International individual consultant on Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP)

UNICEF Tunisia aims to design an adequate and adapted strategic framework and programme to respond to the particular needs described above about youth, especially 12 to 19 years old in Tunisia. Through the design of a programme strategy UNICEF intends to contribute to reinforce pre-existing initiatives and develop inclusive programme with potential partners at both national and local levels, the private sector and civil society. As a first step towards designing a strategic programme strategy, it’s necessary to do a situation analysis, and have a dedicated internal consultation with participation from UNICEF MENA Regional Office and develop an internal strategy note for UNICEF TCO to use to guide discussion with partners to develop further a programme strategy note (PSN) in lead up to the MTR of the country programme planned for 2018.

Terms of Reference

For the selection of an international individual consultant

on Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP)

 

Context:

In Tunisia, like everywhere in the world, youth aspire to participate more fully in everyday social life. In order to do so, these actors of change need to live in conditions that encourage the fulfillment of their imaginations, their ideals, their energy and their visions. Today, adolescents and young people are called upon to integrate into society while at the same time acting for change to ensure the momentum of progress and development.

Adolescents and youth characterize that segment of the population aged 10 to 24 years old. They represent in Tunisia around 25% of the overall population, and adolescents from 10 to 19 years old represent 18.6% (2014 census), with an almost equal distribution amongst boys and girls. This age group of the Tunisian population is confronted today by numerous constraints, which have been accentuated in the past few years such that high academic dropout rates, the lack of participation, economic and social perspectives are discouraging. Indeed, the recent national report about children out of school based on the findings of the 2013 to 2014 OOSCI report give an exact idea of the phenomenon, particularly for adolescents from 12 to 15 years old, for whom 10% (about 50, 000 per year) leave school prematurely. 11% of students in lower secondary school (55, 000 per year) are said to be “at risk of dropping out,” which represents one of the highest rates in the MENA region.

Furthermore, active participation of adolescents and young people in social life and in the decision-making processes at the community, national, regional and local levels constitute a fundamental aspect of their integration and promotion. This allows better integration of teenagers’ and young adults’ interests in the relevant domains that concern them. For example, we find that there is a lack of young adults’ participation in the choice of priorities, as well as the execution and the evaluation of programs in which they are the primary beneficiaries. Currently, sports associations represent the principal domain for the participation of young adults in civil society, and this concerns essentially boys, for whom the rate of participation is more than five times the rate of girls’ participation (14.2% compared to 3%). Teenagers rarely participate in elections and their volunteer activities are limited for all, regardless of age, gender or geographic area. Therefore, the place and role of the adolescents, along with their rights of participation, should not be limited to only the family unit.

Finally, it is important to note that adolescents experience difficult transitions between school and employment. The aptitudes and competencies acquired by adolescents at school are not necessarily demanded in the current job market. In turn, youth unemployment among 15 to 24 years olds has increased since 2011, with the official unemployment rate reaching 32.7% of male and 29.9% of female according to the International Labor Organization, Key Indicators of the Labour Market database 2015. The 15-19 age group, whom are neither in the school system, undergoing professional training nor currently employed represent the most disadvantaged group of young people. The longer this period of inactivity lasts, the more these individuals become marginalized in society and exposed to risks, thus further accentuating their socio-economic exclusion.

UNICEF’s Role: Facilitating Learning and Employability

Investing in youth learning and employability – including in particular the most disadvantaged adolescents – is a priority that UNICEF has identified for the second decade of a child’s life. This priority links directly to the achievement of SDG targets, including those related to ending poverty in all its forms, enhancing education and life learning opportunities and promoting employment and decent work for all. Strategies adopted by UNICEF to provide better opportunities for adolescents to be productive and break intergenerational cycles of poverty include 1) accelerating programming for the retention of primary school students, transition to post-primary education and secondary completion with a focus on quality and learning outcomes; 2) investing in programs that nurture adolescents as innovators and critical thinkers, both through formal or non-formal learning environments; 3) supporting life skills approaches that build the skills and knowledge required for employability and entrepreneurship; and 4) empower adolescents, girls and boys, to be an actors of change and make their voice heard and  their expectations and aspirations taken into account (U-Report…).

UNICEF Tunisia is intending to design a strategy and a programme aimed at improving the learning and employability of boys and girls aged 12 to 19 years by contributing to their acquisition of knowledge and skills and by providing them with increased opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and citizenship. This strategy and programme will follow a multi-sectoral approach and build on the evidence and expertise generated by the various sections within UNICEF (education, child and social protection, adolescents and communication). It will also draw on the experience gained by others notably GIZ, British Council, ILO, UNDP, EU and the World Bank (WB), which have undertaken extensive work in the area of employment of young people in Tunisia.  

Therefore , the office 'strategy  and programme will build on 1) good practices in areas of learning and employability of youth; 2) the complementarity of roles between these organizations; and 3) lessons learned from existing regional/country level collaboration in the area of learning and employability.

Focusing on the most disadvantaged youth, including both those who are 12 to 15 years, who dropped out of school or are at risk of dropping out, and on 15 to 19 years who are not in school or in training, is a priority for this strategy and programme proposal. Hence the strategic framework and the programme design will be multi-sectoral and address issues of exclusion, among others through social inclusion schemes, addressing social norms as well as providing better learning, citizenship and employability opportunities for youth. Priority areas could include data, diagnostics, strategies and operation.

2) Justification of the consultation:

UNICEF Tunisia aims to design an adequate and adapted strategic framework and programme to respond to the particular needs described above about youth, especially 12 to 19 years old in Tunisia. Through the design of a programme strategy UNICEF intends to contribute to reinforce pre-existing initiatives and develop inclusive programme with potential partners at both national and local levels, the private sector and civil society.   As a first step towards designing a strategic programme strategy, it’s necessary to do a situation analysis, and have a dedicated internal consultation with participation from UNICEF MENA Regional Office and develop an internal strategy note for UNICEF TCO to use to guide discussion with partners to develop further a programme strategy note (PSN)[1]in lead up to the MTR of the country programme planned for 2018.

3) Objective:

The purpose of the consultancy is through participatory and consultative processes, to assist UNICEF's Tunisia to develop and formulate an evidence-based strategic framework and programme targeting learning, citizenship, entrepreneurial ship and employability of girls and boys aged 12 to 19, in Tunisia.  This will also including establishing a mapping for a more comprehensive understanding of the pre-existing and planned interventions targeted at this group of boys and girls.

4) Expected Results:

1) Situation Analysis: Draft a detailed and concise situation analysis on youth (including mapping of all stakeholders) based on desk review of available research and studies and conduct of interviews with various stakeholders including girls and boys aged 12 to 19 years old 

2) Internal Consultation: Organize and facilitate an internal consultation dedicated to theme of Adolescents including presenting preliminary findings based on desk review and ongoing situation analysis/mapping.  The internal consultation should include also participation and engagement of UNICEF regional office (MENARO) and should be coordinated with PME to be part of the calendar of extended annual review.

3) An internal strategy note (narrative and ppt formats) for UNICEF TCO on adolescence programming that is cross sectoral to guide further discussion with partners and will serve as a baseline note for an eventual Programme Strategy Note on Adolescents. 

5) Key Tasks:

• Conduct a desk review of existing literature and conduct interviews / group consultations with ministries, NGOs, international organizations including the UN and IFIs, private sector and adolescent girls and boys aged 12 to 19 years old including those in detention centers.
• Draft a situation analysis and a mapping of all stakeholders working with this particular group of boys and girls aged 12-19 years.
• Organize and facilitate an internal consultation dedicated to theme of Adolescents including presenting preliminary findings of situation analysis and mapping.  The internal consultation should include also participation and engagement of UNICEF regional office and be coordinated with PME as per the calendar of the extended annual review tentatively planned for November.
• Through consultative and participatory processes develop and draft an internal strategy note including a working theory of change.

DESCRIPTION of Tasks

Tasks

Deliverables

Period

Deadline

1) Conduct a desk review of existing literature on adolescent issues and programmes

A brief and concise adolescents’ desk review report and accompanying PPT presenting key findings

20 working days

1 month after signing contract

2) Develop a Situational Analysis by identify main issues and gaps in country through examining not just key statistics but also existing and planned interventions (by UNICEF, other agencies, NGOs, civil society organizations and government) that contribute to adolescents learning, employability and participation in Tunisia.

1) A cartography of relevant actors and stakeholders in the domain of adolescents (adolescent development, learning, employability and participation)

2) An Situational Analysis focused on Adolescents and accompanying PPT presenting key findings

3) a Report as an Annex to the SitAn on adolescents  to summarize the consultations with other organizations and keys stakeholders

 

 

30 working days

2 months after contract signing

 3) Organize and Facilitate an Internal Consultation among the UNICEF team, including participation of UNICEF MENA Regional Office

Concept Note for the internal consultation with agenda

Summary Report of consultation

 20  days

3 months after contract signing

NB. Date TBC in collaboration with PME

4) Develop an Internal Strategy Note for UNICEF TCO and identify potential entry points for collaboration among organizations and institutions, stakeholders including adolescents themselves. Propose recommendations for UNICEF TCO.

 

Internal Strategy Note which includes a working Theory of Change on Adolescent Intersectoral programming and includes outcomes of the internal consultation and with recommendations for UNICEF TCO

Accompanying ppt summarizing the note and visualization of working theory of change

30   days (including revisions)

5 months after contract signing

 

 

6. Duration, fees and location of the mission:

The mission shall start after the signing of the contract for a total period of five (5) months. Payment will be based on the financial offer of the consultant and UN rate. The payment schedules will be as follows:

•    30 % upon submission of a comprehensive and concise desk review analysis (narrative and PPT formats

•    35% upon submission of situation Analysis document (narrative and ppt of key findings) and mapping of stakeholders 

•    35% upon submission of the Internal Strategy Note (narrative and ppt formats)

The consultant will be based in UNICEF Tunisia country office in Tunis. UNICEF TCO will provide a workspace and access to internet for the consultant but the consultant will be expected to provide their own laptop. If required, UNICEF TCO may facilitate for the consultant a local SIM card to facilitate communication with partners.

The consultant will be expected to cover the costs of their travel and local transport and these costs should be included in the financial offer of the consultant. The financial offer of the consultant should include the average cost of local transport within Tunis, field travel within the country (average cost on the basis of minimum of 3 field missions) and international travel from/to the country of residence to Tunisia on the basis of the cost of 1 economy class ticket.  The financial offer of the consultant may be subject to negotiation with UNICEF country office as per UNICEF rules, policies and procedures.

The cost related to the internal consultation will be borne by UNICEF Tunisia country office.

7. Key competences, technical background, and experience required 

• An advanced university degree in social studies, education or a related field

• Strong programme design skills including formulation of strategic framework, programme and  proposal writing, and/or management of programs related to youth especially out of school and socially excluded adolescents 

• 8-10 years working experience on adolescent issues including but not limited to programmatic experience in child protection, education, C4D, or health.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills  
• Sensibility to gender and Human rights

• Ability to work efficiently and effectively with various stakeholders internally and from multiple organizations.

• Good French speaking and writing skills and Strong English speaking/writing skills 

• Prior experience with UNICEF and/or UN an asset 

8.         Supervision: The consultant will be under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Tunisia Deputy Representative, Shameza Abdulla.

Other colleagues whom may provide specific technical support to facilitate the work of the consultant include the UNICEF Tunisia ADAP Officer, PME section,  and UNICEF regional office for MENA (MENARO Adolescent, Gender, Education and Child Protection Advisors)

9.  The Application Process:

Interested candidates should send:

- An expression of interest letter

-A writing sample (in French or English) which could be either be a strategy document, a project proposal, a policy working paper or advocacy/communication document indicating the product, year of publication and the supervisor

- A detailed CV highlighting similar experiences with the attached certifications and experience required;

- A list of at least 3 references of former/current supervisors complete with contact information of listed references