National Consultancy on Review of Viet Nam’s Progress toward Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Child-Focused Targets and Indicators as Contribution to the Viet Nam’s SDG Voluntary National Review , Ha Noi, Viet Nam

To review Viet Nam’s progress toward SDG child-focused targets and indicators as contribution to the SDG Voluntary National Review (VNR)

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: 

On 25-27 September 2015, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda was adopted at the United Nations General Assembly Session where top leaders of Viet Nam affirmed Viet Nam's support and commitment to focus all necessary resources as well as to mobilize all ministries, sectors, localities, organizations, communities and people to successfully implement the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In fulfilling the commitment, in May 2017, the Government of Viet Nam issued the National Action Plan (NAP) to implement the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The NAP consists of 17 goals and 169 specific indicators along with specific tasks for the implementation of VSDGs.

The Viet Nam Sustainable Development Agenda 21 Office (Viet Nam Agenda 21 Office  - VA21), located under the Department of Science, Education, Natural Resources and Environment/Ministry of Planning and Investment (DSENRE/MPI), is the lead agency for the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda in Viet Nam. Currently, the VA21 Office is actively coordinating stakeholders to implement the National Action Plan for the 2030 Agenda.

The High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development under the ECOSOC is held annually to review the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Viet Nam has registered to participate in the presentation of the Voluntary National Review on the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals under HLPF 2018. The Prime Minister has assigned this important task to the Ministry of Planning and Investment to implement the National Action Plan for the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

In the framework of the 2017-2021 Cooperation Programme between the Government of Viet Nam and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the project "Implementation of children's rights through integrating children's rights into Socio-economic Development Plans and effective utilization of UNICEF's support in the country program 2017-2021" has been developed to help ensure the realization of the rights of children in Viet Nam through strengthening the national capacity to prioritize children's rights in planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation of the SEDP as well as effectively utilizing of UNICEF's support to Vietnam for the period 2017-2021. One of the key activity groups is to coordinate the monitoring and reporting of child-related SDG indicators in the National SDG Monitoring and Reporting Framework and the Voluntary National Review of Vietnam, contributing to the National SDGs Implementation Report of Vietnam.

Children are an important group which is both direct and indirect impacted by 11 goals and 28 targets of SDGs[1]. In recent years, Viet Nam has gained remarkable achievements in implementing the Millennium Development Goals, especially those related to children. Children related issues continue to be emphasized in Viet Nam's Sustainable Development Goals (VSDGs). Therefore, it is essential to acknowledge and assess the achievements made in recent years on issues related to children in Viet Nam as well as to identify the shortcomings and constraints as the basis to formulate solutions to promote the implementation of SDG related to children in the future. Such assessment should also be reflected in the Viet Nam National Voluntary Review at the HLPF 2018.

Department of Social, Education, Natural Resources and Environment (DSENRE)/MPI has requested UNICEF to recruit a national independent consultant to provide a report on children and SDG implementation in Viet Nam, as an input to the VNR. Accordingly, this Terms of Reference is developed to recruit a national consultant who is qualified to support UNICEF Viet Nam and the VA21 Office of the Ministry of Planning and Investment in reviewing Viet Nam's progress toward SDG child-focused targets and indicators. This assignment will provide important information and inputs for the preparation of the Viet Nam National Voluntary Review at HLPF 2018.

Objective and tasks

Objective: To assist UNICEF Viet Nam and the VA21 Office in reviewing and developing a report on the progress of Viet Nam toward SDG child-focused targets and indicators in the context of VSDGs implementation. During the assignment, the consultant should closely coordinate and exchange information with consultants working on the development of the VNR provided by UNDP and GIZ to ensure the consistency of contents and information among reports as well as timely sharing of information among consultants.

Key Tasks:

1. Review documents related to the SDG National Voluntary Review (VNR); child-related reports from ministries, agencies, national and international agencies; reports on the assessment of child-related SDGs by national and international organizations and other relevant documents.
2. Prepare an Inception Report with a work plan and the detailed outline of the Report on Viet Nam's progress toward SDG child-focused targets and indicators in the context of VSDGs implementation. The detailed outline of the Report should be in line with the general outline of the VNR and should provide appropriate inputs to the master VNR Report. Data processing and information analysis should adopt the methodology selected for the master VNR.
3. Support UNICEF Viet Nam and the VA21 Office in coordinating and connecting with relevant ministries and agencies to get necessary information and data for the development of this Report. The consultant should ensure the highest level of involvement of all stakeholders in the development of the Report. The consultant shall collaborate with the General Statistics Office (GSO) and other relevant ministries and agencies to ensure that they would provide sufficient data that are under their responsibility or reporting accountability.
4. Review the data and information collected to ensure the consistency and alignment with the master VNR's outline.
5. Write up a report reviewing Viet Nam's progress toward SDG child-focused targets and indicators in the context of VSDGs implementation which is in line with the outline approved by UNCEF and VA21 Office; Revise and finalize the report after consultation with VA 21 Office, UNICEF and other stakeholders.
6. Prepare the contents and provide support for consultative sessions on the draft child-focused Report; Participate in the consultation and finalization of the master National Voluntary Review, especially with regards to contents related to children.
7. Suggest SDGs children related targets, indicators and a roadmap with key milestones of 2010, 2025 and 2030.

Report directly to UNICEF Viet Nam and the Office of Sustainable Development during the assignment upon request.

Detailed Tasks and Deliverables required in Vietnamese as per the attached TOR  Consultancy Notice Eng 2017.11.14 TOR bao cao tre em..docx    

Detailed Deliverables in Vietnamese as per TOR  Consultancy Notice Viet 2017.11.14 TOR bao cao tre em..docx

Qualifications/ Specialised Knowledge and Experience: 

• Advanced degree in the social sciences, laws, natural resources management or other related fields;
• Extensive knowledge of MDGs implementation in Viet Nam, child related issues and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda;
• At least 15 years working in the sustainable development field, development of monitoring and evaluation reports on sustainable development, MDGs and child related issues;
• Previous experience in processing and synthesizing complex information into key messages and writing high quality publications on sustainable development and child related issues;
• Excellent analytical and reporting skills;
• Excellent command of English, both written and oral.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply online and submit the following documents:

1) Letter of Interest and samples of previous studies, preferably on similar topics;

2) A lump sum financial proposal that includes all expected costs for the entire consultancy period.

3) Resume and the Consultant must complete and submit a P-11 form ( UN Personal History Form )

4) Three references.

Closing date for receipt of applications is  Sunday 26 November 2017 at 23:55 hours Viet Nam Time.

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 organization.