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Consultancy for the preparation of the 2018 country office annual letters

Panamá

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Panamá
  • Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Planning
  • Closing Date: Closed

The objective of this consultancy is to produce: a) produce a concise report of the internal LACRO review of 2017 Country Office Annual Reports (COARs); and to b) prepare highly analytical and concise management letters to 24 country offices on their performance and priorities, based on discussions in the LACRO review of the 2017 COARs, technical contributions by LACRO advisors and management and using other available documents.

During December 2017 to March 2018, the UNICEF Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC Regional Office) complies with various established deadlines for: (a) reviewing the 2017 annual workplans for the regional office, (b) reviewing annual reports of 24 country offices and providing feedback for their 2018 workplanning, (c) preparing the 2017 regional annual report, and (d) planning for the first year of the implementation of the regional office management plan for 2018-2021. 

As part of the oversight and quality assurance functions, the RO will prepare country office annual letters signed by the Regional Director and be sent to each of all 24 country offices in the LAC Region.  These annual letters will provide comments and guidance to the 24 country offices for 2018, mainly based on: (a) the 2017 COARs, (b) the information gathered during the missions to and consultations with the country offices by regional advisers and specialists in 2017, and (c) additional inputs from the discussion during the annual review meeting of country offices annual reports and other inputs which will be held at the regional office in the week of 22 January 2018. 

In this context, given the need to have these final documents with a good editorial and highly analytical quality for the office and public use, the Planning, M&E Section is seeking the support of a consultant who compiles and consolidates a variety of existing documents and technical inputs provided by RO staff members, edit and produce analytical and concise documents. The consultancy will take place during the period from December 2017 through mid-March 2018.

Purpose of the Assignment

The objective of this consultancy is to produce: a) produce a concise report of the internal LACRO review of 2017 Country Office Annual Reports (COARs); and to b) prepare highly analytical and concise management letters to 24 country offices on their performance and priorities, based on discussions in the LACRO review of the 2017 COARs, technical contributions by LACRO advisors and management and using other available documents.  

Main Tasks Related to the Job:

The consultant will be responsible for carrying out the following major tasks for the preparation of the Country Office (CO) annual letters for 24 offices (final draft):

  1. Review the 2017 country office annual letters and other relevant documents, as a reference, by 31th December 2017.

  2. Prepare a summary report of the review meeting of the 2017 COARs. This 3 -4 day meeting will be organised in the week of 22 January 2018.  The report is due 30th January 2018.

  3. Prepare 24 country office annual letters:  the final draft due no later than 10th March 2018.     
  4. Review 2017 COARs submitted by 24 country offices (due on 15th January 2018), as appropriate (mostly in English, while a few in Spanish).
  5. Participate as a Rapporteur in the 2017 COAR review meeting in LAC RO in in the week of 22 January (3-4 days), taking notes of relevant feedback during the discussion and conclusion for each country during the meeting. The meeting will be in English and Spanish.  A meeting report, focusing on the summary conclusion for each office is required by 30th January. Follow-up and discuss, as needed, on the inputs with the relevant RO staff during or following the week of the meeting. 
  6. Based on the letter outline (provided by the RO), compile the inputs from different sections of the office (sent by 2nd February) and incorporate the feedback from the COAR review meeting, and prepare the first drafts (consolidated inputs of 24 letters with editing (one for each of the 24 office)) for the RO review, by 15th February. The letters will be in English.
  7. Incorporate the feedback from the RO, and prepare the second draft of 24 letters for the senior management review.
  8. Incorporate feedback from the senior management and any other final feedback from the others, and prepare the final third drafts of 24 letters, by 10th March.    

Deliverables

  • Summary report of the meeting on the review of Country Office Annual Reports
  • Three draft letters of 24 country office annual letters – Microsoft WORD documents.

Performance indicators

  • Summary COAR review meeting:  Delivery of summary report by end January.
  • 24 country office annual letters: Delivery of the three draft letters by the respective deadlines.

Qualifications and specialized knowledge Requirement

Qualification and necessary experience:

  • University degree in Social Science or any related field.
  • Proven experience of producing documents aimed at disseminating to the broad public.
  • Strong analytical skills to compile and consolidate a variety of inputs and produce concise and easy-to-understand documents. 
  • IT literate with good experience in managing/using WORD, EXCEL, PowerPoint as well as internet. 
  • Proven experience of having worked with in a multi-cultural environment.
  • Strong inter-personal skills.
  • Ability to work with little supervision.
  • Creativeness and innovation in reporting will be highly appreciated.

Language skills: Fluency required in English and Spanish (oral and written).

Travels

To minimise costs, LACRO aims recruiting a consultant for this assignment who lives in Panama and should bring their own device.

Estimated duration of the contract and proposal

15 December 2017 – 15th March 2018 (but does not require full time throughout this period)

Consultant’s work place

It is desirable that the consultant works in the UNICEF LAC regional office (allowing for easy liaison with stakeholders) and may occasionally work from his/her home (based on agreement with supervisor).  However, this is negotiable.   

Fee, payment schedule, and other charges

Fees:  Applicants are requested to submit an economic and technical proposal for the consultancy with the proposed total fee based on this TOR and/or according to their experience and competence in the area of expertise.

Payment schedule: The consultant will be paid against their delivery of the two final products (the final draft summary report of the COAR review meeting and the final draft of 24 country office letters) as described in Section 4 (Expected outputs and products), upon satisfactory delivery.   

To view our competency framework, please click here

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.

This vacancy is now closed.