Roster of Inclusive Social Policy (ISP) Consultants to be engaged by UNICEF offices across different locations in India

Consultancy Roster

Roster of Inclusive Social Policy (ISP) Consultants to be engaged by UNICEF offices across different locations in India

LOCATION: New Delhi / any of the 13 UNICEF Field Offices (Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Guwahati, Hyderabad/Telangana, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, Raipur and Ranchi)

VALIDITY OF ROSTER: FOUR YEARS

 CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSION: 6 May 2018

1. BACKGROUND:

 Inclusive Social policy Programme aims to achieve social policy and strategies that inform more effective and efficient planning, budgeting and implementation of social service programmes for reducing inequities and gender inequalities especially for the most vulnerable and marginalized children and adolescents. The vision of the programme is; therefore, to strengthen government systems and financing to facilitate reduction of child deprivations, support development and implementation of effective policies of social and economic inclusion, especially for the most marginalized and vulnerable children and adolescents.

The Inclusive Social Policy outcome will (1) support evidence based planning and development of integrated social protection policies and  programs and its implementation towards integrated social protection systems across different departments and ministries (2) support in enhancing fiscal space and strengthening public finance systems for children, adolescents and women at national  and state level, and (3) support governance structures and systems at national and decentralised levels to plan, implement and deliver social services for children by using quality data research, evaluation.

ISP Programme adapted the following strategies and approaches for achieving the outcome result, which addressed key bottlenecks:

• Strengthening government capacity at national and state levels for policy and law implementation for quality of social services to improve or operationalize the basic elements of social protection systems for children; for evidence based planning, budgeting, implementing and evaluating national policies with stronger equity focus; to mainstream SDGs into polices and plans and monitor at national and decentralised levels (states and Panchayat);
• Fostering institutional links towards integrated social protection systems between multiple social protection programs present in India across different departments and ministries and where relevant private sector partnerships;
• Strengthening governance and social accountability mechanism at national and decentralized levels by supporting generation of disaggregated data for all relevant sectors that affect wellbeing of children, its care-giver and adolescents and also by using quality data and evidence from research good practice and monitoring.
• Evidence generation by using innovative methods and technologies, research, evaluation and global knowledge exchange through South to South cooperation. Identification and bridging of data gaps in order to be able to effectively plan, develop programmes and monitor programmes with a strong feedback mechanism for better implementation.
• Policy dialogue and advocacy to strengthen policies, effective planning and public finance management at state and central level with government partners with cross-cutting mandates and undertake gender mainstreaming in sectoral policy frameworks.

Building a pool of highly qualified consultants who can provide technical assistance to develop institutional capacity of our partners at different levels is paramount in achieving the ISP programme outcome and outputs.

2. PURPOSE:

UNICEF aims to build a pool of pre-qualified high-calibre candidates to be hired as ‘Inclusive Social Policy (ISP) Consultants’, from which UNICEF country office and different state offices can quickly select and fill a requirement through a faster contracting process as soon as a need is identified.

Candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to apply. Following which, a desk review of their skills and experience will be done to determine whether they qualify for the ISP Roster. The process will ensure all candidates in a Roster Group are evaluated prior to recommendation for a specific consultancy opportunity. Successful candidates will be notified and placed in a ISP Roster Group for a four-year period. However, engagement of identified consultants for specific assignments would be as per the terms and conditions specified in the specific contract entered into.

The Roster of ISP Consultants, once in place, will allow programme colleagues to select three or more potential candidates from the roster for further appraisal and selection of one candidate, rather than going through a formal advertisement process for each consultancy assignment. Ideally, this will expedite the placement of consultants (both short term and long term) and also provide the supervisor the scope to choose from a vast pool of potential candidates with varied backgrounds and experience.  In this context, should the currently on-board consultants with UNICEF be interested in being considered for future opportunities with UNICEF, they need to apply to the roster.

3. LOCATION:

 The position would be responsible for providing technical support to national / state / divisional / district level/ sub-district levels (in certain cases) Inclusive Social Policy Programme in UNICEF supported states in India.  The position would be based at Country Office or State or selected district HQs within the states. Possible locations are: New Delhi, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Guwahati, Hyderabad/Telangana, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, Raipur and Ranchi. 

  4. VALIDITY OF ROSTER:

The roster once established would be valid for a period of 4-years.

 5. QUALIFICATION, SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Education: Advanced university degree in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or other relevant disciplines.
• Technical knowledge: Excellent technical knowledge about public policy, social protection, MIS and data and RBM especially in context of India
• Language: Fluency in English and Hindi is required. Knowledge of other local Indian language as relevant to the state is an asset. Good negotiation and influencing skills supported by excellent communication and presentation skills is desirable.
• Computer literate and conversant with MS Office and its application, internet, e-mail,
• Working knowledge on analysis package like SPSS/ EP-Info/STATA  will be an added advantage or required for specific data analysis tasks
• Knowledge/familiarity with the social policies for children in India
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment and to establish harmonious and effective working relationships with governmental, non-governmental and civil society organizations

Please submit your online application before COB 6 May 2018.

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain four separate attachments:

1. 1. 1. A Cover letter explaining the motivation for applying and also explaining how the qualifications and skill-set of the candidate are suitable for this position (to be uploaded online)
      2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) (to be uploaded online)
      3. 2 Samples of relevant publications/ reports – at least 2 work samples can include relevant reports; publications; chapters in books and related evidence of work (You can either share a file with the links to your work samples or you can upload the documents) (to be uploaded under other supporting documents).
      4. Technical Experience Template as per template attached below.  Please do not forget to specify your name in the file while saving. (to be uploaded under other supporting documents).                             

   ISP CONSULTANT ROSTER - TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE TEMPLATE.docx

It is mandatory to submit the work samples and the technical experience template as you will observe from the advertisement that marks have been assigned to these criteria for arriving at the most suitable candidate. Without these two documents your application will be considered incomplete and invalidated.

The criteria for technical evaluation will be as follows:

1. Cover Letter – explaining the motivation for applying and also explaining how the qualifications and skill-set of the candidate are suitable for this position (7 Min Marks/ 10 Max Marks)

2. Relevant educational qualifications of the candidate (14 Min/ 20 Max)

3. Relevant work/technical experience (21 Min/30Max)

4. Two Work Samples (28 Min/ 40 Max) 

Candidates' who score 70 marks and above and also score the minimum points against each of the above sub-criteria will be considered for inclusion on the roster

Total points to qualify in overall technical evaluation     Min 70/Max 100

• Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.
• Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.
• Please note, UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the process.

For any clarifications, please contact:

UNICEF

Supply & Procurement Section

73, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003

Telephone # +91-11-24606516 (Direct)

Fax # +91-11-24391410; Email: indconsultants@unicef.org