International consultancy for supporting the development of a guideline/circular on integrating children related sustainable development goals into socio-economic development plans and sectoral plans, Viet Nam

To ensure that the risk and resilience dimension as they relate to children are addressed in national planning guideline /circular on integrating child-sensitive sustainable development goals into socio-economic development plans.

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.

Consultancy Title

Assessment of Capacity Gap of Central Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control (CCNDPC) and Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority (VDMA) and development of an action plan to close the gap in relation to Child-Centered Disaster Risk Reduction (CCDRR).

Background

In 2015, Viet Nam adopted the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and affirmed Viet Nam's support and commitment to successfully implement the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. All sustainable development goals are to make the world a better place for children. Children are both directly and indirectly impacted by 11 goals and 28 targets of sustainable development goals[1]. In fulfilling the commitment, in May 2017, the Government of Viet Nam issued the National Action Plan  to implement the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The national action plan consists of 17 goals and 115 specific indicators along with specific tasks for the implementation of sustainable development goals. With UNICEF's support, the national plan of action has identified 13 sustainable development goals are directly linked to children and 51 specific indicators across sectors. Currently, UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Planning and Investment to review the progress towards these children related sustainable development goals and their indictors as part of Viet Nam's preparation for its Voluntary National Review on sustainable development goals which is planned to be completed in the end of 2018.

Moreover, Viet Nam is globally ranked as the seventh most affected country by climate change. The Government of Viet Nam forecasts that by 2050, temperature will rise by 1-2 degrees Celsius, potentially causing higher incidences of droughts with greater intensity and increased rainfall that will result in a one-meter sea level rise along the coastal regions. Climate change and disaster risk clearly present an urgent challenge for people's lives and it is affecting the realization of children's rights. An average of 420 people is killed annually, and economic loss is estimated at 0.91 % of annual GDP. The 2015-2016 drought which hit several regions of Viet Nam, particularly the Mekong Delta, South Central and Central Highlands that adversely affected an estimated 520,000 children and one million women by malnutrition and acute water shortages. Children's access to food, water and education is threatened during such crises and the pressure on communities increases children's exposure to violence, exploitation and abuse. Therefore, Viet Nam is committed to the Sendai framework (2015-2030) which is aimed at the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries.

Socio-economic development plan is a primary development framework for the Government of Viet Nam and the Government has been committed to both sustainable development goals agenda and Sendai framework. However, the existing socio-economic development plans are not fully aligned with the targets of these international frameworks. Further, socio-economic development plans are not based on the approach of disaster risk reduction for resilience and climate change adaptation despite the occurrence of severe disasters and serious impacts of climate change on children who are among the most vulnerable groups affected by disasters and climate change. Children are the centre of sustainable development targets for sustainable development. It is important that socio-economic development plans and sectoral plans are more child sensitive. As such, it is time now to have a guidance on developing socio-economic development plans that are child sensitive, informed by disaster risks and adapted with climate change in order to achieve sustainable development for all.

In response to this context, under 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 by UNICEF and the Ministry of Planning and Investment  to help ensure the realization of the rights of children in Viet Nam. One of the key activities is to support the development of a guideline/circular to integrate children-sensitive sustainable development goals into socio-economic development plans and sectoral plans at both national and sub-national level.

Target

The main purpose of this consultancy is to ensure that the risk and resilience dimension as they relate to children are integrated and addressed in national planning guideline /circular. The anticipated output is the MPI planning guideline /circular on integrating child-sensitive sustainable development targets into socio-economic development plans, taking into account the climate change-related natural disaster risks. 

Methodology & tasks and expected deliverables

This assignment should be based on desk review on international frameworks in relation to sustainable development goals, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation as well as international good practices in sustainable development goals and risks-informed planning and consultations and discussion with relevant national counterparts, particularly the Ministry of Planning and Investment (Department of Science, Education, Natural Resource and Environment and Department of Agricultural Economics) and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Central Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control).

Detailed Tasks and Deliverables as per the attached TOR  Rev ToR for intl consultant to support CCDRR-CC guideline.docx

Management 

The consultant will be reporting to Chief of Social Policy and Governance.

Performance indicators for evaluation

• Quality of deliverables meet the standards set by UNICEF and specifications outlined in the contract.
• Deliverables are submitted in a timely manner as indicated in the contract.
• Technical assistance delivered in a contextualized and tactful manner, drawing on the input the partners.
• Performance evaluation will be completed at the end of the assignment. 

Qualification/Specialized Knowledge and Experience

Education

At least Master's degree or equivalent in social sciences, climate change and disaster risk reduction or any other related technical field with special expertise in sustainable development goals related to climate action.

Skills and Experience

• At least 10 years of experience in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction;
• Must have experience in the field of socio-economic development, child rights, equity, gender and human rights;  
• Good knowledge of socio-economic context of Viet Nam is an asset;
• Excellent influence and negotiation skills. 

Evaluation criteria for selection of consultants

The proposals will be evaluated using the cumulative analysis method with a split 70% technical and 30% financial scoring. The proposal with the highest cumulative scoring will be awarded the contract.

Applications will be evaluated technically and points are attributed based on how well the proposal meets the requirements of the Terms of Reference using the guidelines detailed in the table below:

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract may be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

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

1) A detailed technical proposal of maximum 10 pages which clearly explains how to deliver the required tasks;

2) A lump sum financial proposal that includes all expected costs for the entire consultancy period (including consultancy fee, travel, allowance and misc. costs)

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

4) Three referees.

Closing date for receipt of applications is Thursday 10 May 2018 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 organisation.