Consultant (5 months, home-based): Analyst for child-focused ODA, Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP)

PFP and PPD, in partnership with key National Committees, aim to support country-specific advocacy strategies for OECD DAC countries to prioritize children and child-related sectors in future ODA design and implementation. This analysis will provide individual country reports, that serve as inputs into each country’s ODA strategy, focusing on 8 key donor countries. It includes a comparative analysis of the current state of DAC aid vis-à-vis children's needs globally; identification of best practices and leadership models within the DAC; and key ways in which future ODA investments across DAC countries can prioritize child rights and child-related sectors to achieve the SDGs.

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For every child, the right to hope

PFP and PPD, in partnership with key National Committees, aim to support country-specific advocacy strategies for OECD DAC countries to prioritize children and child-related sectors in future ODA design and implementation. This analysis will provide individual country reports, that serve as inputs into each country’s ODA strategy, focusing on 8 key donor countries. It includes a comparative analysis of the current state of DAC aid vis-à-vis children's needs globally; identification of best practices and leadership models within the DAC; and keyways in which future ODA investments across DAC countries can prioritize child rights and child-related sectors to achieve the SDGs.

The report will present the case for a 'whole child approach to development' across DAC countries. This includes key child-centred interventions in health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, and social protection. It will also include evidence on how these interventions deliver best results for children, and the return on investment they can generate.

How can you make a difference? 

Scope of Work:

We expect this analysis to include:

1. Comparative analysis of ODA trends across 8 OECD-DAC countries (Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden) and the European Union over the last 10 years using OECD DAC sector codes and channel codes to identify child-focused spending, with clear methodology specifications for data tables, commitment vs. disbursement analysis, and grant equivalent considerations. The countries will be determined in advance by UNICEF.

d. Social protection (16010)

e. Child protection, including prevention of recruitment/use of child soldiers (15261)

f. Environment (410), development food assistance (520), and relevant humanitarian sectors (700s)

 

3. Application of both sector-based and channel-based identification methodology, complemented by keyword analysis in project descriptions where appropriate, following established best practices for identifying child-focused aid.

 

4. The case for the impact of child-centered development, demonstrating return on investment evidence (e.g., $1 invested in early child development generates $13 return, $1 in nutrition returns $23, each additional year in school generates 10% increase in annual earnings).

 

5. Evidence-based scenarios with clear rationale and narrative for how DAC countries can collectively and individually place children's rights and needs at the centre of their international development approaches (e.g. best practices, case studies), in the current context of shrinking ODA budget and declining support for development agendas. This should include a review of relevant foresight/scenario planning literature

 

6. Recommendations for DAC countries on how to place children at the centre of development policies, including specific guidance for different donor types (large vs. small, bilateral vs. multilateral-focused, etc.)

 

 

Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. UNICF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverables/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

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

Education:

• An Advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required:  Economics, Statistics, Political Science, Quantitative and Qualitative Policy Analysis, or a related field
• Alternatively, a first level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in a relevant field, combined with two (2) additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in policy research, data science, statistics or quantitative and qualitative policy analysis.
• Proven experience in comparative ODA spending analysis across multiple donor countries using OECD DAC data tables and methodology, with deep knowledge of OECD DAC landscape, sector codes, and channel codes, is required.

• Strong understanding of international development dynamics and their impact on children worldwide, is required.
• Proven experience in delivering evidence-based comparative policy reports with rigorous quantitative and qualitiative methodology, is required.
• Ability to summarize and articulate complex comparative issues in ways that are clear and accessible to diverse audiences, is required.
• Knowledge of OECD DAC reporting systems, data sources, and sector classification systems, is required.
• Strong analytical skills for cross-country comparisons, including experience with OECD DAC Tables is an asset.
• Understanding of different donor country development cooperation models and approaches, is an asset.
• Experience with scenario planning and foresight methodologies for policy development, is an asset

Language Requirements

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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