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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.
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
| Work Assignment | Deliverables | Delivery Deadline |
|
Practical assistance for designing data collection related to social services workforce and to localizing social inclusion policies |
Design of a (digital) methodology (and informative or training package) for routinely disaggregated data collection and documenting evidence on the social services workforce, implying: – Digital mapping, recognition and validation of skills and qualifications of existing social service workforce – Methodology for triangulation with the results of the initial social diagnosis (see below) and other forms of social vulnerability assessments to clearly identify the needs-based demand of social workers and/or other professionals. |
Draft 0 March 2024 Draft 1 June 2024 Final September 2024 |
|
Contribution to the procedure (and informative or training package) for using data for decision making and planning social services development at local level including: – Design of the digital maps of social services at local, county and regional level – Adjustments of the methodology for the local development plan using social services workforce data and other relevant evidence. |
Draft 0 April 2024 Draft 1 July 2024 Final October 2024 |
|
| 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 |
Input for the methodology for social diagnosis to be performed within the scale-up project (funded by EU funding, Programme for Social Inclusion) of the Minimum Package of Services |
March 2024 |
|
Input for the design for the monitoring mechanism for Minimum Package of Services scale-up implementation including as well: – Reporting mechanisms for local authorities and counties through the monitoring mechanism. |
Draft 0 May 2024 Final November 2024 |
|
|
Support for knowledge management and evidence-based advocacy |
Monthly (from Primero) and quarterly analytic reports (from Aurora/Child Observatory) and check on additional data sources (INS, EUROSTAT, etc.) supporting national reporting, development of new programmes, advocacy etc. | |
|
Document results lessons learned from use of (digital data) in the national roll-out of the Minimum Package of Services and EU Child Guarantee and promote knowledge sharing with various counterparts, other stakeholders and within the organization. |
August 2024 | |
|
Promote solutions for generation and using data and tools in the benefit of children |
One submission for an international conference |
June 2024 |
|
One draft academic article |
October 2024 |
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
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
• At least 5 years of experience in relevant field
• Good command in working with EXCEL, SPSS, STATA or other software for data analysis (R, Python)
• Proof of use of data presentation techniques
• Previous experience in working with UN Agencies and/or various structures of the Government and/or the Parliament of Romania
• Experience in writing methodologies, normative guidelines, research papers, analytical documents, policy papers and notes, project and program documents, studies, etc. is an asset.
• Analytical and conceptual ability; communication skills;
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization;
• Availability for work within the proposed time frame;
• Availability to travel in country, to the beneficiary districts, if necessary.
• Fluent Romanian, working knowledge of English (both written and oral)
Application procedure:
The application will be made in the dedicated UNICEF platform and it must include:
- An updated CV focused on the skills and experience matching those requested by the current consultancy.
- Financial Offer should indicate the GROSS amount in RON as per the attached template
Financial Proposal for national consultant for using data and tools.xlsx
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.
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