UNICEF Skopje is looking for a national consultant to provide technical assistance in developing the Youth Strategy that will collect, analyze, and guide UNICEF MCD programming in the current country programme and related work plans through a youth engagement lens.
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, [insert tagline]
UNICEF in the Republic of North Macedonia is devoted to ensuring that young people are included in all facets of public life and experience rights and responsibilities. The country programme recognizes the need for UNICEF to better address the issues facing young people. This is confirmed by the Youth Situation Analysis (SitAn) that was conducted in late 2019.
This consultancy will inform UNICEF on a strategic vision and programming with and for adolescents and young people, as articulated in the CPD, the SitAn and the Youth SitAn.
There are already some activities which UNICEF is implementing which have “grown organically” through the years. Additionally, public life in the country has also evolved. There are two main approaches to the work in UNICEF. Mainstream projects are those which are being managed in the sections and which target young people and adolescents. This may range from obesity reduction activities in health, education and vocational projects in education, and children in contact with the law in child protection. These projects/activities should continue to be managed from the sections as they are currently doing.
The second approach is that of targeted activities, which are activities which focus on enhancing youth and adolescent participation and agency. So far there are 5 stand-alone targeted activities UNICEF MCD has been implementing:
- UPSHIFT – social entrepreneurship programme based on human-centered design methodology, mentorship, and seed funding (6 cycles completed so far)
- Generation Unlimited Youth Challenge 2018/19 and 2019/20 - part of the global initiative Generation Unlimited, a multi-sector public-private global partnership meant to meet the urgent needs for expanded education, training and employment opportunities for young people, UNICEF volunteer and young reporters initiative including different volunteer activities, actions and campaigns to advance the rights and wellbeing of children and youth, as well as engaging young people in the COVID-19 response.
- U-Report - social messaging tool and data collection system developed by UNICEF to improve citizen engagement, inform leaders, and foster positive change (yet to be started);
- Reimagine Youth Consultations (yet to be started).
- UNICEF Volunteers programme commenced in 2019 and has so far engaged over 200 young volunteers in various project activities. The aim is to engage young people in UNICEF programmatic work offering them crucial experience and at the same time harnessing the potential of young people to shape and implement policies and activities.
These 5 activities plus the mainstreamed activities in the sections (mental health etc) form the core of our adolescent programme at the “inception/beginning” phase and form the basis of future action over the next 5 years. Through consultation with staff, partners and other stakeholders, this consultancy will result in a Youth Strategy outlining the specific work of UNICEF in the next 5 years. This Youth Strategy will cover the following aspects:
1) an analysis of the current activities, both mainstream and targeted, against available data on the results achieved and research and surveys exploring youth-specific issues and the level of youth participation in the country;
2) stakeholder mapping of the relevant government and non-governmental organizations working with and/or for youth;
3) a two-year action plan with suggestions for specific results, indicators of success and suggestions in project management;
4) long-term policy and programming considerations and recommendations.
MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The overall purpose of this consultancy is to develop a Youth Strategy that will collect, analyze, and guide UNICEF MCD programming in the current country programme and related work plans through a youth engagement lens. Furthermore, examine the existing activities, achievements and programme linkages and identify bottlenecks, challenges and gaps being experienced and potency for scalability. Establish alignment of existing initiatives/interventions in the country and provide theory of change and detailed recommendations based on findings that would inform the mid-term review process or the planning and implementation of programme components advancing youth engagement in the current Country Programme 2021-2025 and to identify strategic opportunities of engagement within the dynamic vibrant country ecosphere of young people empowerment.
The consultancy will focus on relevance, enabling environment and coverage in terms of population and the specific actions, services rendered, effectiveness and efficiency in adolescents and youth programs.
How can you make a difference?
Scope of Work:
The overall goal of the position is to give technical support and evidence-based guidance to the various program sections in MCD to provide the oversight role of the various initiatives targeting adolescents and youth. This will aid in designing, scaling up and identify cross cutting solutions that address the needs of the adolescents and youth. Under the general supervision of the Education Officer and lateral thematic support from section Chiefs, the consultant will provide multisectoral professional technical contribution, planning, administration, monitoring and evaluation, data analysis and progress reporting. Commitment for enhancement of gender-sensitive teamwork and capacity building, in support of achievement of planned objectives of the work plan, aligned with country programme goals and strategy focusing on youth and adolescents.
Based on the available data and documents, review UNICEF’s focus on the following Key Analysis Questions:
• Programme coherence and effectiveness regarding youth engagement
• Relevance of design and approach of UNICEF’s interventions
• Youth focused Lens towards UNICEF’s programming
• Mid-term programmatic opportunities and areas for intervention
• Recommendations towards engagement of the youth in UNICEF Country Programme 2021-2025
Programme/Project Management
Ensure the availability of accurate, complete and up-to-date information required for effective multisectoral adolescents and youth programmes and project design, implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation, including gender disaggregation at the national and county level.
Work Plan and Project Documentation
Mobilize all multisectoral stakeholders and facilitate stronger partnership in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of costed strategic plan for the country. Analyze collected data and information and prepare progress reports including monitoring and reporting against set indicators.
SPECIFIC TASKS AND DELIVERABLES:
Under the supervision of the Education Officer, the consultant will develop a draft of a Youth Strategy based on the scope of work above. The initial outline of the Youth Strategy consists of four sections to be developed in succession. They are: 1) Analysis of current youth programme; 2) Stakeholder mapping; 3) Mid-term action plan; 4) Long-term policy and programming considerations and recommendations. In each of these sections the consultant is expected as required to employ a tailored approach that will ensure that all vulnerable youth and youth at risk are included, considered, and engaged.
Based on this outline the specific deliverables in this process are defined as:
1. Conduct data compilation and analysis aimed to develop accurate fact sheets for the adolescents and youth projects/initiatives for each program outcome area. The resulting document will constitute the first section of the Youth Strategy. Additionally, the consultant will prepare and share quarterly progress status of various implementation on the adolescents and youth. The changes observed within these quarterly reports should be reflected in the final version of the Youth Strategy. The analysis and quarterly reports should consider the current activities, both mainstream and targeted, against available data on the results achieved and research and surveys exploring youth-specific issues and the level of youth participation in the country. In order to ensure comprehensive data overview, the consultant will be required to conduct interviews and visits with beneficiaries, i.e. purposefully and meaningfully consult young people. It is important that these consultations include youth and organizations from vulnerable or marginalized groups.
2. Conduct stakeholder mapping of the relevant government and non-governmental organizations working with and/or for youth. This activity follows on the analysis in Section 1 and is aimed to explore and collate stakeholders and the programmatic work they do with/for youth across each of the programme outcome areas. The resulting document will constitute the second section of the Youth Strategy. The consultants should monitor the ecosystem and reflect any changes to this section in the final version of the Youth Strategy.
3. Develop a two-year action plan with suggestions for youth related programming in each of the programme outcome areas. The plan should include specific results, indicators of success and suggestions in project management for the most pertinent and opportune youth programming activities. The resulting document will constitute the third section of the Youth Strategy.
4. Develop long-term policy and programming considerations and recommendations for the remainder of the programme cycle of the UNICEF MCD Office. This fourth section of the Youth Strategy should focus on the key lessons and recommendations, the opportunities for further work and/or scaling up of existing initiatives, and the key partnerships and collaborations looking forward. This entire section should again be consulted with and informed by young people and meaningful engagement/consultation with them.
5. Due to the fast-paced nature of youth programmatic work the consultant is expected to perform other adolescents and youth related duties based on the scope of work mentioned above. These include but are not limited to:
- support the revision and strengthening of the UNICEF Volunteers programme in accordance with programmatic outputs and Youth Strategy findings and recommendations. This revision process should ultimately result with a sustainable and mapped-out process for announcing, monitoring and verifying volunteer input and activation.
- support the development of a Youth for Action strategy resulting from the Reimagine Youth Consultations – an initiative conducted in cooperation between UNICEF and the Office of The President of North Macedonia
- provide youth-related inputs for concept notes, proposals and donor reports; share data and participate in meetings with other partners, hold presentations of the progress achieved etc.
Duration of the consultancy: 11.5 months
Estimated start date: 1 September 2021
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, human rights, or other related discipline. Advanced degree is considered as an asset;
• At least 10 years of experience and expertise in the area of community and/or youth engagement;
• Knowledge of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and relevant international standards in the area of social and child protection;
• Previous work experience with UNICEF will be considered as an advantage;
• Excellent command of English language;
• Strong advocacy, facilitation and communication skills;
• Excellent writing skills;
• Prior experience working with the UN system and/or international development agencies is an asset.
• Knowledge of English and Macedonian language is required. Knowledge of other local languages is considered as an asset.
How to apply:
When applying for this consultancy, please upload: your most recent CV, Motivation letter, Narrative proposal and financial proposal. The financial proposal should be in Macedonian Denar (Gross amount) and in the following format:
|
Activity
|
Days
|
Rate per day
Gross in MKD
|
Total
|
- (Budget heading)
|
|
|
|
|
1.1. (Budget line)
|
|
|
|
|
1.2. (Budget line)
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal
|
|
|
|
- (Budget heading)
|
|
|
|
|
2.1. (Budget line)
|
|
|
|
|
2.2. (Budget line)
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal
|
|
|
|
|
GRAND TOTAL (Gross in MKD)
|
|
|
|
Evaluation Criteria:
1. Technical Evaluation Criteria (70% of final score)
- Quality of narrative proposal - 40 points
- Experience and qualification of the consultant - 30 points
Only candidates who will receive a minimum of 50 points in the technical evaluation will be considered further for evaluation of financial proposal
2. Financial proposal - 30 points;
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.
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.
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:
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.
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.
