International Consultancy - Anthropologist and Social Science Research specialist, P-4 Level,Bukavu, DRC

The UNICEF DRC Office is looking to recruit a consultant to be based in Bukavu. The consultant will conduct interviews and present interview methodologies to collect qualitative data from community members, civil society, leaders, and businesses managers to determine how current resilience mechanisms function and are adopted and also to better understand the complex socio-cultural practices, with strong focus on gender of targeted communities. With this, the consultant will develop recommendations and guidance for project managers from all implementing partners of this project

UNICEF works 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, dedication

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the most fertile countries on earth, with the potential to feed all of its inhabitants and even export food commodities. The country is home to approximately 80 million hectares of arable land – the second largest cultivable area in the world after Brazil – as well as approximately 50 percent of the continent’s water resources with a potential fishing capacity of 707,000 metric tons of fish per annum. Despite its vast natural resources, DRC’s potential remains largely unexploited and it remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Some 63 percent of the population (of approximately 81 million) live below the poverty line.

Since 2018, the WFP and FAO have implemented a German funded joint resilience programme in North Kivu and South Kivu, which aims to strengthen food security and smallholder farmers’ livelihoods to support peace and stabilization in the targeted areas.  The project promotes inclusive and efficient food systems that better integrate small farmers into value chains in ways that improve their access to markets, generate decent employment, and make nutritious food available. UNICEF was recently introduced as third partner who will provide the population with a stronger package of assistance.  Integrating UNICEF into the partnership will enlarge the scope of interventions and will have a strong impact on populations’ access to basic social services. UNICEF adds value in addressing malnutrition, education, peacebuilding at all levels, and community engagement with a focus on women and children.

  How can you make a difference?

A baseline and situational-analysis study will be conducted at the initial stages of the project, and another nearly 1 year later to address an evaluation of the recommendations both at management planning and community level.   The consultant will conduct interviews and present interview methodologies to collect qualitative data from community members, civil society, leaders, and businesses managers to determine how current resilience mechanisms function and are adopted and also to better understand the complex socio-cultural practices, with strong focus on gender of targeted communities.  With this, the consultant will develop recommendations and guidance for project managers from all implementing partners of this project. 

The consultant will work with other senior resident anthropologists in the Kivu provinces who are familiar with the region.  There has been a long-established network of professional socio-anthropologists based in Goma over the past 10 years. They will work together to identify synergies, reinforce capacities, and jointly collect and analyze existing and new social data.  Additional costs will be covered for technical assistance from local expertise.

The consultant will also aim to assure with partners that the level of community participation and ownership is integrated into the program design.  Will also develop a comprehensive risk map of targeted villages and the surrounding area. This map will help identify areas, for example, that may be vulnerable to flooding, to plan where the evacuation routes should be and identify the houses of the management committee, so people will know where to go to get help. This includes an analysis of the differences in wealth, social status and labor activity between people living in the same area

Deliverables and Timeline:

• Provide draft plan for the study, including methodology, HR needs, logistics needs, budget, digital collection systems and analysis, potential and needed partnerships, and capacity building plan.
• Provide an initial report of findings, considerations, and recommendations to the management and coordination committees.
• Prepare brief weekly reports and participate in coordination meetings when necessary to engage in strategic discussions with managers and provide updates on progress and challenges.
• Following last visit to the field, provide a final report on the project, its achievements, challenges, and recommendations for upscale.  Include handover of guidelines, tools used, data results, photos, and other important files.

Field Visit 1         : May - June 2020.  Conduct study (30 days)

Home based       : July 2020.  Analysis of data and report (home based) (25 days)

Field Visit 2         : August 2020 return to DRC to present findings and recommendations and adjust interventions where necessary according to need and partner feedback.  (15 days).

Field Visit 3         : June 2021.  Field visit and program Evaluation of recommendations and perceived social change during year 1.  Final report presented with recommendations for year two.  (30 days).

Duration

100 working days (between May 2020 and June 2021)  (25 days are home-based)

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

• Advanced university degree in behavioral and/or social sciences (anthropology, sociology, psychology, social development, etc.) or public health. Understanding of - or training in - current developments in the field of communication for development theory and research, participatory processes, as also strategic communication planning, behavior analysis, formative research and evaluation.
• At least 10 years of solid work experience in social research, of which at least 2-4 years in emergency contexts and 4-6 years in developing country contexts.
• Knowledge of and experience in the social, political and economic environment of the DRC
• Fluency in French and English.  Swahili will be an asset.  

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.

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.