Consultancy: Support for SWA Country Liaison

SWA is looking for a skilled professional to boost its capacity to support the engagement of partners in its 68 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and globally. Among others, the consultant will support the Secretariat’s Country Engagement Team to be effective in the documenting, tracking and updating of information related to the liaison with partners in all countries. 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 catalyse 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, the Global Leadership Council and the High-level Chair, promoting the engagement of partners at country level and organizing global High-level Meetings of finance and sector ministers.

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, safety

SWA is looking for a skilled professional to boost its capacity to support the engagement of partners in its 68 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and globally. Among others, the consultant will support the Secretariat’s Country Engagement Team to be effective in the documenting, tracking and updating of information related to the liaison with partners in all countries.

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 catalyse 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, the Global Leadership Council and the High-level Chair, promoting the engagement of partners at country level 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 68 partner countries. SWA’s focus is on mobilising 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 its framework to analyse the sector, identify key bottlenecks and agree joint priorities and commitments around which partners hold each other accountable.

The SWA cycle of HLMs create momentum and political support for achieving the nationally identified priorities and commitments. The HLMs also provide political leaders with the opportunity to learn from each other on areas where they face the biggest challenges to progress. A significant amount of preparation is undertaken to run an effective series of meetings, including a comprehensive preparatory process for countries and other SWA constituencies. A plan for robust follow-up is also developed and implemented after the HLMs to ensure governments and other partners deliver on their promises.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this consultancy is primarily to reinforce the existing SWA Secretariat staff support to strengthen government-led systems and national processes; development and use of a strong evidence base for the WASH Sector to support good decision-making; and increasing political prioritization for sanitation, hygiene and water. Under the direction of the Program Specialist – Country Engagement, the post holder will contribute to managing data for the updated accountability mechanism, document and disseminate experiences from partners and countries related to the implementation of the SWA Framework; manage the SWA tools portal and conduct preliminary quality control on the submission of new tools; ensure continuous support and stakeholder coordination on all actions.

Expected results: (measurable results)

Support the development and management of the database of commitments derived from the roll-out of the Mutual Accountability Mechanism

• Manage the database of commitments including by mapping data from countries and partners to regions and relevant components of the SWA framework
• Generate preliminary reports and analysis as needed
• Receive and update the database with periodic reports and relevant information from countries and other partners when available

Provide back end support for the SWA tools portal

• Support partners in the use of the SWA Tools Portal
• Be the in-house expert on how the tools portal functions and on the services partners can gain from using it
• Provide back-end support for the tools portal, after having been provided with initial training by the tools portal consultant
• Monitor the use of the tools portal and provide advice on the accessibility of the tools
• Prepare analytic reports on the user experience
• Conduct preliminary checks of newly submitted tools and prepare a quarterly update on newly uploaded tools
• Consult with the WASH Specialist -Country Engagement on newly submitted tools and make sure they are uploaded
• Manage user reviews and respond to user queries

Support engagement with new partner organizations and strengthening the current SWA focal points in country

1. Support design and maintain a robust system to systematically provide information and welcome new partners

• Finalize and share welcome package adapted to each constituency (Countries, External Support Agencies, Private Sector, Research and Learning, and Civil Society Organisations)
• Organise dedicated induction sessions for new partners including civil society, private sector, CSOs, governments and external support agencies to allow them to truly participate in the Partnership
• Convene regular induction webinars for new partners to identify challenges and opportunities for active engagement in different working groups and activities of the partnership
• Connect new partners to peer partners who can offer insights  

2. Support action to strengthen Regional Advisers and national focal points so that they can carry out their roles and responsibilities at various levels, inter alia

• Maintain updated record of Focal Points contacts and identify focal points in country for the research and learning and private country constituencies and make sure that the Regional Advisers receive and use this information
• Ensure that focal points’ terms of reference are shared for various constituencies including CSOs, research and learning and the private sector and support the process of identifying and orienting focal points in countries that have joined SWA.  
• Undertake mapping and support the search in SWA countries where focal points are missing to identify and recommend potential organizations and focal points in conjunction with the Regional Advisers

Country engagement, and related activities are well-documented and communicated:

In liaison with the Communications team, support documentation of country engagement and ensure identified good practices and experiences are documented and shared widely at country, regional and global levels. In that regard support, inter alia, in the following activities:

• Identify and distribute partner experiences of the implementation of the SWA framework
• Categorize and properly tag partner experiences for ease access, use and reference in future
• Contribute to preparation of stories and key messages for media
• Maintain an up-to-date database for knowledge management and learning
• Provide preliminary data and analysis on country engagement for SWA reporting including through the SWA Annual Reports and the six-monthly reports to the Steering Committee
• Support preparations for in-country, multi-stakeholder dialogues and ensure that participants fully benefit from the meetings

Duty Station

The consultant will be based remotely.  Travel might be required to attend the Secretariat Meeting in 2020. Travel will be arranged by the SWA Secretariat; including ticket cost, DSA and terminal fees, following UNICEF procedures.  All additional costs are at the expense of the consultant. 

Timeframe

Start date:1 February 2020                               

End date: 31 July 2020

Deliverable 1             

Duration (Estimated # of Days): 11

Deadline: 28 February 2020

• Support the development and management of the database of commitments derived from the roll-out of the Mutual Accountability Mechanism (2 days)
• Provide back end support for the SWA tools portal (1 day)
• Support engagement with new partner organizations and strengthening the current SWA focal points in country (2 days)
• Country engagement, and related activities are well-documented and communicated (6 days)

Deliverable 2

Duration (Estimated # of Days): 12

Deadline: 31 March 2020

• Support the development and management of the database of commitments derived from the roll-out of the Mutual Accountability Mechanism (2 days)
• Provide back end support for the SWA tools portal (1 day)
• Support engagement with new partner organizations and strengthening the current SWA focal points in country (1 days)
• Country engagement, and related activities are well-documented and communicated (8 days)

Deliverable 3

Duration (Estimated # of Days): 15

Deadline: 30 April 2020

• Support the development and management of the database of commitments derived from the roll-out of the Mutual Accountability Mechanism (2 days)
• Provide back end support for the SWA tools portal (1 day)
• Support engagement with new partner organizations and strengthening the current SWA focal points in country (2 days)
• Country engagement, and related activities are well-documented and communicated (10 days)

Deliverable 4

Duration (Estimated # of Days): 10

Deadline: 30 May 2020

• Support the development and management of the database of commitments derived from the roll-out of the Mutual Accountability Mechanism (1 days)
• Provide back end support for the SWA tools portal (4-day, main focus on user reviews)
• Support engagement with new partner organizations and strengthening the current SWA focal points in country (1 days)
• Country engagement, and related activities are well-documented and communicated (4 days)

Deliverable 5

Duration (Estimated # of Days): 13

Deadline: 31 June 2020

• Admin general and communications
• Support the development and management of the database of commitments derived from the roll-out of the Mutual Accountability Mechanism (1 days)
• Provide back end support for the SWA tools portal (5 day)
• Support engagement with new partner organizations and strengthening the current SWA focal points in country (4 days)
• Country engagement, and related activities are well-documented and communicated (3 days)

Deliverable 6

Duration (Estimated # of Days): 14

Deadline: 31 July 2020

• Support the development and management of the database of commitments derived from the roll-out of the Mutual Accountability Mechanism (1 days)
• Provide back end support for the SWA tools portal (3 day)
• Support engagement with new partner organizations and strengthening the current SWA focal points in country (4 days)
• Country engagement, and related activities are well-documented and communicated (6 days)

Total Duration (Estimated # of Days): 75

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

• Advanced degree in international development, public health, communications, sustainable development, poverty reduction, governance, integrity, elimination of inequalities, business, economics, water or sanitation engineering, or other relevant field.
• At least two (2) years of relevant experience in international development.
• Experience in organizing multi-stakeholder meetings and consultations.
• 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.
• Experience of working with in the WASH field, and/or experience of organizing and participating in country processes such as regional sanitation conferences desirable.
• 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 is required. Knowledge of another UN Language is an asset. 

To Apply 

Please send your application by January 23, 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. 

Proposed Payment Schedule

UNICEF will only make milestone payment based on achievement of specific deliverables as listed on the table above. These payments should be stated in terms of percentage.  Also note that UNICEF does not make advance payment except under certain conditions in line with UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) 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.