The consultant or institution selected for this position will work as part of a small team that is both creating an immediately usable set of products for country and regional offices while simultaneously helping the organisation develop tools and methods that can be used in other offices in the future. We are looking for consultants and institutions interested in contributing to an ongoing learning process, not only producing one-off reports.

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

PURPOSE
Over the course of 2017, UNICEF will be working in at least six countries in three regions to identify the most strategic entry points for UNICEF data work and develop action plans to direct our future data investments in those regions and countries. 

The consultant or institution selected for this position will work as part of a small team that is both creating an immediately usable set of products for country and regional offices while simultaneously helping the organisation develop tools and methods that can be used in other offices in the future. We are looking for consultants and institutions interested in contributing to an ongoing learning process, not only producing one-off reports. 

SCOPE OF WORK 

The specific work for this consultancy includes three components: first, outlining a strategic path for UNICEF's country office-level data work in three countries; second, shaping strategic regional priorities for data work in UNICEF offices throughout MENA; and third, contributing toward our global knowledge base to inform future data for children work across UNICEF.

The strategic plans developed through this consultancy should be ready to translate into action shortly after their adoption. As additional funds are identified, implementation will proceed as quickly as possible. Individuals/institutions interested in engagement with potential future implementation work should note such interest in their submissions. 

Charting the course of future data work at the country/territory level

The consultant/institution will support three UNICEF country offices in developing their approach to data investments in the coming years. The majority of this work will take place in the selected countries/territories and all the work will involve close coordination with country, regional and headquarters staff as the tools and formats for the mapping and action plans are refined based on experience. 

The work will involve two elements per country/territory:

• Country Office Element 1: Mapping the country's data landscape
  • Working with UNICEF country office staff and external partners, the consultant will produce a data diagnostic, identifying the major needs, existing initiatives, and new opportunities in data for children work for the country.
  • The diagnostic should take into account current and potential data actors (including demanders, suppliers and users), existing data systems and capacities (both of the government and major government partners), priorities of the government and the UNICEF country programme, and future opportunities and threats for child well-being.
  • The analysis also should take into consideration the data work of other major actors in the country as well as potential sources and users of data in the private and civil society sectors.
  • The diagnostic should be consistent with UNICEF's global data approach, including attention to the three strands of data demand, supply and use. 

• Country Office Element 2: Developing the strategic action plan
  • Based on the data diagnostic exercise and taking into account the same parameters outlined above, the consultant will work with the country office to develop a strategic action plan to guide the office's data for children investments. The plan will be about how UNICEF engages on data issues in the country/territory, but its focus will be broader than the work that UNICEF carries out directly. It should include elements such as support to government data actors and partnership recommendations along with UNICEF-specific actions.
  • Grounded on country/territory needs, priority issues for children, UNICEF's comparative advantages and opportunities on the horizon, the plan should identify:
    • The work that is already ongoing that should be continued, replicated and/or scaled up (both within UNICEF and what UNICEF should be supporting others to do);
    • The work that is already underway that should be phased out or transitioned to partners;
    • Any new work UNICEF should undertake (either directly or in support of others' work) in this area;
    • What capacities and resources are needed to undertake the recommended work; and
    • What partnerships UNICEF should pursue in order to undertake the work successfully.
  • The plan should identify priorities for immediate action that can be undertaken/implemented shortly after the plan's adoption.
  • The strategic action plan should be consistent with the principles for data work elaborated in the UNICEF data for children strategy and take into account data demand, supply, and use elements. It should present a coherent framework to bring the office's data investments together for greater impact rather than simply elaborating projects to be undertaken.
  • The plan should, to the extent possible, include indicative costs, allowing it to be easily translated into resource mobilization appeals.
  • Each element of the plan should be connected to the results it can deliver for children. 

Identifying regional data priorities

The consultant will identify regional strategic priorities in data for children work throughout the region in the coming years. These priorities will be shaped both by the issues and priorities identified during the country/territory work outlined above as well as by an analysis of similar topics across other countries in the region. This work will involve close coordination with regional and headquarters staff as the tools and formats for the work are refined based on experience. Some portion of this work will involve consultations with regional office staff in Amman. Upon negotiation with the UNICEF team, the balance of it may be carried out remotely. Remote consultations with selected country office counterparts may also be required. 

The work will involve two elements:

• Regional Element 1: Mapping the data landscape across the region
  • Working with UNICEF regional office staff and partners, the consultant will produce a data diagnostic across the MENA region, identifying the major needs, existing initiatives, and new opportunities in data for children work for children across the region. Rather than mapping individual country landscapes in detail, the diagnostic will take a higher level view of major needs or opportunities that cut across many countries within the region in order to inform directions for UNICEF focus and capacity building in the coming years.
  • Based on reviews of existing evidence and interviews with UNICEF staff and partners, the diagnostic should take into account:
    • UNICEF global and regional priorities
    • Needs (capacity, technical, and otherwise) of government data systems and actors in the region
    • Future opportunities and threats to child wellbeing in the region
    • The current capacities within UNICEF to meet those needs and opportunities.
  • The diagnostic should be consistent with UNICEF's global data approach, including attention to the three strands of data demand, supply and use. 

• Regional Element 2: Identifying regional priorities for data for children work
  • Based on the data landscaping exercise and taking into account the same parameters outlined above, the consultant will work with the regional office to identify regional priorities for data work and capacity development in the coming years.
  • Grounded on user needs, priority issues for children, UNICEF's comparative advantages and opportunities on the horizon, the regional priorities document should also identify:
    • What capacities and resources are needed within UNICEF to undertake the work;
    • What partnerships UNICEF should pursue in order to undertake the work successfully; and
    • Insofar as specific priority actions for the regional office are identified, the document should, to the extent possible, include indicative costs, allowing it to be easily translated into resource mobilization appeals.
  • The identified priorities should be consistent with the principles for data work elaborated in the UNICEF data for children strategy and take into account data demand, supply, and use elements. Each priority element should be connected to the results it can deliver for children. 

Informing future data work around the world

Throughout the consultant's regional and country level work, s/he will also document key lessons and recommendations for future iterations of this work. S/he will regularly collaborate with UNICEF staff in adjusting and refining data landscaping tools and guidance. The consultant's feedback will be transmitted informally to UNICEF staff throughout the consultancy during check-in calls and in the form of a written internal report at the end of the consultancy. 

• Global Element 1: Documenting what good looks like for future work

At the conclusion of the work, the consultant will provide UNICEF with an internal report identifying:

• Lessons to learn, successes and weaknesses of the process for landscape mapping and developing a strategic plan;
• Lessons to learn, successes and weaknesses related to the data work, capacities and partnership models underway in the selected offices;
• Recommendations for improving tools, reporting formats and other technical aspects of the work included in the consultancy; and
• Recommendations for improving management, logistics or other administrative aspects of the work included in the consultancy. 

This consultancy will produce both specific products for country and regional offices and contribute to UNICEF's global learning on how to implement country-level prioritization and planning for data work. The development of each country and regional product will involve collaboration with UNICEF staff, partners, and other data actors. To keep pace with the time frame outlined and make the best use of everyone's time, we're committed to quick and efficient feedback. We expect the same from you.

 For each product outlined above, the following steps are envisioned, though country offices may propose alternative ways of gathering stakeholder and partner input.

• Desk review, research and consultations with CO and RO staff, partners, other stakeholders
• Annotated outline: draft, discussion, revision
• Initial report: draft, discussion, revision
• Final report

The specific deliverables for the consultancy will include

• Data diagnostic for Lebanon
• Strategic action plan on data for children in Lebanon
• Data diagnostic for Djibouti
• Strategic action plan on data for children in Djibouti
• Data diagnostic for the State of Palestine
• Strategic action plan on data for children in State of Palestine
• Data diagnostic for data work throughout the MENA region
• Regional priorities for data for children document
• Global report documenting lessons to learn and recommendations 

Location of work and administrative arrangements: 

The country/territory level work will require extensive consultations with partners, government counterparts and UNICEF staff. As such, this work is expected to be carried out primarily within the specified countries/territories and the proposal should reflect this understanding by specifying the expected locations of key personnel at each stage of the work.

 The regional work may require some time in UNICEF's regional office in Amman, though the proportion of that time can be discussed and agreed with UNICEF as the contract progresses. The global work may be carried out from the consultant/firm's home base. 

During the course of the country/territory and regional work, the consultant/firm is expected to coordinate closely with the relevant UNICEF country and regional offices. The final details for work in each country (including timelines, format of deliverables, etc.) will be finalized in consultation between the contracted individual/firm and the UNICEF country offices involved. The overall contract will be managed by UNICEF's New York headquarters and the consultant/firm will report to the Policy Specialist in the Division of Data, Research and Policy. 

UNICEF RESPONSIBILITIES

Over the course of the consultancy, UNICEF will:

• Provide regular and timely guidance and feedback on the project and deliverables
• Provide all relevant documentation, contact details for partners, introductions to counterparts, etc. as needed to complete the work
• Office space in the country offices for the duration of work in each country/territory
• Office space in the regional office for the negotiated portion of the regional work to be carried out in person (the balance to be carried out remotely) 

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES AND TIME LINE

Deliverables: All final deliverables shall be in the form of written reports and shall be edited to a professional standard. Copies of each deliverable shall provided in electronic copy to the designated focal points in the country, regional and headquarters offices in both Microsoft word and PDF formats. Draft products and updates shall be provided in formats that are mutually agreed between the contractor and relevant UNICEF office(s).	Duration (Estimated # of Days)	Deadline
Final data diagnostic for Lebanon (written report of a length sufficient to cover all topics outlined above)	25
Final strategic action plan for Lebanon (written report of approximately 10 pages, not to exceed 15 pages unless agreed with the country office)	15
Final data diagnostic for Djibouti (written report of a length sufficient to cover all topics outlined above)	25
Final strategic action plan for Djibouti (written report of approximately 10 pages, not to exceed 15 pages unless agreed with the country office)	15
Final data diagnostic for State of Palestine (written report of a length sufficient to cover all topics outlined above)	25
Final strategic action plan for State of Palestine (written report of approximately 10 pages, not to exceed 15 pages unless agreed with the country office)	15
Final data diagnostic for regional data work (written report of a length sufficient to cover all topics outlined above)	25
Final regional priorities for data for children document (written report of approximately 10 pages, not to exceed 15 pages unless agreed with the regional office)	15
Final report documenting lessons to learn and recommendations (written report of a length sufficient to cover all topics outlined above)	10
total	Up to a total of 170 working days	All work must be completed by 31 March 2018; specific deadlines for each deliverable to be proposed and agreed in the contracting process. See below for further details.

Final products may be delivered in either English or the primary working language of the government in each country/territory. Proposals should include the language(s) in which the deliverables will be produced. 

DURATION:

The work is expected to start by 1 April 2017. The work for at least 2 countries must be completed by 31 December 2017. All work must be completed by 31 March 2018. 

Individuals and/or firms bidding for this work may propose to carry out some aspects of the work simultaneously or to undertake each aspect in sequence. The proposed work structure should be clearly outlined in the proposal.

*Travel

Please note, for travel to countries – as indicated above, most work will be carried out in the outlined UNICEF country offices. Final visit schedules will be decided based on agreements with UNICEF and contractor. For agreed country visits, the contractor will be responsible in administering its own travel.  Indicative travel costs should be included in the proposal; actual travel expenses will be reimbursed separately upon presentation of receipts based on actual cost or as per UN rates (http://icsc.un.org/rootindex.asp) as the ceiling. 

Travel expenses shall be calculated based on economy class travel, regardless of the length of travel and ii) costs for accommodation, meals and incidentals shall not exceed applicable daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rates, as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) 

Number of travelers, duration and dates of travel and travel locations will be agreed with UNICEF and the contractor prior to being arranged, undertaken and expensed. 

KEY SKILLS, TECHNICAL BACKGROUND, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED 

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS:

Consultant(s) either individual or provided by institution should meet the following qualifications:

Key competences, technical background, and experience required Master's degree in international development, public policy, or other field relevant to the work of the consultancy

• A constructive attitude, flexible approach to changing circumstances and desire to help the organization learn are all essential to success in this consultancy.

• At least 8 years of experience in policy and planning work related to international development and/or humanitarian work is required, with a strong preference for experience working with data and statistics, data systems and data specialists.
• Demonstrated skills in strategic planning, effective communication of technical topics and relationship management are all required.
• A solid understanding of UNICEF's core areas of work is required. Experience with UNICEF country and/or regional office work is highly valued and will be considered an asset.
• Excellent written and spoken language skills in English are required. Arabic and/or French skills for primary team members are strongly preferred. If the primary team members do not speak the working language of the government in the identified countries, the proposal should include a detailed plan for (and incorporate all relevant costs related to) conducting the work in the working language of the government.

• Proven ability to work in a multi-cultural environment, establish and maintain effective working relationships, and meet deadlines is required.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

For institution, you will find the relevant information on how to submit the proposal, as well as comprehensive terms of reference from the link herewith https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/54262 

Please indicate your ability, availability and 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.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.