Consultancy Service to Conduct Situation Analysis (SitAn) of Children and Adolescents in Azerbaijan

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, results

The Situation Analysis (the SitAn) of children’s rights and wellbeing is a flagship product designed to inform policy dialogue, partnerships and interventions to improve the lives of children. It is an assessment and analysis of the country situation, with respect to children’s rights and critical issues affecting their realisation. The SitAn is a crucial part of the child rights monitoring (CRM) framework and represents a key UNICEF’s programmatic output that helps focus on knowledge gaps related to inequities and child deprivations. By promoting the broad engagement of all stakeholders, the SitAn is expected to inform policy dialogue in the country and child-focused policy advocacy to make an important contribution to accelerating the achievement of child-related goals with equity.

The SitAn reflects UNICEF’s role to urge all levels of government and all key stakeholders to use the Convention on the Rights of the Child as a guiding mechanism in policy making and legislation to:

• Develop a comprehensive national agenda;
• Develop permanent bodies or mechanisms to promote coordination, monitoring and evaluation of activities throughout all sectors of government;
• Ensure that all legislation is fully compatible with the Convention and, if applicable the Optional Protocols, by incorporating the provisions into domestic law or ensuring that they take precedence in cases of conflict with national legislation;
• Make children visible in policy development processes throughout government by introducing child impact assessments;
• Analyse government spending to determine the portion of public funds spent on children and to ensure that these resources are being used effectively;
• Ensure that sufficient data are collected and used to improve the situation of all children in each jurisdiction;
• Raise awareness and disseminate information on the Convention and the Optional Protocols by providing training to all those involved in government policy-making and working with or for children;
• Involve civil society – including children themselves – in the process of implementing and raising awareness of child rights.

The last SitAn for Azerbaijan was conducted in 2019 and it was not updated as there were no new data sources available. However, the country experienced two major challenges since 2019: global pandemic COVID-19 and the conflict escalation. The timing of the SitAn is ideal as after 23 years of break the country is conducting MICS that will provide rich and fresh data on the situation of children and women in the country.

As the Azerbaijan Republic and UNICEF prepare to discuss the priorities of the new Country Programme cycle, there is a growing need to update the analysis and provide UNICEF and its partners with new and robust evidence on the situation of children and adolescents in the country, particularly the most vulnerable, to inform programme decisions and guide policy advocacy and partnership efforts, as well as to track progress of child rights implementation. Such an analysis will also be timely as it will inform the adjustment of the existing National Child Rights Strategy and provide inputs to the (2027-2028) CRC Report.

UNICEF, its partners and other stakeholders conducted a number of major research, studies and evaluations that provided new evidence that could be used to strengthen and broaden data/information evidence on the situation of children and adolescents in the country.

In view of the above, UNICEF Azerbaijan CO is seeking the services of individual consultants (or institution) to lead the consultations and deliberations with key stakeholders and develop the SitAn report using the available evidence while paying due consideration to the latest recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda, UNICEF Strategic Plan for 2022-2025, UNICEF Gender Action Plan 2022-2025, and main national priorities: Children’s Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2020-2030, Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development, and Socio-economic development strategy for 2022-2026 of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

How can you make a difference? 

The main purpose of this assignment is to conduct a human-rights-based and equity-focused Situation Analysis of children and adolescents with respect to the realisation of children’s and adolescents’ rights.  The analysis should examine the progress, challenges and opportunities for achieving child rights and well-being, and the patterns of deprivation that children and adolescents face.  The Analysis should be objective and verifiable and is expected to be used by all partners and stakeholders in the country in addressing key challenges preventing children and adolescents, especially the most disadvantaged, from enjoying their rights ensured in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international obligations of the country. 

The main objectives of a rights-based, equity-focused SitAn in Azerbaijan are the following:

• Develop a deep understanding of the situation of children and adolescents (including relevant groups of young people in particularly vulnerable situations) by analysing the policies and strategies, social and economic trends affecting them (data disaggregated by age, gender, urban/rural, ethnicity, socio-economic status and other relevant factors).
• Identify and analyse the barriers and bottlenecks that prevent children and especially the most disadvantaged children and families from benefiting from social services across sectors and enjoying their rights; draft strategies and recommendations on how the bottlenecks and barriers can be removed.
• Provide national government partners with comprehensive equity-sensitive and evidence-based analysis on children and adolescents for result-based decision-making.
• Provide essential information to non-government partners (NGOs, community-based organisations, civil society, media and business sector) to be used in their planning and interventions to address the most urgent issues affecting children and adolescents.
• Contribute to the (re)formulation of key national strategies so that the priorities for the most disadvantaged children and adolescents are integrated into the socio-economic development agenda.
• Identify critical data gaps and contribute to the generation of evidence that can improve the monitoring of the rights of children and adolescents, especially the most vulnerable groups
• Assess the current or potential presence of emergency risks (disaster risks and other potential shocks); the likelihood of their occurrence, the underlying vulnerabilities and the capacities and coping mechanisms of families, communities and local and national institutions.
• Analyse to what extent there is an enabling environment for the realisation of the rights of all children and adolescents, and analyse how evidence-based interventions and services needed to address deprivations are prioritised in national policies, laws, strategies, plans and budgets
• Capture new or emerging area of concerns regarding children and adolescents, such as environmental issues affecting them, mental health issues etc.
• Analyse the role/impact of business sector on child and adolescents’ rights fulfilment as well as public financial management.

Duration of the assignment:

 April 2024 – August 2024 (up to 50 working days). The times are indicative and can be adjusted in function of the arrangements.

 The consultants will primarily rely on secondary data analysis, while limited primary data collection from major child rights duty-bearers and other key informants may occur. This will specifically include: 

• Desk review of existing nationally and internationally available data and evidence on selected topics published in studies, research, evaluation and survey reports.
• Desk review of data, programme reports and analysis generated by UNICEF, including studies, research and evaluations.
• Desk review and comparative analysis of available legislation, social policy, government strategies and budget allocation and analysis of public expenditure documents.
• Background notes on specific topics where UNICEF and other actors working with and for children do not have or have limited knowledge for a comprehensive Situation Analysis (e.g. gender analysis of disparities; environmental/climate issues affecting children, mental health issues, migration etc.).
• Key informants’ interviews and Focus Group Discussions, including those who shape and implement public policies as well as children and adolescents.

The analysis must fully consider, and articulate disparities related to gender, income, geographic location (national/ regional perspectives) and ethnicity.  The analysis should look across all child rights and identify where there are deprivations.

The individual consultant or a team of consultants is expected to produce and submit the following deliverables as per the defined assignments:

Assignment 1. Inception phase: 

• Initial desk review to assess the availability of data/information.
• Development of a final conceptual framework for the SitAn and specific tools for data collection.
• Presentation of the conceptual framework and the tools to UNICEF and key stakeholders mapping to facilitate an in-depth common understanding of the framework.
• Presentation of an inception report, including finalised conceptual framework and methodology.

Deliverable:

• SitAn inception report, which includes the initial analysis of the information that needs to be updated as a priority in the SitAn (total of 14 working days)

Assignment 2. Data collection and analysis: 

• Data collection and in-depth desk-review of existing evidence regarding the situation of children and adolescents. This includes data/information on the most disadvantaged and deprived groups of children. National strategies and planning documents, policies and budgets. Relevant data and information on climate issues, energy and environment, gender equality, public financial management, the role of the business sector, and meaningful children and adolescent’s participation should be collected and analysed.
• Interviews and/or focus groups with key informants.
• Secondary analysis of available data/information including MICS data.
• Discussion and agreement on strategies to remove bottlenecks to the realisation of child rights, particularly for vulnerable groups.

Deliverable:

• Systematized collection (database) of data, evidence and analysis (total of 10 working days)

Assignment 3. Reporting: 

• Development of draft reports, presentations and annexes

Deliverables:

• Preliminary report on key findings and conclusions, which follows the suggested Outline, including, a power point presentation for validation of the findings. It also includes an Annex of State of Children’s Rights (SoCR) with issues, bottlenecks and government actions arranged by the proposed child rights domains and sub-domains (format provided)
• Final draft report for validation – as per the suggested Guidelines.
• Final Report – which integrates comments from the validation process, ideally limited to ~ 50 pages (not including Annexes).
• Final PowerPoint presentation and, as applicable, detailed causality analyses. (up to 26 working days)

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

Background: Recognized institution/researcher with proven experience in public policy, social policy and policy analysis, public finance and child/human rights.

Education: Advanced degree in social sciences, international development or related fields relevant for the assignment.

Expertise and skills:  

• Strong analytical skills – references to previous work or institutions
• Excellent knowledge of statistics, social service systems, development agenda
• Previous experience with UNICEF is an advantage.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in development of analytical reports and policy documents related to children and adolescents;
• Proven experience in in quantitative and qualitative data analysis, policy (and finance) analysis (including experience in the consistent use of age and sex-disaggregated and gender sensitive data) and report preparation;
• Knowledge of human rights-based approach to programming
• Experience in facilitating consultations with government representatives, NGOs, academia, children, adolescents and other stakeholders
• Fluency in English – for all team members; Fluency in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language is highly desirable;
• Excellent writing skills.

Applications from both individuals and teams are welcome. In the case of teams (ideally two-person team), it is preferred that proficiency in the local language is demonstrated by at least one member, enabling smoother communication and integration within the local context.

All interested candidates are obliged to submit through the official UNICEF recruitment system the following documents:

• Methodological proposal (up to 5 pages)
• Financial offer with all costs included (including relevant consultancy fee and travel costs). The application must include a financial proposal as a separate document, providing a separate fee for each defined deliverable
• One example of similar work/analysis/evaluation as an author or co-author.

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.