National Committees’ Volunteers: Research Consultancy, PFP, Geneva (3 months)

This consultancy has been established to conduct an assessment of NatComs’ volunteer initiatives and their impact, as well as collecting successful practices, and identifying challenges and risks. This analysis will provide a comprehensive overview of current volunteer initiatives and recommendations on how their contributions can be strengthened. This study will also serve to share examples and enable NatComs and country offices to learn from each other’s approaches.

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.

Background

UNICEF is the world’s leading international agency focused on children, working in 157 countries and territories to save, protect and enhance the lives of children. Around the world, a large number of people support UNICEF’s work for children either by donating funds, campaigning and/or volunteering to advance children’s rights. As part of UNICEF’s new Strategic Plan 2018-2021, the organization will put more emphasis on developing opportunities for volunteers as an enabler in realizing the goals of the plan. At the global level, a working group (led by the Volunteers’ team in NY Headquarter) is developing a strategy and approach for building a global UNICEF Volunteer Force.

Currently there are 34 UNICEF National Committees (NatComs) in the world, each established as an independent, national NGO. The role of the NatCom is raising funds and advocating domestically for children; programmatic work (service delivery) is not part of their remit. In several NatCom countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, the US, France, Finland and others, volunteers already constitute a force of valuable contributors to the NatCom’s mission, through their work to advocate, communicate and raise funds for children. 

Purpose of the Assignment:

As UNICEF embarks on developing a stronger, global volunteer force that can have real impact for children, it will be critical for the organization to review experience to date. This consultancy has, therefore, been established to conduct an assessment of NatComs’ volunteer initiatives and their impact, as well as collecting successful practices, and identifying challenges and risks. This analysis will provide a comprehensive overview of current volunteer initiatives and recommendations on how their contributions can be strengthened. This study will also serve to share examples and enable NatComs and country offices to learn from each other’s approaches.

The assessment will cover approximately 15-20 UNICEF NatComs. It will focus mostly (but not exclusively) on those Committees that actively work with volunteers. Tentative scope would include:

• Focus on NatComs with >500 active volunteers (12 NatComs),
• plus a few NatComs with smaller but successful volunteers teams (2-3),
• plus a couple of NatComs that are not active on volunteers or that have closed/reduced their volunteer operations

Final scope to be confirmed as part of the project proposal, once consultant is on-board.

Responsibilities

The consultant will have the following responsibilities:

1. Mapping exercise: Independently conduct a mapping exercise to assess the profile of the volunteer engagement conducted in National Committees and its impact. Carry out desk research and interviews to compile information regarding National Committee work around volunteers. This will entail consultation with the NatComs (management team, staff managing volunteers and volunteers themselves), with guidance from the Standing Group of National Committees, PFP and the Volunteers team in NY HQ. ; Output will be a presentation of key findings. A combination of in person visits to relevant NatComs and virtual communication is to be foreseen.

This stage is expected to cover the following elements, in addition to any other aspect identified by the consultant:

a. Volunteer force
    i. Number of volunteers
    ii. Profile (age, gender, occupation, geographic concentration)
    iii. Attitudes and motivation (personal benefits / needs met)
    iv. Satisfaction level and causes
     v. Other forms of engagement with UNICEF? (Are there distinctions / links between volunteers, donors and other forms of support?
          Supporter journey concept).
    vi. Are they engaged with other non-profit organizations? How?
b. Main activities done by the volunteers
    i. What types of activities do volunteers do? (How close do they get to service delivery?)
    ii. Do they engage in single-activities or multiple activities? Do they repeat?
    iii. Assess total volunteering impact in terms of:
                        1. Income
                        2. Influence
                        3. Brand
                        4. Perceptions of UNICEF
c. Governance
     i. Organization of the volunteers, reporting lines
     ii. Volunteer-staff relationship
     iii. Volunteer management
                       1. Are targets set? How are results / activities monitored and measured?
                       2. What are the processes and systems for communication with the volunteers? Availability and utilization of digital platforms?
      iv. Role of volunteers in the NatCom governance (if any)
d. Volunteers journey
      i.  Recruitment
      ii. Training
      iii. Loyalty (how do NatComs engage and motivate volunteers, do volunteers identify as part of a community)
      iv. Resignation
e. Financial assessment: volunteers cost, funds raised by volunteers, ROI.
       i. How to measure / value the non-financial impact?
f.  Legal requirements, regulatory systems
g. Risk assessment and risk management:
       i.  Practices to assess and manage risk
       ii. Specific risks already experienced or mitigated
h. Volunteers as part of the NatCom strategy

2. Collection of volunteer documentation: as part of the information gathering, the consultant will gather all documentation available from the National Committees regarding volunteers. This includes (but is not limited to) strategy or planning documents, volunteer training decks, reports of results, links to volunteers-related sites, pictures, subscription forms, newsletters, job descriptions, etc. Output will be a deck with these materials, classified in a user-friendly manner.

3. Analysis of the outcome and production of a final report: Beyond the mapping itself, the consultant will be asked to provide an in-depth analysis of the results, including identification of best practices and risks, and anticipated future needs/plans of individual National Committees.

4. Sharing the results: Facilitate the dissemination of the results among relevant identified stakeholders, to share and explain the findings of the assessment, for UNICEF to then decide on actions. (Format of the dissemination is TBC – it may be done via webinars and/or in person meeting).

Timeframe and deliverables

The contract will be for a period of three months, with an expected start date of 18 September (or earlier if possible), until 17 November 2017. Compensation will be paid upon receipt of satisfactory deliverables, and based on a daily rate for the number of days worked during the consultancy period, up to a maximum of 60 working days.

Deliverables will include:

1. Mapping report including findings of desk research and interviews – details of current/recent volunteer initiatives, interview reports, examples, etc.
2. Compilation and classification of volunteer-related materials.
3. Final report including research analysis and key conclusions.
4. PowerPoint summary of key findings and conclusions.

Duty Station

The consultancy can be either office-based in Geneva (preferred) or home-based (in Europe). If home-based, the incumbent will be expected to provide his/her own IT equipment, and to be present in Geneva during 2 non-consecutive weeks. Travel is expected during the period of the consultancy (specific amount will depend on final research outline).

Reporting

The incumbent will work within UNICEF’s Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division. S/he will report to the Chief Advocacy and NatCom Relations Manager, responsible for overseeing the project, under the overall guidance of the Private Sector Engagement Deputy Director and the NatCom Relations Deputy Director. The project will evolve in close consultation with a Steering Group (composed of representatives from the NY HQ Volunteers team, PFP and NatComs representatives).

Qualifications and Experience

Master’s degree

Relevant educational background with extensive research and analytical skills

Minimum of 10 years’ professional experience, out of which at least 5 years in research, consulting, strategy development, and/or monitoring and evaluation of organizational development

Familiarity with volunteerism and non-profit management and/or with similar studies on volunteerism

Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills

Analytical and conceptual thinking

Ability to work independently and within a set time frame

Fluency in English, knowledge of French or Spanish an asset

Familiarity with the work of UNICEF and National Committees is an asset

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Besides fluency in written and spoken English, the following competencies are required (I, LII and LIII indicate the level required on a three point scale, LIII being the highest): 

Core Competencies (Required)           

• Communication [Level III] 
• Working with People [Level II] 
• Drive for Results   [Level III]  

 Functional Competencies (Required)

• Formulating Strategies and Concepts [Level III]
• Analyzing [Level III] 
• Relating and Networking [Level II]
• Persuading and Influencing [Level II]

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

How To Apply

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a CV and a cover letter (no more than 1 page) indicating why he/she is qualified for this project and showcasing past relevant experiences.

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. Also, please mention the earliest date you can start. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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.