Consultancy in the area of Documenting UNICEF model of Minimum Package of Services
Bucharest
- Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
- Location: Bucharest
- Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
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Occupational Groups:
- Knowledge Management
- Closing Date: Closed
UNICEF Romania is looking for Consultant to document the pilot project “Social Inclusion of vulnerable children and their families through the provision of integrated social services” for sharing at the regional and global levels.
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANCY IN THE AREA OF
Documenting UNICEF model of Minimum Package of Services
Summary
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Purpose |
Documentation of the pilot project "Social Inclusion of vulnerable children and their families through the provision of integrated social services" for sharing at the regional and global levels |
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Location |
Bucharest, with a couple of field visits to Bacau county |
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Duration |
3 months |
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Start date |
15 March 2017 |
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Reporting to |
Policy and Knowledge Coordinator |
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Budget Code/ PBA No |
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Project and Activity codes |
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Background
For the past 2 years, UNICEF, in close collaboration with national, county and local authorities, as well as NGO partners, has been testing two inter-linked models[1]: the Minimum Package of Social Services (MPS) and the Quality Inclusive Education (QIE) initiative, http://unicef.ro/serviciicomunitarepentrucopii/
These two innovative models are implemented in 38 communities in the County of Bacau and are showing extremely promising results. The Minimum Package of Services brings together the health, education and child protection systems to support vulnerable children and their families, improved the life of 17,500 children. All children at risk of separation still live with their families and receive community services; 93% of children without identity document received birth certificates; 97% of children not registered in the health insurance system are now covered and access health care. The Quality Inclusive Education initiative reached 20,000 children. Involved schools reduced absenteeism, and some managed to eliminate dropout within a year.
An independent assessment of results (in terms of development of services and impact on children and their families) is ongoing and the results will be available by the end of March.
Justification
The UNICEF Country office in Romania would like to document the process of developing and implementing these models, the different components (and how they complement each other) and the initial results to share them with the rest of the organisation and potentially other countries.
These models are very complex and require the efforts of a dedicated consultant for a period of 3 months.
Methodology and expected results:
The consultant is expected to work very closely with UNICEF Country Office staff (programme, communication and operations) under the direct supervision of the Knowledge and Policy Coordinator. S/he will conduct several interviews of UNICEF staff, selected counterparts and partners at national, county and local levels and desk review of the existing documents (proposal, reports, costing studies, intermediary assessment). Most of the documents are in English (except some tools and methodologies, which will be summarised in English). This will entail two field visits to Bacau at county and local levels. These visits will be organised and accompanied by UNICEF staff.
It is expected that the consultant will produce two draft documents for review and inputs from UNICEF staff before writing the final version.
Suggested format of the document:
- Summary of 2-3 pages to describe the issues, solutions and results.
- Problem statement: 3-4 pages to describe the initial situation (context) and the problem/ issue which prompted the model.
- Strategy and Implementation: 4-5 pages describing the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation strategies. This should link to the issues outlined above and highlight the main steps taken in implementing the strategies.
- Progress, Lessons Learned and Results: 3-4 pages describing the progress, challenges and any verified results (using qualitative and/or qualitative evidence) in testing this innovative model. Description of the factors that enabled or hindered progress. Description of the main elements and what makes it innovative or of interest. Financial elements should also be included.
- Next steps: 1 page on the upcoming initiatives of UNICEF, the Government of Romania and partners.
- Annexes as needed, including list of and links to detailed documents, methodologies, tools etc.
Travel and other costs related to the work should be included.
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Expected Deliverables, Deadlines: Deliverables
Qualifications Minimum of Master's degree (or equivalent degree) in social area, governance related field (or equivalent work experience) including: Social Science, health, education, Development Studies, Public Policy. Experience: - Minimum 7 years of experience in writing on, documenting and/or researching complex interventions in the areas of health, education, child or social protection - Ability to analyse and write analytical documents - Ability to write in a user-friendly manner and too translate complex information into information accessible to a wide audience with only some knowledge of the issues. - Proven understanding of UN work, especially in a context similar to Romania's. - Knowledge of UNICEF work an asset - Ability to work in a team and to interact appropriately with a variety of partners - High command of written English - Knowledge of Romanian an asset (at least reading and understanding) Applicants should send a couple of samples of their work (articles, publication etc.). HOW TO APPLY: Only online applications will be taken into consideration. Your online application should contain as separate attachments:
Selection procedure: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The contract will be awarded based on the best combination of expertise and fee.
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[1] A model is the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of innovations at the local level, with the purpose of replicating these innovations at the national level through the adoption of national policies, laws, budgets, norms, standards, methodologies and tools. In this particular case, the innovation was a package of cross-sectoral services (education, child protection and health) tested with local authorities, schools and county authorities to improve the wellbeing and realise the rights of children, especially vulnerable ones.