UNICEF recruits 01 National Consultant

National Consultant (Development and Testing of Social Accountability Framework for Social Protection)

Job Number: 522238 | Vacancy Link

Locations: Africa: Ghana

Work Type : Consultancy

Background

The 2015 Ghana national social protection policy prescribes a role for CSOs/NGOs in policy and programme monitoring by working with and through empowering citizens to demand their rights and to hold government accountable. The policy has laid a foundation for a monitoring and evaluation framework that would guide programme and policy implementation. One of the themes in the social protection M&E framework is social accountability. It is recognized as instrumental in providing opportunity for all citizens and programme beneficiaries to exercise their rights through meaningful participation in the delivery of programmes. Although several CSOs are active in empowering social accountability, there has not been a coordinated approach to CSOs social protection monitoring and reporting. Many civil society organizations apply various social accountability tools for programme monitoring and reporting. These tools have different indicators, methods and approaches. This makes it difficult to generate standardized aggregated data on the performance of social protection programmes. Since these are generated by individual CSOs, there has not been a coordinated means of presenting the findings of their monitoring activities to relevant bodies and to demand responses which would be vital to effect policy and programme change. To address the problems associated with the ad hoc monitoring and uncoordinated reporting in the sector and to make available tools that will enable the citizenry to raise concerns on issues, it is important to develop a social accountability framework for social protection which will involve a mix of standardized tools and strategies that will facilitate harmonized monitoring and reporting.

Social accountability involves data collection and processing, preferably with the involvement of the principals, and must take place at all levels including the community to measure levels of satisfaction with programme delivery. Over the last decade, relevant instruments have been promoted on the supply side by government agencies, development partners and CSOs. Similar efforts have not been channeled into the development of demand side interventions that would enable citizens to effectively demand and hold government accountable.

Objectives

The main objective of this assignment is to develop a social accountability framework for social protection. This will include the development of various accountability tools (that will enhance beneficiary and community monitoring and reporting on social protection delivery at both national and local levels) and the design of a reporting portal/channel that will facilitate the engagement of stakeholders on the results. The tools will be hosted by selected CSOs and made widely available for the use of CSOs and other institutions in the social protection sector.

Specific Tasks

Submit an inception report: this will include a detailed plan on how the consultant will approach the assignment, including methodology, timelines etc;

Identify and review existing social accountability frameworks utilized by CSOs and other institutions for SP monitoring and reporting both in Ghana and international best practice;

Facilitate 2 consultations with relevant stakeholders to identify relevant indicators and approaches and draft the framework which would be applied widely on selected programmes and the sector;

Facilitate a validation workshop on the final draft framework with both national and local level stakeholders;

Train selected CSOs and lead the pre-testing of the framework on two social protection programmes in 3 selected districts;

Submit updated tools based on lessons learnt during the pre-test;

Submit a recommendation note on how to effectively disseminate the results from the application of the tools;

Collaborate with relevant CSOs to ensure the approved framework is appropriately disseminated and hosted by a consortium of CSOs;

Submit a PowerPoint presentation on the tools developed and recommendation for dissemination.

A participatory approach will be adopted for this assignment. Several CSOs and agencies have applied diverse tools for social protection programme monitoring and reporting. This assignment will require close collaboration with the relevant institutions to review existing frameworks and approaches that would provide a basis for the development of a harmonized framework (to include processes/procedures, data collection protocols, quality standards, reporting mechanisms, tools etc.) for standardized monitoring and reporting on social protection. The consultant will lead the design and development of relevant indicators for programme specific monitoring as well as measuring the overall performance of the social protection sector. It is envisaged that the framework will be hosted by a consortium of CSOs and made widely available to all CSOs and other institutions with a mandate for monitoring social protection delivery. Working closely with UNICEF and CSOs, the consultant will be expected to test the framework on at least two social protection programmes in 3 selected districts for lessons learnt and knowledge sharing.

 Supervision and Reporting Arrangement

The consultant will report to the Social Policy Specialist-UNICEF and would be expected to work very closely with the senior social protection expert, the national coordinators of the social accountability forum, the CSO coalition on SDG 10 and the CSO platform on social protection as well as selected individuals (internal/external to UNICEF) and relevant CSO organizations on all aspects of the assignment.

Expected Deliverables and Timeframe

No:	Deliverables	Number of Days	Timelines
1	Submit inception report (to include  methodology and detailed workplan based on inception meeting)Â	5 days	1 week after signing
2	Review existing social accountability frameworks by CSOs, other institutions and international best practice	10 days	3 weeks after signing
3	Facilitate a first workshop with key stakeholders (to submit a report on the available SA frameworks, identification of harmonized indicators and strategies etc).	3 days	4 weeks after signing
4	Facilitate a second workshop with stakeholders (national and local actors) to share draft SP social accountability framework for review and inputs.	3 days Â	6 weeks after signing
5	Facilitate a validation workshop on the final draft tools and submit final/approved tools Â	5 days Â	7 weeks after signing
6	In collaboration with UNICEF/relevant CSOs, train selected CSOs and pretest the tools in identified districts	10 days	9 weeks after signing
7	updated social accountability framework tools based on lessons learnt during the pre-test	5 days Â	11 weeks after signing
8	Submit a recommendation note on dissemination arrangements/opportunities	3 days	12 weeks after signing
9	Submit a PowerPoint presentation on SA tools developed and recommendations for dissemination	2 days	12 weeks after signing
10	Support CSO coalitions on successful hosting of the tools	2 days	13 weeks after signing

Proposed Payment Schedule

Timeframe

The total effective work time under this assignment is 48 days spread across 5 months with an expected start date in May 2019.Â

Qualifications, experience, skills and knowledge required

Advanced degree in social sciences and or other relevant fields of study;

Minimum of seven years of experience working with CSOs or Government on social accountability;

Good knowledge of the social protection landscape of Ghana is required;

Good knowledge and experience in applying social accountability tools to monitor programme/service delivery is required;

Experience in developing and implementing an M/E framework is required;

Excellent communication, facilitation and negotiation skills is required.

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

The consultant will be expected to use his/her own computer and office;

The assignment will be based in Accra;

Total calculated professional fees will be paid in 4 installments based on deliverables as indicated above;

The consultant will have access to UNICEF vehicle when out to conduct official workshops/meetings outside Accra.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Application Procedure

Interested candidates should apply on-line to the link provided. In addition to the detailed CV/Resume, candidates should attach a two-page note on how he/she intends to effectively accomplish this assignment within time frame.

Two examples of previous work done should be attached (e.g. strategic documents, publications, policy briefs etc.)

Candidates should indicate proposed Daily fees in Ghana Cedis

Remarks:

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

Closing Date Wed Jun 05 2019 00:55:00 GMT+0100 (Afr. centrale Ouest)