Mid Term Review Lead Consultant

CONSULTANCY POSITION

Mid Term Review Lead Consultant

VACANCY#: UNICEF/MLW/2014/012

1. BACKGROUND

UNICEF Malawi Country Office (MCO) is implementing a five year country programme in Malawi, covering the period 2012 – 2016. The overall goal of the UNICEF country programme is to support national efforts to progressively realize children’s and women’s rights through improved child survival, development, protection and participation within the framework of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Millennium Declaration. UNICEF is focusing its resources at three levels: policy and systems strengthening; improved and equitable delivery of basic social services; and positive behavior change to benefit children. The following strategies are instrumental in achieving these results: (a) providing upstream technical guidance for policy development, based on evidence and best practices; (b) formulating benchmarks and standards to enable implementation, quality assurance and monitoring within the overall decentralization process; (c) developing professional skills; and (d) establishing mechanisms for community participation, implementation and monitoring of child rights. In 2014, the programme will have passed its 2.5 years of implementation and UNICEF requires a Mid Term Review (MTR) be undertaken.

UNICEF Malawi Country Office (MCO) is looking for an individual international consultant to support the country office in undertaking a midterm review. The consultant is also tasked to undertake the necessary research and desk reviews to gather evidence in support of conclusions and recommendations provided.

1. SCOPE OF WORK

MCO has following components and sections that are to be consulted, and supported during this process:

1. The Survival Component is made up of four sections, namely (a) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); (b) Health; (c) HIV/AIDS; (d) Nutrition
2. The Development Component is made up of one section, namely Basic Education and Youth Development
3. The Protection Component is made up of two sections, namely (a) Child Protection; (b) Social Protection/ Social Policy
4. The Participation Component is the cross cutting component made up of four sections, namely (a) Programme Planning and Monitoring; (b) Technology for Development; (c) External Communications; (d) Social Policy

For each of the above sections, an MTR paper should be developed. The MTR papers should consider implementation strength in following areas: Resilience building; Gender mainstreaming; Human Rights Approach to Programming; Capacity building; Emergency interventions; and participation. These MTR papers should include an assessment of the degree which sections are aligned with the new global UNICEF Strategic Plan, and suggest recommendations on how to improve this alignment where needed. The section MTR papers are to be brought together to produce a final MTR document. This final MTR document should include an assessment of the degree of coherence between MCO regular programmes and their ability to provide support to beneficiaries synergistically. It should provide recommendation on how to improve MCO coherence and synergies in programming.

Taking into consideration the present context of Malawi, the Outcome result of the sections, as outlined in the CPD and associated UNDAF planning documents, are to be assessed with respect to their relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability. For further information on definitions of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability please refer to following URL:

http://www.oecd.org/dac/evaluation/daccriteriaforevaluatingdevelopmentas...

The consultant is to review all MTR related documents that will be presented by the MCO, including the “Child and Youth Consultations in Malawi on post 2015 Development Agenda”, based on which an inception report outlining the support to be provided to MCO in detail is provided to the supervisor for approval.

Once section MTR papers are near completion, a draft MTR paper for the Country Programme is to be developed. This paper should address following questions:

· At the broadest level, is the CP focusing on the right issues?

· Specifically, are the key issues for children’s and women’s rights identified in the Situation Analysis and CPD still relevant?

· Is the positioning of UNICEF support appropriate, in relation to the support from other partners addressing similar issues?

· Is the balance between pilots and tested and proven interventions appropriate?

· Are the strategic approaches chosen for the CP appropriate and within UNICEF comparative advantage?

· Are successes of the CP sustainable and can they be effectively and efficiently taken to scale?

· What can be learned from both successes and failures?

The consultant is also expected to document, develop necessary tools, make modifications to the MTR papers as needed, finalize MTR papers and facilitate the following activities of the MCO:

1UNICEF Section Field trips to three districts, one in each region of North, Central and Southern April / May 2 Sections to have first version of MTR papers, based on SMR, national consultations (Government Counterparts and key stakeholders) and Regional Office Advisors; that includes a two page Situation Analysis of current Malawi context as it relates to the section. End May 3 MICS Preliminary Report + Data available and incorporated into section MTR papers as required June 4 Senior management team provides feedback on section MTR papers Mid June 5 Section MTR papers updated End June 6 Internal MCO meeting to discuss CP implementation and critical areas that need modifications and revisions (programmatic, structural, financial etc.) for the second half of the CP (2015 – 2016). End June 7 Overall MTR paper for MCO (Zero Draft) prepared that includes assessment of coherence between MCO regular programmes and their ability to provide support coherently and synergistically. 10 July 8 Senior management team provides feedback on overall MTR paper. 15 July 9 Overall MTR paper for MCO (Draft One) refined and shared with External Validation Group (EVG) 22 July 10 EVG reviews papers presented to them and provides feedback to the consultant End July 11 Global Strategic Moment of Reflection (SMR) with EVG on present CP, way forward based on MTR papers, and alignment with the new MTSP First Week of August 12 Based on updated section MTR papers, the Global SMR and EVG inputs, updated draft of overall MTR paper (Draft Two) shared with EVG 20 Aug 13 Feedback on 2nddraft of MTR document provided by EVG and senior management End Aug 14 Production of final draft of MTR document + Presentations made ready for September Strategic Review Meeting 10 Sept 15 Strategic Review Meeting with stakeholders, including Development Partners and Key Government counterparts 18 Sept 16 Feedback from Strategic Review Meeting to be included into final MTR Document End Sept Please note that rows that are highlighted indicated a major meeting is to be organized.

The EVG is a group composed of (a) three Representatives from UNICEF countries in the Region, (b) UNICEF representation from Regional and HQ offices (maximum of four), (c) the two consultants.

1. EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

Ø Advanced degree in the social sciences (such as development studies) or related fields relevant for the assignment;

Ø Minimum of 8 years or more of experience in child development work

Ø Excellent analytical, conceptual and writing skills;

Ø Strong facilitation and coordination skills, including participatory group discussion;

Ø Excellent command of English, both written and oral;

Ø Strong communication, advocacy and negotiation skills.

Ø Institutional knowledge of UNICEF and preferably the Mid Term Review process of UNICEF;

Ø Familiarity with Malawi current national development priorities and challenges is an advantage.

1. DURATION

7 Months

1. LEVEL

Equivalent of L4

How to apply:

1. METHOD OF APPLICATION

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and Personal History Form (P-11 form) (which can be downloaded from our website at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html) and attach copies of their certificates. Please indicate your daily/monthly rate to undertake the terms of reference above.

Applications should be sent on or before 13 April 2014 to the following address:hrmalawi@unicef.org

NOTE:

· UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Only shortlisted applicants will be acknowledged.
• Applications sent through the post office or hand delivered is not accepted.

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