International Consultant to review National Plan of Action for Children & Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Framework (2011-2015) and develop new National Plan of Action & Monitoring & Evaluation Framework (2020-2025).

Under the supervision of the Chief, Youth and Adolescent Development, with oversight by the Director National Children’s Services and a multi-sector NPA Core Team, the International Consultant will review the NPA for Children and M&E Framework (2011-2015), conduct a stakeholder analysis of all national child rights actors, undertake consultations on the implementation of the NPA 2011-2015, and associated M&E tools ; define focus areas for the new NPA and develop a new NPA and M&E Framework for 2020-2025.

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Background and Justification

Following the first World Summit for Children in 1990, countries globally were encouraged to develop National Action Plans for Children to direct focus towards the realization of children’s rights, including children’s health, education and protection. Further, the outcome document of the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children 2002 entitled “A World Fit for Children” called upon Member States to commit to developing or strengthening specific, time-bound and measurable National Action Plans for Children by the end of 2003, to act as a road map towards the achievement of child specific global development goals. Governments were also called upon to ensure that the objectives of their country’s national plan of action for children are fully mainstreamed and integrated into other national policies and legislation.

In 2007, the Government of Eswatini established a Unit for coordinating issues of children within the Deputy Prime Minister`s Office (DPMO), the National Children Coordination Unit (NCCU), which developed the National Plan of Action (NPA) for Orphans and Vulnerable Children 2006-2010 and a subsequent NPA for Children, 2011-2015. The legal and policy instruments that guided the development of these plans included the Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland of 2005, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the Optional Protocols on Sale, Trafficking and the Sexual Exploitation of Children 2010, the National Children Policy of 2009 and other relevant sector-specific policies of the Government of Eswatini.

In 2013, following the evaluation of the NCCU, a government strategic decision was taken to convert the NCCU into a fully-fledged department, the now fully established National Child Services Department (NCSD). In 2015, the NPA for Children 2011-2015 and associated M&E Framework came to an end, and during the same period the global, regional and national agenda for children had somewhat evolved, including the adoption of the Global Sustainable Development Goals, regional frameworks and several national sectoral policies, legislation and frameworks that have a bearing on children and adolescent growth and development.

It is against this backdrop that the NCSD, DPMO, with support from UNICEF, seeks to engage an International Consultant to review the NPA for Children and M&E Framework 2011–2015, and develop a new NPA for Children and M&E Framework 2020-2025, which will take into consideration the national situation of children and global, regional and local child related policy developments.

The assignment requires specialized competencies and extensive focus and dedicated human resource time, and these are currently not staff functions of regular UNICEF staff. As such, UNICEF Eswatini seeks to recruit an individual consultant with to effectively conduct the assignment within the stipulated timelines.

Scope of Work

1) Goal and Objective: Under the supervision of the Chief, Youth and Adolescent Development, with oversight by the Director National Children’s Services and a multi-sector NPA Core Team, the International Consultant will review the NPA for Children and M&E Framework (2011-2015), conduct a stakeholder analysis of all national child rights actors, undertake consultations on the implementation of the NPA 2011-2015, and associated M&E tools ; define focus areas for the new NPA and develop a new NPA and M&E Framework for 2020-2025.

2) Activities and Tasks: The key specific tasks to be undertaken in carrying out and completing the assignment will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Undertake a desk review of the NPA and M&E Framework (2011-2015) and other relevant documents on the situation of children in Eswatini, policies, strategies, programmes, plans and legislation relating to children;
• Conduct a stakeholder analysis of all major child rights actors in Eswatini;
• Assess the implementation of the NPA and M&E Framework 2011-2015, with a focus on identifying the successes, challenges, lessons learnt and gaps -in consultation with a variety of identified stakeholders (including children);
• In consultation with a variety of identified stakeholders including children, identify and define key focus areas for the new NPA 2020-2025;
• Draft the new NPA and M&E Framework for 2020-2025;
• Present the Draft NPA & M&E Framework 2020-2025, to national child rights stakeholders for input and validation;
• Finalize the NPA & M&E Framework 2020-2025, incorporating national stakeholders’ inputs;
• Submit a Final NPA & M&E Framework 2020-2025.

Work relationships: The Consultant will work under the administrative supervision of the Chief, Youth and Adolescent Development (UNICEF), the Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF and under the technical guidance of an NPA Core Team, which will be constituted to oversee the assignment and be convened by the Director, NCSD-DPMO. The International Consultant have overall oversight of the assignment and all its outcomes, and will work collaboratively with the National Consultant, who will be engaged to provide a supportive role.

Stakeholder consultations will involve several national actors working in the advancement of child rights within the government and non-governmental sphere. Stakeholders to be consulted will include, but not be limited to the following - the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs; the Judiciary; Royal Eswatini Police; His Majesty’s Correctional Services; all departments and units in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Home Affairs; Ministry of Education and Training; Ministry of Tinkhundla; Public-Owned Enterprises (POEs); NERCHA; Ministry of Labour and Social Security; Regional administration structures; representatives of traditional authorities; Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration Integrity; relevant development partners and Civil Society Organizations; Faith Based Organizations; and relevant private sector entities; Municipalities; Children; and Communities.

Outputs/Deliverable:

Payment Schedule

Payment, upon completion of each deliverable according to the following schedule:
- 20% upon submission and approval of an inception report;
- 40% upon submission and approval of Draft NPA for Children and Monitoring & Evaluation Framework,2020-2025;
- 40% upon submission and approval of Final NPA for Children and Monitoring & Evaluation Framework 2020-2025.
Desired competencies, technical background and experience

The consultancy requires strong and traceable competencies and qualifications in leading the development of national multisectoral plans, strategies and programmes (specifically those relating to children) as well as traceable M&E competencies. Applicants should, therefore, clearly indicate these competencies in their applications.
a) Education: A minimum qualification of a Master’s in either Social Sciences, Development Studies, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) or related disciplines.
b) At least 10 years’ experience working on child rights and development issues, with specific focus on developing national level strategies, plans, policies or programmes, in the SADC, East and Southern Africa or Africa context.
c) Proven knowledge and experience in drafting national plans, strategies, policies and national level M&E frameworks.
d) Strong research and analytical skills and excellent communication skills (spoken and written) including ability to write and articulate ideas in a clear, concise and professional style. Traceable examples of professional written work in assignments of similar magnitude;
e) Demonstrated capacity and experience working in collaboration with government and other non-governmental stakeholders.
f) Relevant and similar work in child rights issues in Eswatini will be an added advantage.
g) Capacity to ensure deliverables are within specified time frames.
h) A PhD in the related fields will be an added advantage.

Administrative issues

The International Consultant will report to the Chief, Youth and Adolescent Development, and will be expected to work in close synergy with the multi-sector NPA Core Team constituted by the Director, Child NCSD-DPMO. Progress update meetings will be held at the UNICEF Eswatini office with the supervisor and the NPA Core Team and the Consultant will submit monthly progress reports.

Conditions

• The Consultant is expected to provide his/her computer, work in his/her own office space, and where required office space will be made available for the Consultant at DPMO.
• The Consultant should include costs of internal travel and communication within the consultancy proposal.
• The selected candidate will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.

How to Apply

If interested in this assignment, please submit the following documents online, by 20th March 2020 (11:59 GMT).

1. CV/ resume
2. Cover letter – highlight relevant experiences and skills related to the assignment in no more than two pages.
3. Financial proposal – Please provide an all-inclusive daily consultancy fee, travel cost, administration and logistics costs to undertake this assignment (in US Dollars).

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Rates must include all expenses related to the assignment (including travel, administration and logistics). Applications submitted without a full financial proposal will not be considered.

At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

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

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.