National Consultant for using data and tools strengthening the social services workforce (part-time, home-based), Bucharest, Romania

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.

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment

While Eurostat shows that in 2022 41.5 % of children in Romania live at risk of poverty or social exclusion, there is little data available for the specific groups of most vulnerable children and their families that would need immediate and consistent assistance for poverty reduction and social inclusion. Public policies, strategies, and programmes, prioritize key interventions for addressing poverty and other multi-dimensional vulnerabilities, but local level authorities have the mandate and responsibilities to turn these policies into better outcomes for children. However, limited data at local level on children’s wellbeing and existing resources (i.e., social services workforce and infrastructure) prevents local authorities to effectively and efficiently target those children who are excluded and left behind and ensure tailored intervention able to make the difference at individual level but also contributing to decrease inequities and disparities at community and national level.

In this context, collecting and using specific data of the situation of girls and boys is essential for local and decision-making authorities to design, resource, fund and monitor, adequate interventions and provide the right support. Moreover, optimizing the collection and use of data is essential for local authorities to make most out of the limited resources at their disposal, while increasing the quality and reach of services. Digitalization in this area – data collection tools, visualization, monitoring and evaluation, etc. – becomes more and more relevant for designing targeted interventions but also a prerequisite for enhancing coordination and cooperation between local authorities, civil society, and the private sector that would contribute and add value to localizing national child-friendly policies for children.

UNICEF Romania conducted in the last couple of years several social inclusion projects which integrated strong components of data collection and use of data which assisted tailored, integrated case management. At the same time, digitalization of various tools – mobile applications for outreach workers, platforms aggregating data useful for decision-makers at various levels, etc. – was also prioritized. From increasing coordination and efficiency of integrated community work to evidence-based local development plans, such initiatives proved to be not only relevant but also extremely instrumental in addressing social exclusion of the most vulnerable. As such, after an initial testing phase, such tools, and practices (i.e., Aurora, Primero) were scale-up up at national level.

While there is a solid track record of positive experiences, the agenda for generating and using digital data and tools in the benefit of the most vulnerable is yet under development and many opportunities are still to be explored.  In this sense, UNICEF is looking for specific technical assistance to complement work of UNICEF Child Protection Specialists and counterparts at national or local level.

The generic task of the consultancy is to contribute with:

–      Practical assistance for designing data collection (processes and tools) related to social services workforce and to localizing social inclusion policies, with a particular focus on the Child Rights Strategy and Child Guarantee;

–     Technical assistance for designing and implementation of monitoring and evaluation digital tools to be used in the national roll-out of the Minimum Package of Services and EU Child Guarantee, including inter-operability with other relevant digital tools and systems;

–     Support for knowledge management and evidence-based advocacy on data regarding situation of children (with special focus on the most vulnerable ones) and around online tools and systems developed, tested and scale-up in the benefit of children;

–    Collaborate with partners, Communication and Communication for Development colleagues and experts to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies – including presentations in international conferences, academic or scientific articles, etc. – to promote solutions for generation and using data and tools in the benefit of children.

Deliverables 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Social/Political Sciences, Statistics, Information technology or related field