Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Kyiv
Level: Consultancy
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Location: UkraineCategories: Social Policy
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.
For every child, hope
How can you make a difference?
Background:
UNICEF is committed to support the Government of Ukraine in its efforts to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending, with a focus on addressing children’s needs, as well as promoting social inclusion by supporting integrated and equitable social protection policies, enhancing the social welfare to ensure sufficient protection services are provided to the vulnerable citizens, leaving no one behind the social protection system in Ukraine.
Social services are a critical element in supporting individuals to cope with difficult life circumstances. With the beginning of the full-scale war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the demand in social services and quantity of vulnerable categories of citizens has increased significantly. According to the legislation, local authorities are responsible for the financing and provision of social services, and the central government does not have sufficient influence on their provision. Local authorities, however, often do not prioritize social services and have limited financial resources to deliver such services at scale. This results in large inequities in access, quality, and financing of social services within Ukraine. Per capita expenditure on social services varies significantly across regions. Furthermore, even the limited funds are often spent inefficiently, mostly on maintenance of public facilities regardless of the quantity or quality of services provided. Such line-item based budgeting leads to inefficiencies and does not provide incentives for non-governmental organizations to enter the market. Moreover, few hromadas have conducted social services needs assessments, making it difficult, if not impossible, to plan their provision.
To address these issues, the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine plans to establish a national purchasing agency of social services. This will enable the government to determine priorities and quickly respond to the needs of the population in social services by temporarily co-financing select social services, which local communities are currently unable to provide in sufficient quantity or quality. In a mid-term perspective, this should create incentives for local communities to improve access to and quality of social services to help individuals achieve self-reliance.
Purpose of the assignment:
UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine in its recovery and reform agenda and is seeking a consultant who will conduct a study of social services and develop a methodology for assessing the needs in social services, identify gaps in current service provision in Ukraine, and draft proposals and recommendations for the Ministry of Social Policy. The deliverables will be used to determine the types of services that could be purchased by the purchasing agency and co-financed by the local governments. Such information will also contribute to evidence-based decision making in the social protection sphere in Ukraine.
Primary tasks:
- Analysis of the existing state social services and existing regional programs of provision and management of social services.
- Development of a methodology for needs assessment of state social services and defining gaps in social services provision in Ukraine
- Development and presenting evidence-based proposals and recommendations regarding ways of improving management by different types of social services in Ukraine for conflict-affected vulnerable population, including IDPs families, families with children and persons with disabilities, as well as improvement of social protection system in Ukraine.
The Consultant will work under the leadership of the UNICEF Social Policy section and in close coordination with the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine focal point.
The Consultant will report to the UNICEF Social Policy Officer and Chief of Social Policy. All reports and other documents drafted by the consultant must be agreed with a representative of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine and UNICEF.
The main focus of the consultancy will be on the delivery of key analytical products related to social services provision in Ukraine, thus contributing to UNICEF’s activities and the National Recovery Plan agenda.
All deliverables should be provided by the Consultant in Ukrainian.
Work assignment overview:
Deliverable
Estimated Deadline
# of w/days
Deliverable 1. Analysis of the available databases and reports related to the provision of social services to vulnerable groups of citizens in Ukraine.
20 September
40
1.1. Approved inception report describing the methodology that should include a description of available databases, analytical reports, and studies which will be analyzed.
10 August
10
1.2. Draft report with the results of analysis of the available databases, reports (should cover, but not limited by, the national central level authorities, NGOs, international organizations). Draft report should be provided in Ukrainian.
25 August
10
1.3. Database with the collected quantitative data on social services (providers and recipients) and results of its analysis. Content and structure of database should be agreed with the MoSP focal point during the inception phase.
1 September
10
1.4. Final report with the results of analysis of available databases and reports related to the provision of social services to vulnerable groups of citizens in Ukraine. The report should be approved by the UNICEF and MoSP focal points.
20 September
10
Deliverable 2. Analytical note on social services and mechanisms of their provision in other countries with a list of recommendations for Ukraine.
30 December
20
Deliverable 3. Methodology for identification of gaps in social services provision and recommendations for improvement (based on agreed in the inception phase structure).
1 November
30
3.1. Methodology and questionnaire for phone survey among providers and managers of social services at different levels to define gaps in management and needs at the local level. Questionnaire for In-depth interviews and focus group discussions (if agreed during inception phase).
1 October
10
3.2. Presentation and a Report with detailed new methodology of identification of gaps in social services provision and management.
Should be preliminary agreed with UNICEF and MoSP focal points.
15 October
15
3.3. Short analytical note with key findings, needs, gaps and recommendations on improving management and provision of social services in Ukraine and for designing the methodology of further research and assessments.
1 November
5
Deliverable 4. Analytical Report with the results of analysis and recommendations for improving state social services provision and management at national and local level (based on evidence, good global practices and needs assessments and methodology agreed during the inception phase).
15 February
25
4.1. Report with the results of assignments and survey conducted by third parties (data from third parties surveys will be provided by UNICEF and MoSP) and recommendations, in Ukrainian.
20 January
15
4.2. Draft briefing note with evidence-based strategic and operational recommendations (Up to 4 pages with key findings, conclusions, next steps, challenges, etc) which could be used by UNICEF for advocacy purposes, in Ukrainian.
4.3. Presentation of the results and findings (up to 15 slides), in Ukrainian.
1 February
10
Total:
115
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education: Master's degree or higher in economics, data analysis, social research, law, mathematics, computer science, public administration, public health administration, Social Sectors or any other related technical field. PhD in related technical field will be considered as an asset.
Professional experience:
- At least 5 years of professional experience in public policy analysis and public administration, preferably in spheres related to social services and public health at national and/or municipal level.
- At least 3 years’ experience in analysis of public expenditures, monitoring of public procurement, controlling, project management, research and strategy development.
- At least 2 years of experience analyzing and writing legislation and policy notes.
- Knowledge of the Ukrainian social protection and public management sectors, inter-governmental relationships, social work and social medical spheres, procurement and related legislation.
- Experience in international consulting with a specific focus on social sphere will be considered as a strong asset.
- Experience in implementation other projects related to the development and establishment of purchasing agencies for public services will be an asset.
- Experience in conducting policy and social services analysis with a focus on families with children, persons with disabilities, other vulnerable categories of citizens for UNICEF, other UN agencies or international organizations.
- Proven experience in providing consultancy and policy making for state and local level authorities, including but not limited by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ministry of social policy, and other line ministries, Verkhovna Rada.
- Previous experience in coordination, strategic planning and networking with stakeholders from different fields and levels and monitoring in public procurements.
Languages:
- Ukrainian: Advanced [C1];
- English: Upper-Intermediate [B2].
Skills and competencies:
- Excellent qualitative and quantitative analysis skills.
- Work in diverse work environment.
- Build effective relationships and work in team.
- Good coordination and planning skills.
- Understanding of collaboration with Government and local governance entities.
- Computer literacy (including Word and Excel), and able to produce briefs and strategic notes.
- Effective communication skills and the ability to interact with a wide range of interested parties.
- Good time management skills and the ability to achieve the best result in a short time.
- Provide expert advice on strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for social services sector.
- Good presentation skills.
Please provide an all-inclusive financial proposal to carry out the deliverables listed above.
i Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.
Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.
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.
Advertised: 26 Jun 2023 FLE Daylight Time
Deadline: 02 Jul 2023 FLE Daylight Time
