National Individual Consultancy: Development of a comprehensive Adolescents and Youth Wellbeing Strategy for the Chisinau Municipality

UNICEF Moldova is seeking the support of a National Individual Consultant, to develop the local youth policies' framework that will allow Chisinau Municipality to efficiently engage adolescents and youth as equal partners and change agents for sustainable development and growth.

UNICEF’s mission in Moldova is to make sure every child in the country is healthy, educated and safe from harm, therefore having the best start in life and a fair chance to reach her or his full potential and benefit from the country’s prosperity. We believe children have a right to live in a more equitable society, where their voices are heard, and needs met as a matter of priority in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. More information on what we do in Moldova is available at: https://www.unicef.org/moldova/

How can you make a difference?

1. Purpose of assignment

The purpose of this individual consultancy is to develop the local youth policies' framework that will allow Chisinau Municipality to efficiently engage adolescents and youth as equal partners and change agents for sustainable development and growth.

2. Objectives of assignment

The objective of the consultancy is to provide the qualified technical assistance to Chisinau Municipality for the development of a five-year Adolescents and Youth Wellbeing Strategy and the Action Plan for its implementation.

3. Details of how the work should be delivered

The Strategy development should be based on evidence from the stock taking and analysis of legislative developments and available relevant reports and assessments performed in relationship to the current situation of the youth sector at the national level, as well as in Chisinau Municipality.

The Strategy will include the five-year vision for the development of the youth sector in a cross-sectoral and multidimensional way, identifying the key strategies for achieving the vision, including the human, technical and financial resources and capacities required, defining the implementation, monitoring and evaluation arrangements. The Strategy will be developed in a structured way, based on best international and national practices, that will be easy to understand and work with, for all stakeholders from different levels.

The Action Plan will be developed and subsequently costed, taking into account the real and potential capacities of Chisinau Municipality to implement it, but also potential support to be provided by the civil society and other relevant stakeholders. The Action Plan will outline a staged implementation of activities, with information on timing, roles, responsibilities, and budget at each stage. Planned implementation arrangements with relevant responsibilities and accountability will be clearly defined.

The final stage will include the development of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework with clearly defined results, targets and key milestones, as well as a clearly defined M&E mechanism and assign M&E accountabilities. Adolescents and youth will be consulted, including youth organizations, youth councils and pupils’ councils and NGOs working with adolescents and youth, and their proposals considered key stages of the strategy and action plan development.

To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the selected Consultant (hereinafter the Consultant) under the guidance of UNICEF will:

A. Develop the Inception Report that will contain a detailed methodology and work plan for developing the Strategy, including recommended data collection instruments (e.g. questionnaires and/ or interview guides) and other related documents. A draft will be submitted to Chisinau City Hall and UNICEF for approval.

B. Perform a desk review of relevant normative frameworks and policies. The resulting report will contain the findings of the review, including key findings, lessons learned and recommendations to improve normative framework on youth, including youth policies;

C. Conduct field visits to Chisinau (Moldova) and at least 3 suburbs and meet with selected partners and stakeholders. Hold consultations with Deputy Mayor of Chisinau, UNICEF, youth and other partner and integrate their feedback into the qualitative needs report;

D. Prepare the draft version of the Strategy and Action Plan that will respond to key findings and recommendations;

E. Consult the drat Strategy and the Action Plan with relevant stakeholders, especially those involved in the process from the beginning;

F. Present and validate the Strategy and Action Plan in a multi-stakeholder technical meeting of the public bodies and civil society in view of gathering participants’ feedback and advocating for the implementation of the assessment recommendations.

4. Working arrangements and reporting requirements

The consultant will work under the guidance of UNICEF Youth and Adolescents Development Officer and in close collaboration with the relevant Chisinau Municipality staff. The consultant will report to the respective UNICEF Program Officer who will guide the consultant and provide feedback and direction and provide all other necessary support so to achieve objectives of the consultancy, as well as to remain aware of any upcoming issues related to consultant’s performance and quality of work.

All activities and deliverables undertaken by the consultants shall be discussed and planned in consultation with UNICEF and will be executed following approval from UNICEF. The consultants are expected to deliver each component of the work-plan electronically (Word format) in Romanian. At each stage, the deliverable shall be sent to the respective UNICEF Program Officer by email, with the Deputy Representative in copy.

5. Support provided by UNICEF

UNICEF will regularly communicate with the specialist, and provide feedback, guidance and necessary support to achieve objectives of the work, as well as remain aware of any upcoming issues related to the performance and quality of work. UNICEF will provide an initial package of relevant documents and an initial list of relevant experts and counterparts to work with.

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

Specific requirements:

• Advanced University Degree in Public Policy, Law, Social Sciences, Human Rights or related field;

• Proven experience in policy development, specifically strategies, programmes and plans;

• Experience in working with central and local Government;

• Good networking and negotiation skills.

General requirements:

• Experience in working with UNICEF or other UN Agencies will be an asset;

• Demonstrated experience in the field in ECA region including Moldova is a strong asset;

• Analytical capacity and proven experience in conducting desk-review, research, and studies.;

• Working command of English, both oral and written;

• Excellent command of Romanian and Russian is a strong asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate:

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

For more details on deliverables and minimum requirements, please refer to attached Terms of reference (ToR)

 ToR Adolescents and Youth Wellbeing Strategy_VA.pdf

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain two separate attachments: Technical Proposal and Financial Proposal (templates below). Please secure the Financial Proposal *.pdf document with a password on document view; the password will be requested only from technically qualified candidates.

 Technical Offer_Adolescents&Youth Wellbeing Strategy.docx

 Financial Offer_Adolescents&Youth Wellbeing Strategy.xlsx

Applications for this assignment must be received no later than: 10 December 2020

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: Individual Consultants and Contractors are responsible for paying own taxes derived from the earnings received from UNICEF.