Consultant; Child poverty and social protection advocacy. Req #569072

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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, LOVE

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Child poverty and social protection advocacy consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Social Policy Section – PG – NYHQ

Duration: 15th February 2024 – 30 September 2024

Home/ office Based: REMOTE

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of the consultancy is to support the unit in developing outreach as well as advocacy approaches on child poverty and social protection, through a variety of policy advocacy and knowledge management initiatives. This includes supporting dialogue, learning and advocacy on shock responsive as well as inclusive & gender responsive social protection, as well as managing an active Global Coalition to End Child Poverty, conducting outreach to member organizations, finding synergies between the individual work of the different organizations and providing more visibility to the work of the Coalition.

Scope of Work:

UNICEF´s Child Poverty and Social Protection unit is seeking a consultant to support the unit with the following key advocacy related activities:

1. Support to advocacy activities related to shock responsive social protection:

Coordination of the SPIAC-B working group on linking humanitarian (cash) assistance and social protection 

• Support the co-leads of the working group to ensure effective functioning of the group, by organising timely meetings, development of joint products and participation in external forums.
• Facilitate the development of guidance on operationalizing the common principles of engagement on linking humanitarian action and social protection.
• Provide dedicated support to the lead of the advocacy subgroup to develop an advocacy plan and ensure its effective execution.
• Manage knowledge management function for the working group through gathering evidence, developing knowledge products and their dissemination through webinars/podcasts, technical notes, case studies, blogs, newsletter, workshop etc.
• Maintain the webpage, mailing list and the virtual library/folder for the working group.

Knowledge management and global advocacy on shock responsive social protection

• Undertake activities to support the Social Policy and Social Protection team in strengthening UNICEF’s positioning and engagement with G20 under the Brazil Presidency, COP29, and any other upcoming opportunities.
• Synthesis and sharing of key developments and evidence on social protection in humanitarian and fragile contexts.
• Support the HQ and RO team in developing of policy briefs and operational guides/notes on different aspects of social protection in humanitarian and fragile contexts.
• Support in organising a learning event/stock take exercise on SRSP for UNICEF colleagues in ROs/COs.
• Facilitate south-south learning and knowledge exchange to influence practice and build capacity globally on social protection in humanitarian and fragile contexts.

Support technical assistance on shock-responsive social protection 

• Reviewing policy briefs and learning material to distill relevant information and sharing with thematic leads on the subject and to the social policy network in UNICEF.

2. Support to the Global Coalition to End Child Poverty activities:

Coordination

• Proactive engagement with all the member organizations on range of issues – to maintain an active Coalition
• Support quarterly Coalition meetings, including annual meeting
• Draft annual workplan and active follow-up with members on activities
• Explore establishing national coalitions to end child poverty in select countries

Advocacy and knowledge management

• Facilitate Coalition advocacy efforts
• Plan and execute Coalition webinars
• Support the Social Policy communications consultant with the Coalition social media channel and Coalition website
• Support the Child Poverty and Social Protection unit with the drafting of a global child poverty advocacy strategy

Technical support:

• Support various strands of research and policy analysis work of the Coalition, based on key priorities identified by the Coalition, including identifying a flagship Coalition publication for 2024, and leading on the analysis and drafting

Support annual high-level Coalition child poverty side event, including for International Day for Eradication of Poverty

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

1. SPIAC-B working group workplan and advocacy strategy developed – By March 15^th

• Final workplan submitted
• Travel to New York to support strategy development              

2. Coalition annual work planning supported, including roll out of national coalition in select country

By April 1st 

• Coalition workplan finalized
• National coalition establishment supported, including first meeting planned and member organizations identified

3. South-south learning exchange on SRSP – By April 30th

• Learning exchange plan developed and executed 

4. Global Child Poverty advocacy strategy drafting supported – By May 27th

• Draft global child poverty advocacy strategy

5. Coordination of SPIAC-B working group – By June 25th

• 3 newsletters produced and
• 1 webinar organized

6. Analysis for Coalition flagship publication conducted and drafting of report – By July 25st

• Draft Coalition flagship report
• Travel to New York to support guidance development

7. Development of guidance documents on operationalizing the SPIAC-B common principles – By August 31st

• Draft guidance for 3 common principles completed and 1 webinar organized

8. Organising learning event/stock take exercise on SRSP – By September 30th

• A workshop planned and delivered on SRSP

Education:

A Master’s degree in development economics, public policy, international relations or closely related field.

Work experience:

• A minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in policy advocacy (desirable: in the areas of child poverty and social protection)
• Knowledge and experience in coordinating inter-agency groups
• Knowledge and experience with web-based knowledge management platforms desirable

Competencies/Knowledge:

• Strong writing and communication skills in English.
• Knowledge of areas of work desirable (child poverty and social protection)

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect:
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.