Consultancy: Social Protection and Gender in the Middle East and North Africa Region
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.
For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
LOCATION/DURATION:
Duration: 60 days
Location:
On-site working days: 0 days
Off-site working days: 60 days
Field Missions/Travel: 0 days
Estimated Start Date: February 15, 2017
Estimated end Date: June 15, 2017
Reporting to: Shoubo Jalal, Regional Gender Advisor; and in coordination with Arthur van Diesen, Regional Social Policy Advisor;
BACKGROUND:
UNICEF defines social protection as the set of public and private policies and programmes aimed at preventing, reducing and eliminating economic and social vulnerabilities to poverty and deprivation. Vulnerability is basically the interaction between both exposure to risk and one's capacity to respond and cope. Social protection should tackle both social and economic vulnerabilities, and their underlying drivers. Exclusion as a key driver that reinforces and further exacerbates patterns of poverty and vulnerability, and gender is a key exclusion driver that should be addressed by social protection to eliminate discrimination and facilitate access to services. In its social protection work, UNICEF is focused on the promotion of social protection mechanisms that address the poverty and vulnerability of children. From that perspective, gender and social protection interact in various ways, which can be summarized as follows:
1 – Boys and girls may face different levels and forms of poverty and vulnerability in childhood, which can be addressed through child sensitive and gender sensitive social protection measures;
2 – Gender inequality in adulthood can affect child outcomes for all children, thus social protection measures that address gender inequality in adulthood can lead to better outcomes for all children
3 – The way in which social protection systems are designed and implemented can either reinforce or transform gender relations – e.g. in terms of who is registered to receive a cash benefit. Therefore, the intended or unintended impact of the design of social protection schemes on gender relations also needs studying.
The MENA region is living through a major transformation of its social protection systems, transitioning from an over-reliance on universal subsidies to more poverty-targeted social assistance. Coverage of the population with social protection provisions still remains limited, especially for those in informal employment, self-employed, unemployed and outside the labour market. Major gains were made in rolling out child-sensitive social protection, but major coverage gaps remain. The multiple conflicts and mass displacement in the region have stretched rather newly established social protection systems beyond their capacity limits and social protection in emergencies is a new theme of relevance to the region. There is a dearth of research on how gender is taken into account in the design, implementation and evaluation of social protection programmes in MENA; and there is limited evidence on whether gender-sensitive social protection programming in fact leads to child-sensitive social protection outcomes. This consultancy aims to sharpen UNICEF's understanding on the gender-sensitivity of social protection systems in MENA and their differential impact on boys and girls, women and men. The consultancy will make a critical contribution to UNICEF's Regional Leadership Area on social protection, in which ten country programmes are collaborating to demonstrate tangible progress towards child-sensitive, equitable social protection reform in the region.
Given the vast array of different aspects of social protection systems and bearing in mind time and budgetary constraints, this consultancy will consider the non-contributory pillar of social protection systems in the region.
OBJECTIVE:
The overall objective of this consultancy is to study the gender-sensitivity of social protection programmes in the MENA region, and the correlation with child-sensitive social protection outcomes, and to provide a regional documentation on social protection and gender that can inform future programming.
This consultancy will aim to answer key research questions:
DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:
The consultant will work under the supervision and guidance of the Gender Advisor in UNICEF MENARO and in close coordination with the Social Policy Section in MENARO.
The consultancy will be home based and includes:
KEY DELIVERABLES:
(Deliverables are detailed in payment schedule); All Deliverables should be submitted in English.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS (IF APPLICABLE):
All the countries included in MENA regional social protection leadership Area will be studied, which include the following:
Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen
However, only ten countries will be covered with an in-depth analysis:
1. The Social Protection and Gender Analytical Report
2. Summary report with infographics in English
3. Two Policy briefs in English
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Competencies of Successful Candidate
To view our competency framework, please click here.
Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.
Payment Schedule:
(Total duration: 60 days; starting date: Feb 15, 2017; end date: June 15, 2017)
Deliverables
Payment
1. Social Protection and Gender Analytical Report
1.1 Inception report with annotated Report Structure
1.2 First draft of the report, with incorporated feedback from MENARO
1st Payment: 20% of total payment to be disbursed upon submission of the following deliverables:
1.1
2. Summary Report with Infographics
2.1 First draft summary report with Infographics (4-pagers)
2.2. Final draft summary report with infographics (4-pagers)
2nd Payment: 50% of total payment to be disbursed upon submission of the following deliverables:
1.2
1.3
2.1
2.2
3. Policy Briefs
1.1 First policy brief (2-pagers)
1.2 Second draft policy brief (2-pagers)
3rd (Final) Payment:30% of total payment to be disbursed upon submission of the following deliverables:
3.1
3.2
EVALUATION PROCESS:
Qualified candidates are requested to submit:
Late submissions, incomplete package, or submissions with an incorrect email subject heading will not be considered.
General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors
Legal Status
The individual engaged by UNICEF under this contract as a consultant or individual contractors (the "Contractor") is engaged in a personal capacity and not as representatives of a Government or of any other entity external to the United Nations. The Contractor is neither a "staff member" under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor an "official" for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946. The Contractor may, however, be afforded the status of "Experts on Mission" in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention and the Contractor is required by UNICEF to travel in order to fulfill the requirements of this contract, the Contractor may be issued a United Nations Certificate in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.
Obligations
The Contractor shall complete the assignment set out in the Terms of Reference for this contract with due diligence, efficiency and economy, in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices.
The Contractor must respect the impartiality and independence of UNICEF and the United Nations and in connection with this contract must neither seek nor accept instructions from anyone other than UNICEF. During the term of this contract the Contractor must refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF or the United Nations and must not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF. The Contractor must exercise the utmost discretion in all matters relating to this contract.
In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, the Contractor (a) will conduct him- or herself in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service; and (b) will comply with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICE relating to fraud and corruption; information disclosure; use of electronic communication assets; harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority; and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.
Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, the Contractor must not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other entity external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to the Contractor by reason of his or her association with UNICEF or the United Nations. The Contractor may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF, and shall under no circumstances use such information for his or her private advantage or that of others. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of this contact.
Title rights
UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract. At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights.
Travel
If UNICEF determines that the Contractor needs to travel in order to perform this contract, that travel shall be specified in the contract and the Contractor's travel costs shall be set out in the contract, on the following basis:
(a) UNICEF will pay for travel in economy class via the most direct and economical route; provided however that in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons, travel in business class may be approved by UNICEF on a case-by-case basis.
(b) UNICEF will reimburse the Contractor for out-of-pocket expenses associated with such travel by paying an amount equivalent to the daily subsistence allowance that would be paid to staff members undertaking similar travel for official purposes.
Statement of good health
Before commencing work, the Contractor must deliver to UNICEF a certified self-statement of good health and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement. In addition, the Contractor must include in this statement of good health (a) confirmation that he or she has been informed regarding inoculations required for him or her to receive, at his or her own cost and from his or her own medical practitioner or other party, for travel to the country or countries to which travel is authorized; and (b) a statement he or she is covered by medical/health insurance and that, if required to travel beyond commuting distance from his or her usual place or residence to UNICEF (other than to duty station(s) with hardship ratings "H" and "A", a list of which has been provided to the Contractor) the Contractor's medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations. The Contractor will be responsible for assuming all costs that may be occurred in relation to the statement of good health.
Insurance
The Contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of this contract as he or she considers appropriate taking into account, among other things, the requirements of paragraph 5 above. The Contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members. The responsibility of UNICEF and the United Nations is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below.
Service incurred death, injury or illness
If the Contractor is travelling with UNICEF's prior approval and at UNICEF's expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or is performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF's approval, the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate), shall be entitled to compensation from UNICEF in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the fact that the Contractor was travelling with UNICEF's prior approval and at UNICEF's expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contractor, or was performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF's approval. Such compensation will be paid through a third party insurance provider retained by UNICEF and shall be capped at the amounts set out in the Administrative Instruction on Individual Consultants and Contractors. Under no circumstances will UNICEF be liable for any other or greater payments to the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate).
Arbitration
(a) Any dispute arising out of or, in connection with, this contract shall be resolved through amicable negotiation between the parties.
(b) If the parties are not able to reach agreement after attempting amicable negotiation for a period of thirty (30) days after one party has notified the other of such a dispute, either party may submit the matter to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL procedures within fifteen (15) days thereafter. If neither party submits the matter for arbitration within the specified time the dispute will be deemed resolved to the full satisfaction of both parties. Such arbitration shall take place in New York before a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties; provided however that should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, the arbitrator shall be designated by the United Nations Legal Counsel. The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute.
Penalties for Underperformance
Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contractor, including each installment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor's full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF's satisfaction, and UNICEF's certification to that effect.
Termination of Contract
This contract may be terminated by either party before its specified termination date by giving notice in writing to the other party. The period of notice shall be five (5) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two (2) months and ten (10) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of impropriety or other misconduct by the Contractor (including but not limited to breach by the Contractor of relevant UNICEF policies, procedures, and administrative instructions), UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. If this contract is terminated in accordance with this paragraph 10, the Contractor shall be paid on a pro rata basis determined by UNICEF for the actual amount of work performed to UNICEF's satisfaction at the time of termination. UNICEF will also pay any outstanding reimbursement claims related to travel by the Contractor. Any additional costs incurred by UNICEF resulting from the termination of the contract by either party may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the Contractor under this paragraph 10.
Taxation
UNICEF and the United Nations accept no liability for any taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant and individual contractor on payments made under this contract. Neither UNICEF nor the United Nations will issue a statement of earnings to the consultant and individual contractor
NOTE: All persons engaged under a UNICEF service contract, either directly through an individual contract, or indirectly through an institutional contract, shall be subject to the UN Supplier Code of Conduct: https://www.ungm.org/Public/CodeOfConduct
HOW TO APPLY:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=501770
