For every child…Hope

The quest for localization of humanitarian action is not new and has always been a cornerstone of humanitarian normative frameworks. In United Nations General Assembly Resolution 46/182, the guiding principles for humanitarian assistance stipulate the need for the international response to focus on strengthening national systems in line with international law.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a critical framework that always provides the foundation for the delivery of services for children. Since the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, there has been a push for international humanitarian actors to improve localization efforts, recognizing that local actors are essential in ensuring timely delivery and in strengthening the resilience of communities affected by crisis. The need for complementarity between international and national responders has been emphasized by the SPHERE standards and core humanitarian standards, which call for international actors to reinforce local capacities and minimize the negative impacts of humanitarian action on the affected population.

UNICEF’s comprehensive approach include the following component with detailed action outlined in the technical note on localization on how to operationalize them. They include: Promotion of principled partnership with local actors; Capacity sharing between UNICEF and local actors; Strengthening localized surge capacity; Strengthening participation and leadership of local actors in UNICEF led coordination mechanisms; Ensuring that humanitarian programme cycles include commitments on localization; Working with local actors in country programme development process; Cascading of predictable and flexible funding to local actors; Working with local actors to promote community engagement, including youth; Operationalizing comprehensive risk management in collaboration with local actors; Strengthening local governance to prepare for humanitarian crises; Strengthening local economies by ensuring local supply and procurement; Ensuring visibility and communication for local actors and Strengthening UNICEF’s monitoring and reporting system to capture localization commitments.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this consultancy is to document lessons on the implementation of the comprehensive approach to localization in humanitarian action; develop a results matrix for tracking the progress on the implementation of the comprehensive approach to localization in humanitarian action; produce a revised technical note on localization incorporating lessons from the documentation of the implementation of the comprehensive approach to localization in humanitarian action.

Under the general supervision of the Humanitarian Policy Specialist (Equity and Accountability) in EMOPS, the Consultant will:

1. Desk review
   • Develop an inception report on the proposed work and approaches to be used to deliver the tasks outlined for the assignment.
   • Conduct desk review of headquarters, regional and country offices reports, documents, strategies, and other related documents relevant to the localization approach.
   • Prepare preliminary work plan with timeline for the assignment, including risks that might affect the delivery of the tasks.
   • Conduct fieldwork in the selected country offices. This will include focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews, observations, and questionnaires to elicit their views on what is working, and what are the success stories in the implementation of comprehensive approach to localization
2. Field visits/travel to ten countries (2 countries per region)
   • Conduct fieldwork in the selected country offices. This will include focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews, observations, and questionnaires to elicit their views on what is working, and what are the success stories in the implementation of comprehensive approach to localization.
3. Documentation and reporting
   • Prepare ten documents (one per country) with maximum of 5 pages each, that illustrates progress and lessons on the implementation of the localization approach.
   • Submit draft documents developed to headquarters, regional and concerned country offices for review.
   • Revise draft products based on the comments received from headquarters, regional and country offices.

1. • Prepare ten documents (one per country) with maximum of 5 pages each, that illustrates progress and lessons on the implementation of the localization approach.
   • Submit draft documents developed to headquarters, regional and concerned country offices for review.
   • Revise draft products based on the comments received from headquarters, regional and country offices.

4. Develop a results framework for tracking the implementation of the localization approach.

• Review the proposed results framework for the localization approach.
• Consult with headquarters, regional and country office on the practical metrics to support tracking of progress on localization approach.
• Produce a results framework for tracking the progress on localization approach.

5. Prepare recommendations on how to strengthen / review the localization technical note

• Conduct focus group discussions and interviews with focal points from headquarters, regional and country offices.
• Produce a revised technical note on localization approach incorporating feedbacks from headquarters, regional and country offices.

    To access the full ToR please click here  Rollout of the localization approach TOR.pdf

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

• • Masters degree in international affairs, international development, social sciences, public policy, public health, or relevant field.
  • At least 10 years progressively responsible experience in international development or humanitarian affairs, including experience in developing country post-crisis contexts, including with UN agencies.
  • At least seven (7) years’ experience in strategic planning of national capacity development programmes in either humanitarian preparedness and response or post-crisis recovery in a developing country or post-crisis context (experience in developing national capacity in both sectors preferred).
  • Experience in multi-stakeholder co-ordination and facilitation.
  • Experience in research and analysis of global programmes
  • Excellent analytical and research skills
  • Excellent strategic planning and programme design skills.
  • Strong knowledge and understanding of current humanitarian and post-crisis recovery fields and concepts at global and national levels.
  • Demonstrated knowledge in capacity development theories, strategies and recent developments in this area within the UN system and externally.
  • Familiarity with UNICEF’s programmes in emergency contexts preferred.
  • Fluency in both written and spoken English, knowledge of French or Arabic, an asset.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and achieve quality results with limited supervision.

How to apply:

• Interested applicants are required to submit a financial proposal with an all-inclusive fee.  Please see the financial proposal template here:  Consultancy Financial Offer template.docx
• Financial proposal must include travel costs (economy class) and daily subsistence allowance, if travel is required as per TOR and any other estimated costs: visa, travel/health insurance
• Applications without a financial proposal will not be considered.

 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.