Technical Advisor – SWA, Country Engagement and High-Level Political Dialogue, (Remotely Based)
New York City
- Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
- Location: New York City
- Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
-
Occupational Groups:
- Social Affairs
- International Relations
- Political Affairs
- Conflict prevention
- Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
- Project and Programme Management
- Peace and Development
- Water Resource Management
- Closing Date: Closed
The SWA Secretariat is looking for a skilled professional to boost its capacity to support the engagement of partners in francophone countries and to contribute to the preparatory process and follow-up of the HLMs. The purpose of this consultancy is to strengthen the engagement of partners around the SWA framework and to support government-led country processes for planning, implementation, follow-up and review of the SDGs in francophone countries. The consultancy will also: provide support to partners who are using the Mutual Accountability Mechanism; support the development and improvement of government-led multi-stakeholder platforms aimed at strengthening national processes; mobilizing partners to strengthen their advocacy to raise the political priority of sanitation, water and hygiene, promoting action to increase access, and fostering the exchange of experiences among SWA partners. Ultimately, the consultancy and associated activities are aimed at supporting the achievement of SWA’s vision of sanitation, water and hygiene for all, always and everywhere. The consultant will report to WASH Specialist, Country Engagement.
We work in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, hope...
Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is a global partnership of over 200 country governments, private sector and civil society organizations, external support agencies, research and learning institutions and other development partners working together to catalyze political leadership and action, improve accountability and use scarce resources more effectively. Partners work towards a common vision of sanitation, hygiene and water for all, always and everywhere.
The Secretariat of the SWA global partnership is hosted by UNICEF at its Headquarters in New York. The SWA Secretariat is responsible for supporting the Steering Committee, Executive Chair and Chair, promoting the country-level engagement of partners, and organizing global High-level Meetings of finance and sector ministers.
The Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership promotes and supports ongoing, multi-stakeholder dialogue at national, regional and global level. As part of this process, SWA has held regular, global, High-level meetings (HLMs) involving ministers of finance (2010, 2012, 2014 and 2017) and ministers responsible for sanitation, water and hygiene. Sector ministers have convened four times in Washington, at the time of the Finance Ministers’ Meetings as well in Addis Ababa (2016) and San Jose (2019). Each of these meetings has been preceded by a preparatory process, coordinated by the SWA Secretariat, and follow-up has involved ongoing reporting on progress towards commitments made at the meetings. The next major meeting is the Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Washington DC, in April 2020.
SWA is also increasing its focus to strengthening strategic government-led discussions involving all partners in each of its 64 partner countries. SWA’s focus is on mobilizing partners to develop and strengthen country processes for planning, follow-up and review of the water, sanitation, hygiene and related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The partnership uses it’s framework to analyze the sector, identify key bottlenecks and agree joint priorities and commitments around which partners hold each other accountable.
How can you make a difference?
The SWA Secretariat is looking for a skilled professional to boost its capacity to support the engagement of partners in francophone countries and to contribute to the preparatory process and follow-up of the HLMs. The purpose of this consultancy is to strengthen the engagement of partners around the SWA framework and to support government-led country processes for planning, implementation, follow-up and review of the SDGs in francophone countries. The consultancy will also: provide support to partners who are using the Mutual Accountability Mechanism; support the development and improvement of government-led multi-stakeholder platforms aimed at strengthening national processes; mobilizing partners to strengthen their advocacy to raise the political priority of sanitation, water and hygiene, promoting action to increase access, and fostering the exchange of experiences among SWA partners. Ultimately, the consultancy and associated activities are aimed at supporting the achievement of SWA’s vision of sanitation, water and hygiene for all, always and everywhere. The consultant will report to WASH Specialist, Country Engagement.
Expected results: (measurable results)
- Support the implementation of the Mutual Accountability Mechanism among Francophone countries and provide detailed support to francophone pioneer countries
- Facilitate discussions to explain the SWA Mutual Accountability Mechanism to SWA partners – particularly those in francophone countries which have not yet tabled commitments
- Support pioneer countries to develop follow-up plans for the review of commitments tabled under the Mutual Accountability Mechanism
- Mobilize partners to support, participate in, and document the implementation of the Mutual Accountability Mechanism
- Follow-up francophone countries in the implementation of the commitments they tabled at the 2019 Sector Ministers’ Meeting as part of the Mutual Accountability Mechanism
- Support documentation and research efforts of the SWA to better understand how the Mutual Accountability Mechanism is being implemented and adapted among francophone countries
- Organize the francophone webinar on the Mutual Accountability Mechanism
- Support preparations for the SWA Finance Ministers’ Meetings in francophone countries
- Work with the francophone countries to identify topics and experiences of interest for the Finance Ministers’ Meeting
- Support the development and dissemination of the guidance note for the preparations of the FMM
- Identify opportunities for countries to strengthen the use of the SWA framework prior to and after the FMM
- Background briefing materials are prepared and provided to participants, including templates for government and constituency preparations at country level
- Webinars, phone calls and other means of communication are used to provide information and gather information from participants about their expectations of the meeting
- In-country, multi-stakeholder dialogues are prompted, to prepare ministers to represent their countries at the meetings
- Multi-partner dialogues within constituencies are promoted (e.g. among and across constituencies including donors, private sector, civil society, research and learning and government SWA partners) to enable these groups to effectively participate in the meetings.
- The preparatory process and lessons learned are captured and documented for future meetings
- Provide technical support to the Chief Operating Officer in engaging with the research and learning constituency and update the current SWA focal points in country
- Provide support and information to potential new countries including following up on Comoros as required
- Organize dedicated induction sessions for new partners in francophone countries including civil society, research and learning, private sector, CSOs, governments and external support agencies to allow them to participate in the Partnership
- Connect new partners to their peers who can offer insights and lessons and use these insights for the development of a knowledge management strategy.
- Finalize the process to update the list of national focal points, especially from non-government constituencies
- Provide induction support for focal points in francophone countries
- Support the Chief Operating Officer to ensure smooth operations of the research and learning constituency to implement the annual work plan and activities including by providing them strategic advice in mobilizing and actively working with all partners.
- Country engagement, and related activities are well-documented and communicated
- Identify, document and disseminate partner experiences of the implementation of the SWA framework
- Contribute to preparation and identification of stories and key messages for communications and media
- Support the implementation of the peer-to-peer learning initiative
- Support preparations for in-country, multi-stakeholder dialogues and ensure that participants fully benefit from the meetings
- Strengthen SWA government-led processes
- Support francophone countries to better understand and use the SWA framework
- Organize meetings with government and partners in Guinea as a follow-up to the organization of a coordination platform
- Identify country multi-stakeholder processes taking place in the francophone countries and provide them with information about the SWA framework including on how they can use the mutual accountability mechanism
Duty Station
The consultant will be based remotely. Travel might be required to attend the Secretariat Meetings and/or Finance Ministers’ Meeting in 2020. This consultancy will include travel to Washington D.C., and a few countries such as Burkina Faso, DRC, and Guinea.
Time-frame: 11.5 Months
Start date: 1 November 2019 End date: 15 October 2020
Installment |
Deliverables
|
Duration (Estimated # of Days) |
Deadline |
1 |
|
18
|
30 November 2019 |
2 |
|
18 |
31 December 2019 |
3 |
|
18 |
31 January 2019 |
4 |
|
19 |
29 February 2020 |
5 |
|
20 |
31 March 2020 |
6 |
|
20 |
30 April 2020 |
7 |
|
15 |
31 May 2020 |
8 |
|
15 |
30 June 2020 |
9 |
|
15 |
31 July 2020 |
10 |
|
15 |
31 August 2020 |
11 |
|
15 |
30 September 2020 |
12 |
|
12 |
15 October 2020 |
|
|
200 |
|
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in public health, communications, international development, sustainable development, poverty reduction, governance, integrity, elimination of inequalities, business, economics, water or sanitation engineering, or other relevant field.
- At least ten (10) years of relevant mid to senior-level experience in international development.
- At least seven (7) years of senior level experience of working with governments from low- and middle-income countries.
- Experience in organizing high-level, multi-stakeholder meetings and consultations.
- Experience of working with SWA or in the WASH field, and/or experience of organizing and participating in country processes such as regional sanitation conferences (LatinoSan, SACOSan or AfricaSan) desirable.
- Experience working in global, multi-stakeholder partnerships desirable.
- Outstanding listening, verbal and written communications skills in English, including the ability to express complex strategies in simple and actionable terms.
- Strong conceptual and research/analytical skills with the ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources into conclusions and recommendations.
- Strong client focus with flexible and creative approach to problem solving.
- Track record of consulting on complex tasks which require technical knowledge and experience, and submitting high quality and timely outputs.
- Proven ability in delivering on self-managed work.
- Fluency in English and French is required
To Apply
Please send your application by October 24, 2019. Please include a cover letter and CV. Your application must also include a financial and technical proposal for the consultancy, including: the total consultancy fee (broken down into daily or monthly rate in US Dollars). Applications submitted without a financial proposal will be automatically disqualified from the process.
Consultants and individual contractors are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the period of their services as they consider appropriate. They are required to certify that they are covered by medical/health insurance.
For every Child, you demonstrate the values of…
Care, Respect, Integrity, trust, accountability 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:
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
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