

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Given that a comprehensive Sitan is an effective foundation and platform of design for coherent public policy and effective public finance management ensuring equitable access to basic social services and child friendly cities, this proposal seeks to recruit nine (9) national to substantively support the realization of Sitan in the following states: Yobe, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Bayelsa, Cross River, Lagos and Oyo.

Major Tasks to be accomplished by the consultant:

The consultant will technically lead the process of state development elaboration. It is expected the following task from the firm:

• Development of inception report including workplan and detailed road map
• Organization of work based on the step described above
• Support lead and co-lead of thematic groups in the facilitation of group discussion and production of reports
• Use thematic groups reports to produce (write) comprehensive draft of Sitan
• Produce comprehensive draft of Sitan integrating all relevant feedback received
• Any specific tasks linked to Sitan process as assigned by the steering committee, the chief filed office or the social policy specialist.

Qualifications of the consultant:

• Advanced degree in social sciences (sociology, anthropology, development studies), Economics/Statistics, Law, or related fields relevant for the assignment
• At least 5 years of research and other relevant professional experience
• Knowledge and demonstrated experience with Human Rights Based Approach to Programming
• Excellent drafting skills in English
• Good computer skills (Word, Excel, Power Point);
• Experience in policy and budget analysis, including poverty reduction policies and in child poverty analysis) is an asset
• Experience of having participated previously in a Situation Analysis or proven experience in writing analytical papers on children and gender issues will be a major advantage
• Knowledge of at least one main local language of the State is important

The duration of this consultancy is 8 months.

Applicants should quote an all inclusive fee in their cover letters and kindly note that your application will not be considered if you fail to provide your fee.

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.