Consultant to provide technical assistance in strengthening the capacity of NCDA in managing partnerships for investments in Early Childhood Development (ECD), Kigali - Rwanda, 11.5 months, office based (For Rwandan Nationals Only)

Strengthen the capacity of National Child Development Agency in managing its partnerships programme.

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.

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For every child, development

To learn more about UNICEF work in Rwanda, please visit the country website https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/RWA/ or watch this video about UNICEF work in Rwanda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7B91m5Yzoc 

How can you make a difference? 

1. Background

The Cabinet meeting of 29/07/2020 has approved the establishment of the National Child Development Agency (NCD) leading to a merger of the former National Children Commission (NCC) and the National Early Childhood Development Programme (NECDP). NCD Agency is instituted by the Presidential Order No 083/01 of 28/08/2020 which establishes its mission, organization, and functioning. The main roles of NCD Agency are summarized into three pillars namely (i) to foster the development of a child, (ii) ensure the promotion, and (iii) the protection of children’s rights. 

The Presidential order further defines the following NCD Agency responsibilities: (i) coordinate all activities that support early childhood development programme since the conception, (ii) eliminate malnutrition and stunted growth among young children; and (iii) develop a national partnership and coordination framework aimed at promoting and protecting child rights.

To accelerate the reduction  of malnutrition and expand access to Early Childhood Development (ECD) in Rwanda, the Government of Rwanda has recently made a number of reforms aiming at improving coordination of nutrition promotion related interventions and increased public investments for stunting reduction, ensuring food security and strengthening social protection for nutrition through Nutrition Sensitive Direct Support (NSDS), increasing awareness on best parenting practices across the country, expanding ECD services to private sector operators and child friendly work-spaces, as well as prioritizing home-based ECD centres.

Several stakeholders including line Ministries (MoH, MINEDUC, MIGEPROF, MINALOC), Agencies (LODA, RBC, REB), Decentralised entities (Districts), Private Sector operators (Mining companies, Tea companies, Rice cooperatives, CEO forum, etc), Civil Society and Faith based Organizations are engaged in ECD promotion in Rwanda and require regular engagement with NCDA.

In 2022, UNICEF Rwanda partnered with ELMA Philanthropies to strengthen the ECD financing landscape in Rwanda. This will contribute to mapping ECD operations in Rwanda, monitoring ECD allocations in the national budget system and investments made across the country, and increasing NCDA’s capacity to coordinate various forums around ECD in an integrated manner.

To successfully implement its mandate and ensure stronger multisector collaboration and coordination of ECD related partnerships and financing, NCDA requires capacity strengthening through the provision of a dedicated technical assistance to support various partnership related initiatives.

2. Justification

The Government of Rwanda envisages (under NST1) to ensure access to pre-primary education to increase pre-primary net enrolment rates from 25.9% (2020/21) to 45% by 2024. This will be achieved through providing standardized Early Childhood 

Education services in all villages through partnership with private sector, communities and putting in place public-private partnership models for Early Childhood Education (ECE) and ECD to enhance cost-effective rollout.

In this regard, the partnership function is central to the National Child Development Agency (NCDA) Operational Plan about the scale-up of ECD services.

Recent institutional reforms along with the requirement to strengthen partnerships for ECD investments and financing coupled with increased demand for reporting, coordination, communication, and engagement will require adequate capacities at NCDA levels and stronger mechanism for regular monitoring. It is against the above background that UNICEF is partnering with the National Child Development Agency (NCDA) to provide technical assistance through individual contractor/Consultant modalities, to support coordinating ECD partnership development including financing. The Technical Advisor shall combine partnership activities within government agencies and also engage externally, particularly in coordinating NCDA’s partnerships work with development partners, international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and civil society and faith-based organizations (CSOs) operating in ECD.

3. Summary of key functions/accountabilities

Strengthen collaboration and coordination with partners operating in ECD

• Provide technical support to NCDA to engage in the development of new partnerships within the government and outside the government structure.
• Contribute to the development of a medium-term strategic framework to strengthen NCDA partnerships with other public institutions, development partners, International Non-Government organizations (NGOs), Academia, Civil Society and faith-based Organization (CSOs), the private sector, research institutions, and the media. 
• Conduct an inventory of existing partnership agreements signed between former NCC & NECDP and other relevant partners as well as support to strengthen and identify new partnership opportunities with NCD Agency.
• Organize knowledge sharing sessions as a way of capacity building to NCDA staff in partnership development and management.

Enhance the function of ECD coordination forums and ensure timely engagements of key stakeholders

• Support NCDA with the facilitation of regular meetings and forums ensuring that all stakeholders are engaged.
• Monitor the implementation of key resolutions from various ECD coordination forums (Joint Sector Reviews, ECD thematic working groups, partnership agreement meetings, and other relevant gathering) and produce period monitoring report.
• Coordinate and monitor reporting requirements on ECD related interventions implemented by various stakeholders.

Strengthen ECD investment projects being developed by NCDA and partners

• Identify partnership opportunities for ECD and contribute to the development of fundable projects.
• Provide technical inputs to ECD project proposals as requested by different stakeholders.
• Provide back-stop support to the implementation of ECD financing related projects, programmes and other related initiatives.

Improve Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning for ECD

• In collaboration with NCDA’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team, ensure the development and implementation of appropriate M&E tools and systems for use by partners.
• Document medium term results/impact of on-going partnerships and produce lessons learned to inform decision-making as well as knowledge sharing among stakeholders.
• Provide technical inputs in the periodic monitoring reports.

Ensure strong networking and visibility activities

• Work closely with all staff of NCDA, key stakeholders including development partners 
• Regularly participate in NCDA and social sectors meeting as may be delegated by NCDA Management
• Maintain a good flow of communication, documentation and information sharing between NCDA, MIGEPROF and UNICEF.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

Strengthen collaboration and coordination with partners operating in ECD

• Provide technical support to deliver on partnership development and engagement within the government structure and outside the public sector.
• Support the development of a medium-term strategic framework to strengthen NCDA partnerships. 
• Conduct an inventory of existing partnership agreements and other relevant partners

Organize knowledge sharing sessions as a way of capacity building to NCDA staff in partnership development and management.

Enhance the function of ECD coordination forums and ensure timely engagements of key stakeholders

• Facilitate regular meetings and forums and ensure all stakeholders are engaged.
• Ensure the implementation key resolutions from various ECD coordination forums and periodic monitoring report produced.

Coordinate and monitored reporting requirements on ECD related interventions implemented by various stakeholders.

Strengthen ECD financing pipeline projects being developed by NCDA and those from various partners

• Identify ECD financing partnership opportunities and contribute to the development fundable projects/feasibility studies on ECD within NCDA, as well as provided inputs on partners’ resource mobilization plans and proposals.
• Provide technical inputs to the ECD projects proposals from different stakeholders.
• Provide back-stopping support to the implementation of ECD financing related projects, programmes and other related initiatives.

Improve Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning for ECD

• Ensure the development and implementation of appropriate M&E tools and systems.
• Document medium term results/impact of on-going partnerships and documented lessons learned to inform decision-making as well as knowledge sharing among stakeholders.
• Provide technical inputs in the periodic Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning reports.

Ensure strong networking and visibility activities:

• Ensure smooth working relations with all NCDA staff, key stakeholders including development partners.
• Regularly ensure participation in NCDA and social sector meetings as delegated by NCDA management.

Maintain a good flow of communication, documentation and information sharing between NCDA, MIGEPROF and UNICEF.

Deliverables/Outputs:

Payments:  9% of the payment each month in 10 months

                      10% of the payment in the 11^th month

• Monthly reports summarizing technical support provided and priorities for next month. To be completed by November 2023.
• Medium-term Strategic Framework for Partnerships. To be completed by April 2023
• Inventory of partnership agreements. To be completed by February 2023
• Knowledge sessions held. To be completed by November 2023
• Monthly reports summarizing technical support provided and priorities for next month. To be completed by November 2023
• Recurrent support to facilitate meetings, monitor implementation of resolutions and reporting requirements. To be completed by November 2023
• Monthly reports summarizing technical support provided and priorities for next month. To be completed by November 2023
• Lists of partnership opportunities identified and proposals supported. To be completed by November 2023
• Monthly reports summarizing technical support provided and priorities for next month. To be completed by November 2023
• M&E tools developed. To be completed by May 2023
• Partnerships results documented. To be completed by November 2023
• Periodic reports supported. To be completed by November 2023
• Monthly reports summarizing technical support provided and priorities for next month. To be completed by November 2023
• Minutes of meeting shared. To be completed by November 2023
• Monthly or bi-monthly attendance of section meetings at UNICEF. To be completed by November 2023

Selection Criteria

Applications shall be assessed based on their technical and financial proposals. Maximum scores for technical and financial applications will be 70% and 30%, respectively.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in International relations, Social Sciences, Project management, Development studies, Law or other related fields.
• At least 6 years of continuous experience in the Early Child Development, Child Protection, Education development spheres, with at least 2 years’ experience in partnership-based programming.
• Good skills and experience in all aspects of programme cycle management - design and development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Demonstrable ability in developing strategic documents including concept notes, briefs with particular focus on Early Childhood Development (ECD), Social protection, Private Sector Engagement, and donor funded projects/Programmes.
• Experience in organizational capacity development, training, mentoring, and coaching
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills and the ability to think and plan strategically
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, including a good track record of report writing
• A proficient level of written and spoken English knowledge of French and a local language is an asset
• Working experience with UN and or other international organizations will be an added advantage

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit here. 

 UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.