National Experts for DEVELOPMENT of the NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK for MPS SCALE-UP (six positions in different areas)

UNICEF Romania is looking to engage consultancy services of six experts in different domains to develop normative framework for MPS scale-up.

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, opportunities.

 

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Romania is seeking National Experts for DEVELOPMENT of the NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK for MPS SCALE-UP (six positions in different areas)

EXPERTS in:

• JURIDICAL AREA (LEGISLATION DEVELOPMENT) – 2 consultants
• PUBLIC FINANCE – 1 consultant
• PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION - 1 consultant
• SOCIAL POLICY - 1 consultant
• MONITORING AND EVALUATION - 1 consultant

 

BACKGROUND

Children who grow up impoverished often lack the access to adequate food, sanitation, shelter, health care and education they need to survive and thrive, develop their full potential and participate in public civic life and influence decisions that matter to them. Children affected by multidimensional impoverishment suffer not only from poor living standards, but often are also deprived of early education and schooling, live with poor health and strive with difficulties adolescence, develop fewer skills for the workforce, and earn lower wages as adults. For ensuring preconditions for every child to reach her or his potential, UNICEF promotes the scale-up of the Minimum Package of Services (MPS) as the mandatory social service package delivered by public local authorities in all communes, towns and cities. This is i.a., in accordance to normative provisions in Law 292 on social assistance, amended in 2020^[1] and in Law 272 on child rights – which now legally mandates its national scale-up.

JUSTIFICATION

The scale-up of the MPS is well-timed with national reform agenda following EU Country Specific Recommendations, new EU policies setting also the ground for implementing the European Child Guarantee for children and recommendations and EU funding programme 2021-2027. The progressive scale-up scenario includes:

(1) an initial investment of ESF+ for setting up and preparing the needed human resources infrastructure for the provision of MPS (estimated for 2022-2025);

(2) a smooth transition from the EU funding to the state budget allocation (estimated for 2025-2027);

(3) an initial focus on the most deprived municipalities and areas with a progressive scale-up to national coverage.

Costing of the MPS roll-out and calculations for various scenario is already available and ready to be fed into the budget prospects for 2022-2027. Ensuring synergy between all measures targeting child poverty reduction and social exclusion, contributing to the implementation of the National Strategies and objectives of the European Strategy on Child Rights, is critical.

To ensure all legal prerequisites for the national scale-up, the normative framework needs to be complemented with secondary legislation and possibly other amendments of current regulations and procedures. In line with the Law 231/5 November 2020, following secondary legislation for MPS scale-up needs to be developed and approved, which includes:

1. the financing methodology for the minimum package of services for children and families;
2. the methodology for the provision of the minimum package of services for children and families;
3. the methodology for the establishment and operation of the service dedicated to the MPS in every county/in Bucharest respectively; and
4. the online app dedicated to the MPS incorporated in the new management information system, respectively methodology for use of Aurora (developed within SINA project[2]).

An effective operationalization at scale-up, may need development of additional secondary legislation (e.g. standard costs for the MPS) and an adequate planning process.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The scope of the consultancy is to develop adequate secondary legislation to ensure a timely and effective implementation of the MPS at national scale. This may imply an analysis of the existing normative framework and an in-depth awareness of current initiatives for amending primary or secondary laws which may impact or be requisite for a smooth MPS scale-up. Moreover, the new pieces of legislation or amendments of existing normative acts, also need to enable an effective mechanism for inter sectorial cooperation vertically as well as horizontally and need to ensure the sustainability of the new policy and approach.

As such the scope of work includes the development of the

1. the national public financing methodology for the minimum package of services for children and families;
2. the integrated working methodology for the provision of the minimum package of services for children and families;
3. the methodology for the establishment and operation of the service dedicated to the MPS in every county/in Bucharest respectively;
4. and any other norm, standard, procedure, etc. which would secure an enabling environment for the MPS scale-up.

GENERIC AND SPECIFIC TASKS

The generic task of the consultancy is to contribute with:

1. specific and relevant input for each of the pieces of secondary legislation mentioned above and/or identified to be needed in addition;
2. adjustments of existing drafts of working methodologies in line with existing legislation and observing the requirements on the legislative technique;
3. recommend and help with drafting of new norms, standards, procedures, in case need be.

The specific tasks include:

1. draft needed secondary legislation in line with current legal provisions and for enabling MPS scale-up;
2. make specific recommendations for effective operationalization of new legislation, including implementation at local level.

 

 DELIVERABLES AND TIMETABLE

The following deliverables are expected to be submitted by:

Deliverable 1	Draft national public financing methodology for the minimum package of services for children and families	March 2022
Deliverable 2	Integrated working methodology for the provision of the minimum package of services for children and families	March 2022
Deliverable 3	Methodology for the establishment and operation of the service dedicated to the MPS in every county/in Bucharest respectively	April 2022
Deliverable 4	Short report and ppt including: overall summary of work; main challenges encountered; opportunities; solutions found; lessons learned.	May 2022
Other deliverables	To be determined (if need be)	April 2022

 

 

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

Considering the specificities, volume of work and time constraints, UNICEF suggests that a team of experts is to be contracted for this assignment. The profile of the individual expert or experts within the companies should include the following credentials and specific competencies:

JURIDICAL AREA (LEGISLATION DEVELOPMENT) – 2 persons

• Advanced university degree in law
• At least 7 years of experience working in the development (including legislative technique) and analysis of national policies and legislation
• Previous experience in contributing to the development of legislation
  • in public finance, public administration – 1 person and
  • in social services (including child/social protection, health and education) – 1 person
• Previous experience in working with various structures of the Government and/or the Parliament of Romania.

PUBLIC FINANCE – 1 person

• Advanced university degree in economics or university degree in social sciences, law, political science, public policy with advance knowledge and experience in costing, budgeting and public financing
• Knowledge in Public Finance Management, covering budget preparation and budgetary processes, linkages between budget and policy, costing and standard costs for social services, etc.
• Understanding of financial flows and mechanisms and budgeting processes in public administration and social systems
• Previous experience in working in economic or financial structures of public administration institutions in Romania, is an asset.

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION – 1

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, political science, public policy or related field, with advance knowledge and experience in public administration at various levels
• Knowledge in Public Administration and Decentralization, covering preparation and design of development and financing plans at various levels (local, county and national level), linkages between budget and policy especially for the social sector (protection, health and education), etc.
• Understanding of financial flows and mechanisms and budgeting processes in public administration, with focus on the social sector
• Previous experience in working in management and/or juridical structures of public administration institutions in Romania, is an asset.

SOCIAL POLICY – 1 person

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, political science, social assistance, public policy or related field
• At least 7 years of experience working in the social sector, especially in the area of social assistance and social services and/or in the development of national policies and legislation regarding social inclusion, child rights, etc.
• Previous experience in contributing to the development of legislation (including primary and secondary legislation) in the social sector
• Experience in writing methodologies, normative guidelines, research papers, analytical documents, policy papers and notes, project and program documents, studies, etc. is an asset.

 

MONITORING AND EVALUATION – 1 person

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, statistics, planning development or other relevant fields
• At least 7 years of relevant professional work experience in monitoring and evaluation and exposure to programming in the social sector particularly in Romania
• In-depth knowledge of project evaluation, professional technical knowledge/expertise in evaluation process management, knowledge of emerging national and international good practice in monitoring and evaluation.

 

For all positions of this consultancy, the following general conditions and competencies are required:

• Previous experience in working with UN agencies is considered a plus;
• Analytical and conceptual ability; communication skills; verifiable field experience;
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization;
• Availability to work within the proposed time frame and to have a proven track record about delivering quality on time;
• Availability to travel in country, to the beneficiary districts, if necessary.
• Proficiency in Romanian and English, both oral and written

 

To strengthen their capacity for performing the task, applicants may establish a cross-sector form of association, such as between experts in various fields of practice.

 

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.

 

LOGISTICS AND RESOURCES REQUIREMENTS

UNICEF Romania country office will:

• Share relevant documentation and information,
• Collaborate for the development of the technical specifications in partnership with technical working groups on MPS scale-up,
• Prepare and organize meetings, field trips if needed, and if necessary, cover all additional costs related to trips, transportation and accommodation.

 

GENERAL CONDITIONS

Reporting: The contractors will report to UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, under the general supervision of the UNICEF Deputy Representative. 

Payment calendar: Taking into account the tasks and timeframe mentioned above, fees will be paid in maximum 3 instalments after submission of deliverables and upon approval by supervisor. Payment calendar details will be negotiated with the selected team of consultants.

Ownership: UNICEF will have sole ownership of all final deliverables; no parts of the deliverables will be reproduced without the permission of UNICEF.

Budget limitation:

Deliverable 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be treated independently. Deliverable 5 might be or not the object of the contract.

Presentation of financial offer: The applicants are requested to present the financial offer in Fee per day/consultant.

 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The application will be made in the dedicated UNICEF platform and it must include:

1. a cover letter, indicating the area you apply for, and underlining the motivation for applying for the position and how the candidate’s experience, skills and experience match the requirements of the position;
2. an updated CV focused on the skills and experience requested by the current consultancy;
3. a financial offer Financial bid_MPS scale up.docx, specifying the requested GROSS daily fee in RON.

 

 

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.