Single Window Initiative - National Coordinator Consultancy (11 months), Lusaka Zambia

Exciting opportunity to coordinate the Single Window Social Protection Service Delivery pilot phase.

The UNICEF Programme of Cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) is designed to address and mitigate the threat of poverty the country’s children face, while responding to the needs with interventions addressing the multiple causative factors.

In response to the combination these threats involve the Programme supports national efforts to improve service delivery in the key areas of: child health and nutrition and HIV and AIDS, quality basic education, water, sanitation and hygiene education, child protection and social policy, advocacy and communication.

To find out more about UNICEF’s work in Zambia, please visit https://www.unicef.org/zambia/.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of the Consultancy: To coordinate the Single Window Social Protection Service Delivery pilot phase.

Background

The National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) is a comprehensive policy framework that links different pillars and interventions across the life-cycle. However, these linkages are not effectively coordinated. Referral of clients relies on individual officers as opposed to systematic mechanisms and integrated databases. The foregoing implies significant lack of coordination in implementation across different programmes as many of these programmes use liaison officers at the community level that focus only on their target groups and interventions and do not try to link with the liaison officers from other programmes.

In furtherance of the recommendation by the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) on implementation of an Integrated Basic Social Protection Framework as a key strategy to strengthen coordination of social protection systems, Government in collaboration with the United Nations is supporting the design, development, piloting and evaluation of measures to enhance coordination of social protection programmes at district and community level in selected districts of Lunga, Mambwe, Mpulungu, Mongu, Kafue & Samfya through establishment of referral systems, which systems will then feed into the higher- level coordination mechanisms at district, provincial and subnational levels.

The objectives of the Laboratories were essentially:

1. To facilitate identification of coordination challenges and discussion of possible steps to promote social protection coordination at district and community level.
2. To facilitate exchange of best practice, and practical learning from experiences by different districts.
3. To develop a roadmap for concrete support to be provided by the project in contributing to enhancing and strengthening coordination in social protection service delivery in selected districts.

The single referral system is a one-stop shop hosted in decentralized government structures that aims to distribute social services and transfers close to the people, empower local communities and subnational administration in the delivery of social services and transfers, and increase access to information, transparency, and traceability through efficient management information systems and appeals mechanisms. Essentially, the System interlinks the “back-office” integration/coordination functions (within programme managers, across district administration units) and front-office coordination/integration functions.  This initiative remains critical in enhancing and strengthening social protection service delivery and potential for higher poverty alleviation impact by building a harmonized and coordinated system.

As a key step in the establishment of district level coordination structures and systems, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) convened a pre-pilot workshop with the objective of identifying coordination challenges and exploring possible steps to promote social protection coordination at district and community levels. The workshop also facilitated exchange of existing coordination practices as well as practical learning from experiences by different districts.

Implementation of the First Phase involved the following steps:

• Identification of “champion” districts to become pilot districts.
• Pilot districts identify solutions to enhance social protection coordination that would work better in their respective context
• Pilot districts test solutions and learn from each other throughout implementation
• Through a structured, iterative learning process the national team and pilot districts refine the solutions for operational modelling by determining what approaches works better
• Consolidation of lessons from the pilot districts and the development of a national model for harmonized and integrated social protection service delivery on district and eventually ward level.

The Single Window laboratories which employ an “action research” methodology drawing from the Problem Driven Iterative Approach (PDIA[1]) have concluded phase one activities which commenced in June 2018, preceded by a kick-off workshop and district team trainings using the TRANSFORM capacity building package. The laboratories in all six champion districts have concluded the phase one implementation and are set to report progress attained, challenges encountered, and lessons learnt during this first phase of implementation. All champion districts plan to continue the initiative in a second learning iteration, starting after the conclusion of the lessons learning from the first iteration. Concurrently, successful elements/best practices identified during the first learning iteration will be replicated to nine replication pilot districts.

Justification

The district pilots are expected to provide guidance and lessons for the development of a national district level coordination model. 

Objectives / Target

The major objective of this assignment is to support the coordination and management of the single window pilots at national level. More specifically the objectives of this assignment are to:

1. Coordinate and manage the single window pilot districts (including both champion and replication pilots)
2. Provide technical backstopping and quality assurance services to district teams
3. Facilitate information exchange across districts; thereby supporting the learning and identification of good practices for scale up at national level.
4. Accurately and comprehensively document the district experiences and lessons learnt from piloting of coordination measures.

Description of the assignment (Scope of work) / SPECIFIC TASKS

Under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Chief Social Policy and Research and in collaboration with the Director Planning and Information in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, the Single Window National Coordinator will:

• Lead the structured learning process so champion districts can sharpen the coordination model and determine what approach works better in the development of the “national model”
• Support planning, implementation and reporting from across the single window pilot districts
• Support development of effective communication tools to enable information exchange and dissemination amongst the pilot districts
• Identify possible linkages and referral systems in line with the Integrated Framework on Basic Social Protection Programmes (IFBSPP);
• Support implementation and reporting from across the single window pilot pilot districts as per approved work plans
• Support the documentation and communication of best practices, challenges and lessons learned from within the district to MCDSS headquarters
• Collect and document creative and innovative ideas that should inform demand oriented service provision within the district coordination systems

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The Single Windows National Coordinator will report to the UNICEF Chief Social Policy and Research; and will be based at the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services where he or she will work closely with the Chief Planning Officer M&E in the Department for Planning and Information.

In terms of deliverables the structure of the report for each of the deliverables identified above will be as follows:

1. Executive Summary (1/2 page)
2. Introduction (1/2-1 page)
3. Report on activities relevant to the deliverable (studies, workshops, consultations, implementation, others as have been undertaken/managed as part of the consultancy and contributed to the deliverable in question) (1 page)
4. Findings (length as required)
5. Analysis (length as required)
6. Recommendations (length as required)
7. New or Updated Draft or Final materials in Annex, when appropriate (annexed in full)
8. List of stakeholders consulted, missions undertaken, data collection tools used, when appropriate (annexed in full)

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The MCDSS will facilitate the integration of the national coordinator through provision of desk space within the Ministry. The MCDSS will provide guidance on how the National Coordinator will best undertake his/her work through availing information on the working structures and environment at the district level. MCDSS, UNICEF and ILO will provide day to day guidance. The UN provide support to the development of Integrated Social Protection Service Delivery mechanisms for District (and eventually Ward) Coordination under the “Single Window” output detailed in the UNJPSP Programme Document, the UNSDPF and the 7NDP. MCDSS, ILO, and UNICEF collaborated closely in designing, monitoring and reviewing the laboratory approach of the champion pilot districts. Some of the learning is funded by the World Bank through the Institutional Strengthening budget of the GEWEL project. Therefore, on national level MCDSS has convened UNICEF, ILO and the World Bank as partners, and on District level cross-ministerial working groups under leadership of the District Councils. It is expected that the Consultant will effectively engage the teams at District level, while working with MCDSS at HQ level under guidance of the Director Planning and Information in the M&E unit led by the Chief Planning Officer M&E.

LOCATION AND DURATION

• This assignment is based in Lusaka and is for a period of 11 months.

PAYMENT Schedule

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• The Single Window National Coordinator will be expected to possess the following core qualifications:

  • University degree in social policy, public administration, development, social protection or a related field; a Masters’ qualification will be an added advantage.
  • At least 5 years of relevant professional work experience with Government or Non-Governmental Organizations, with a focus on research, capacity building and systems strengthening.
  • Experience and knowledge on developing systems, particularly those skewed towards effective delivery of social protection services.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the decentralisation process in Zambia
  • Experience with report writing, facilitation and problem solving.
  • Familiarity with the situation of poverty and vulnerability in Zambia;
  • Fluency in English is required; knowledge of any main local languages will be added advantage (Nyanja, Bemba, Tonga, Lunda, Luvale, Kaonde, Lozi).
  • Previous experience in research and knowledge management will be an added advantage
  • Strong Communication skills and ability to work with others

EVALUATION PROCESS AND METHODS

Based on the evaluation criteria below, applications will be solicited and reviewed to create a shortlist of possible consultants for this assignment. These consultants will be ranked according to following criteria:

ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES

• The Single Windows- National Coordinator will be contracted by UNICEF and report directly to the UNICEF Chief Social Policy and Research.
• The Single Window National Coordinator will be based at MCDSS on a full-time basis, following GRZ working hours. Communication and reporting is required on regular basis with the Chief Social Policy and Research in UNICEF.
• Government will provide a laptop and office space and will make provisions for any expenses not covered by UNICEF including DSA, travel and other expenses that will assist the Single Window National Coordinator to perform her/his role. UNICEF will not cover DSA and travel expenses.
• This consultancy is for a fixed period of 11 months, with a possible extension, following a two weeks break, of an additional 11 months – subject to satisfactory performance, availability of funding and continued need for additional capacity.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.