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Thursday 11 July 2013

SENIOR TECHNICAL CONSULTANT-UNICEF

Title:      Senior Technical Consultant
Category and Grade Level:          International consultant (P4 equivalent)
Type of Contract:             Special Service Agreement
Length Of Contract:        6 weeks
Organization Unit:           PME
Duty Station:      Nairobi
Date of Issue:    28 June 2013

Closing date of Application:         7 July 2013

Background
The last Situation Analysis of Children was conducted by UNICEF in 1996. A Situation Analysis (SitAn) is an assessment and analysis of the country situation, with respect to children’s rights and development potential or critical issues.
It serves to increase understanding and to identify necessary action on issues affecting their realization. It also plays a formative role by improving the understanding of decision-makers, partners and stakeholders of the current status of children’s rights in the country and also the causes of inequities as the basis for policy formulation. The process is used to understand the causes of and linkages between problems affecting children and how a country’s human, social, economic and organizational resources and structures (including its policies and institutions) can contribute to solving these problems.
While a Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) was completed for the North (Somaliland and Puntland), unfortunately on-going insecurity in Central and Southern zone of Somalia has meant little data and analysis on the situation of children in these areas. Earlier this year, using several available studies, surveys and programme evaluations, a team of two consultants updated the Situation Analysis of Children and provided a first draft of the document. The document covers an analysis of the national context (political, socio-cultural, economic), child mortality, nutrition, health services, water and sanitation, education and child protection. However, there is some more work required to make the updated SitAn an effective advocacy and programming tool that is based on wide sources of data available on children. The Office is initiating the Mid Term Review (MTR) of the country programme where the outcomes from an already conducted Strategic Moment of Reflection as well as the SitAn will provide the background and analysis for the planning exercises required before and after the MTR.
Justification
The New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States was agreed at the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan in December 2011. A number of countries including Somalia and several international organizations –– endorsed the agreement which proposes five peace-building and state-building goals (PSGs), focuses on new ways of engaging, and identifies commitments to build mutual trust and achieve better results in fragile states. The PSGs are: 1) legitimate politics; 2) justice; 3) security; 4) economic foundations and; 5) revenues and services. The centerpiece of the New Deal is country owned and country led transitions from fragility through one vision and one plan; with partners in development harmonizing and aligning to the country owned plan.
With the emergence of the New Deal, the UN Somalia Assistance Framework has been discontinued and UNICEF needs to engage in reviewing and adapting its country programme to the new assistance context and also focusing on contributing to the government plan for achieving the New Deal goals. Furthermore, the end of Somalia’s political transition presents an opportunity to establish a new partnership between the international community and Somalia. The almost simultaneous end of the Somali Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) offers a timely opportunity to streamline coordination structures and improve the systems for policy dialogue in Somalia.
In this respect it becomes a pre-requisite that the SitAn becomes a more robust document that would be used for planning and as advocacy tool for UNICEF’s role in the new humanitarian and development context of Somalia. Although a more comprehensive situation analysis will be developed in the future, the updated SitAn needs improvement and some aspects need to be finalized.
Objectives
The SitAn for Somalia should serve at least the following functions:

  • Inform UNICEF country programme planning: The Situation Analysis offers an opportunity to feed into the Mid Term Review of UNICEF’s country programme
  • Strengthen evidence-based policy advocacy: Based on evidence from this detailed analysis, UNICEF Somalia will enhance its policy advocacy and partnerships for realization of children’s rights,
  • Focus attention on priority needs and reducing specific disparities in realization of global goals and human rights commitments.
  • The Sitan will also provide the government and other partners with comprehensive equity-sensitive and evidence-based information on children for result-based decision-making. It will contribute to the formulation of key national strategies so that the priorities for the most disadvantaged children are integrated into National Plan within the framework of the New Deal.
Qualifications/Experience
The assignment is expected to be undertaken by 1 international consultant to review and finalize a human-rights based, equity-focused, gender-sensitive and child-centred SitAn.

a    International consultant (individual SSA –P4 equivalent level): The international consultant is expected to be in country for a total of 6 weeks

The required background and experience for the international consultant is as follows:
  • Advanced degree in the social sciences (sociology, anthropology, development studies), Economics/Statistics or related fields relevant for the assignment
  • At least 10 years of research and other relevant professional experience
  • Excellent facilitation and coordination skills
  • In-depth knowledge of children’s rights, including CRC, CEDAW and other international legal instruments the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), World Fit for Children (WFFC), and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
  • Knowledge and Demonstrated experience with Human Rights Based Approach to Programming (HRBAP)
  • Institutional knowledge of the UN and UNICEF
  • Proven experience in writing analytical papers on children and gender issues
  • Familiarity with Somalia current national development priorities and challenges would be an asset
  • Strong writing skills in English
  • The consultant will be asked to submit 2 samples of previous similar work produced and at least 3 references.

 The specific competencies and qualifications required of all consultants are as follows:
  • Good knowledge of the recent developments in the area of human rights in general and of children’s rights.
  • Strong analytical skills and proficiency in writing in English.
  • Ability to deliver quality reports/analysis and results in line with established deadlines.
  • Experience of having participated previously in a UNICEF Situation Analysis will be a major advantage
Click here to download a detailed TOR for this consultancy.