International Consultant (Donor Funding Proposal Writer )

UNICEF is seeking the services of a committed expert who is well versed in developing integrated donor funding proposals. He will be engaged as international consultant to develop donor funding proposals for the Child Protection programme of UNICEF Ghana Country Office. This is relatable as UNICEF Ghana Office is starting its new Country Programme 2018-2022. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the various child protection specialists with overall supervision by the OIC Chief, Child Protection. This assignment is for 45 working days spread over 4 months period. The consultant is expected to work from his/her home place but will attend virtually (skype) briefing and discussions with supervisors in Accra. Only non-Ghanaians are eligible to apply.

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 of the Assignment

The Child Protection Programme of UNICEF Ghana relies heavily on funding from donors and therefore requires to fundraise for its programmes. This is particularly pertinent as the UNICEF Ghana Office is starting its new Country Programme 2018-2022 and there is need to fund raise for the new programmes. . While programme section has drafted proposals often the most challenging part is to make those proposals understandable by a non-expert audience and tailor them to specific donors taking into account the donors’ specific requirements. The Child Protection Programme will be looking for an expert consultant with proven international experience in proposal writing for a variety of donors. These Terms of Reference will be for 45 days within a four months period.

Goal:

The main aim of this consultancy is to provide the office in general and the child protection programme in particular with tools needed to engage donors for fundraising to support the Country Office Programme implementation.

Objective

More specifically, the consultant is expected to produce six generic integrated funding proposals in the English language, in an easily readable structure and format, using a mix of text, charts and pictures as appropriate that meet minimum funding proposal quality standards.

Assignment Tasks

Methodology

The consultant is expected to work from home to develop the six proposals. Whereas much of the proposal development will be done remotely, the consultant will have to attend virtually (skype) briefing and discussions with country programme team and management. It is proposed that the consultant proceeds through the following:

1. 1. Desk review of relevant programme documents:

      This will enable consultant to acquaint self with:

• Various global and national reports on MDGs and SDGs
• Key sectoral documents (Mapping of Ghana Child Protection System, Ghana Child Protection Baseline Study, National Child Protection Behavioral and Social Change Strategy)
• Relevant Policies/National Frameworks: E.g. Child and Family Welfare Policy, Justice for Children Policy, Gender Policy, Protection draft policy and Strategy, National Strategic Framework on Ending Child Marriage
• Donor /financial institutions’ strategic documents especially those relating to Child Protection
• Actions already being taken and their impact (through donor reports, current assessments and evaluations)
• Cost items for programme budgeting
• Geographical scope of current and future programme
• Challenges and weaknesses worth addressing to improve on impact of programme
• Partnerships in current and future programme implementation

• Review and if possible include at least one or two MSC story in each proposal (broader range of MSC Stories will be made available for Consultant’s review)

   

1. 1. Discussion with relevant office management and programme staff

The consultant will hold preliminary discussions with the office management and attend a briefing session with the different child protection specialists to further acquaint self with the respective programme contents and requirements of the assignment.

1. 1. Development of five draft funding proposals

The consultant, making use of all information gathered during the first two tasks, will develop a draft narrative proposal, with logframe and budget, in a format to be agreed upon with the programme team, for each of the six targeted donor categories, with their attendant budgets, for both the corporate sector donors, and the traditional (institutional) donors. These will be submitted for review by the relevant programme teams. The budget will be as detailed as possible and Excel-based.

1. 1. Revision and submission of final versions of the six funding proposals

Following review of draft proposals, Consultant will integrate feedback from reviewers and finalize the proposals.

Expected Deliverables

The end products of the consultancy will be:

1. 1. Detailed work plan and draft of the content for each proposal
   2. Six narrative integrated (generic/country program, child marriage, justice for children, system strengthening, alternative care, VAC and Community based CP system) funding proposal (in Word) with logframe and the budget files in Excel format for engagement of traditional and corporate donors;
   3. A two-page concept note for each of the six proposals.

   4. A PowerPoint presentation of each of the six proposals for donor engagement.

       N.b. The time to develop one donor proposal package (proposal, concept note and PPT) is estimated to seven days.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

Education

Years of relevant experience

A senior level international consultant is required, with the following minimum qualifications:

• Master’s degree in relevant field of study
• Minimum of eight years of professional working experience in programme planning, monitoring, evaluation and proposal writing.  A key requirement is extensive experience in writing successful funding proposals with international donors in an easily readable structure and format, using a mix of text, charts and pictures as appropriate that meet minimum funding proposal quality standards.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

• Good understanding of UNICEF policies, country programming and fundraising;
• Ability to work independently and to produce high quality deliverables under tight deadlines;
• Excellent communication skills, including strong English writing skills;
• Familiarity with the West African Region context an asset.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of institutional donor requirements and potential areas of interest;
• Strong knowledge and understanding of areas of interest of the corporate sector and their requirements

NOTE: Applications will be considered only if accompanied by the following required documentation:

1. Technical Proposal: Containing a concept note detailing the proposed methodology, activities and timelines for deliverables.

2. Financial Proposal: Lump-sum offer with the cost breakdown: Consultancy fee, and any other relevant costs.

3. Samples of two funding proposals developed recently by the consultant
4. An updated CV and Personal History Form (P11), academic qualifications and performance assessment/references of work performed earlier by the consultant.

Evaluation of proposals
A two-stage procedure shall be followed to evaluate candidate proposals, with evaluation of the technical proposal being completed prior to consideration of financial proposal.

The P11 form can be downloaded from our website at www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html.  

 All applications are treated with confidentiality.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Please indicate your ability, availability and dail rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above .  Applications submitted without a daily 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.