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Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

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For every child, LOVE

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: WASH Knowledge Management and Data Analysis Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: WASH, Programme Group – NYHQ

Duration: 1 December 2023 – 30 November 2024

Home/ office Based: REMOTE

About UNICEF

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. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

UNICEF’s overall objective in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is to contribute to the realization of children’s rights to survival, growth and development through support to programmes that increase equitable and sustainable use of safe drinking water, basic sanitation, and promote improved hygiene.

As the custodian of SDG 6.1 and 6.2 and as a global through leader in WASH, providing strategic support to the global knowledge pool and evidence, UNICEF requires to continually strengthen its global visibility and influence in the sector towards the fulfillment of human rights to Water and Sanitation. This means capturing, documenting and disseminating high quality knowledge products and lessons for global/regional and country learnings for effective WASH programming. Towards this end, the WASH section has developed and rolled out its Global WASH Knowledge Management Strategy 2022-2025 that sets KM as a key enabler to enhance our role as a global thought leader and facilitator of the best available knowledge and evidence in the sector. The strategy is in full force now and its adoption at country and regional level will be key to showcase knowledge management as a key driver of our leadership of the sector. This consultancy will provide support in getting our systems of capturing, documenting and sharing the wealth of knowledge and experience for cross-learning and strengthen our global visibility.

Scope of Work:

The purpose of the consultancy is divided into the following areas:

1. Development of WASH evidence gap database with support to Mid Term Review (MTR) process and Country Office (CO) KM planning: Assess how KM is aligned with our planning, reporting, evaluation and evidence generation processes across the HQ, regions and countries and determine the knowledge needs in various WASH topics based on gap analysis in coordination with other teams including the Office of Evaluation, Office of Research, etc.
2. Development of WASH Knowledge Products in innovative formats with Analytical Reports: Contribute to the analytical work for producing high level flagship reports and publications, other WASH knowledge products, summaries and reports using digital tools and visualizations through knowledge catalogs and digital reports.
3. Review Country Office Annual Reports (COARs) and Results Assessment Modules (RAM) to pick out good WASH programming practices: Review COARS and draw summary boxes as country highlights of good/best practices to feed into Global Annual Results Report Goal 4.
4. WASH Knowledge Platforms updated with Analytics on site usage:  Support in updating the content and outlook of our global WASH knowledge platforms including www.unicef.org/WASH and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (unicef.org) and strengthen our networks for dissemination, communication and advocacy of WASH knowledge products and good practices through UNICEF’s global presence in global events. 
5. WASH Training catalogue updated with support to roll out of Capacity Building Plan: Update KM training catalog and coordination of WASH learning and exchange events through Knowledge Fairs, internal learning, conversion of trainings in Agora etc.
6. Operationalization of Global WASH KM Strategy: Support coordination of meetings, design infographics and reports for increased visibility as needed.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Output: WASH Evidence and Gap database updated; 5 COs supported with the development of KM strategy/plan; Bibliography of WASH KPs for MTR produced – By end Oct 2024 (20 days)

• Develop WASH evidence and knowledge gap database
• Support ROs and COs KM plans and strategies and maintain database (At least 5 COs)
• Support MTR of Global WASH Strategy process

Output: Analytical report on COARs and RAM statements produced; Part 1 and Part II of WASH Knowledge catalogue with inventory of WASH KPs produced, KM trackers updated with compendium developed – By end May 2024 (40 days)

• Undertake an analysis of Country Office Annual Reports/RAM statements/Core Standard Indicators
• Develop Fourth Edition of the knowledge product catalogue based on analysis of global/regional and country Knowledge products
• Design Thematic compendium of WASH Knowledge products/best practices under the ASWA programme in innovative templates

Output: Develop 10 ‘boxes’ summarizing in short high-level language on key specific interventions and impacts with additional supporting text around programming areas as needed – By end March 2024 (25 days)

• Based on the COAR/RAM statements review (Deliverable 2), pick out high quality examples/highlights and develop solid narratives and broader programme approaches from these sources to capture 2023 WASH programming best practice

Output: UNICEF WASH SharePoint and other sites updated; analytics of the site usage produced bi-annually including Viva; 15 WASH Bulletins contents drafted; At least two knowledge fairs supported – By end Dec 2024 (35 days)

• Maintain and update global WASH SharePoint site and all databases and undertake analytics of the site usage and knowledge products
• Draft Global WASH Bulletins and other special Bulletins (15)
• Support UNICEF WASH knowledge sharing platforms and pavilions/Fairs in global/regional events (At least 2)

Outputs:   WASH training catalogue with training inventory and usage produced; conversion of 3 WASH trainings in Agora; 6 Learning events supported with the design and delivery (6) and good practices documented (7-at least one per region) – By end Dec 2024 (25 days) 

• Update WASH training database and produce catalogue
• Undertake periodic analytics of the WASH trainings offered in Agora
• Support conversion of trainings into Agora (At least 3)
• Support WASH learning Series/Knowledge Fair (at least 6) with documentation of CO/RO good practices

Output: Meeting notes, presentations and infographics produced – By mid-Dec 2024 (10 days)

• Arrange meetings and draft notes (at least 4)
• Prepare presentation materials and graphic designs as and when needed (At least 10)

Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas:  Engineering, Business Management, Communication, Marketing, International Relations, Social Sciences, or related field.

Work experience:

• At least 3-year experience in knowledge management, data analysis and product design or development will be an asset.

Competencies/Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of WASH programme and contexts is desirable
• Strong analytical and writing as well as design/infographic skills.
• Proficient ability to efficiently manage large amount of information and new cloud-based filing systems (i.e.: Microsoft SharePoint, Teams);
• Demonstrated ability to research, capture and condense information using digital tools and apps. 
• Understanding of the work of the UN, and UNICEF is an advantage. 
• Strong communication skills (written and oral) in English are required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated experience working in a multicultural environment.
• Passion and demonstrated commitment to UNICEF’s mission and core values
• Background/familiarity with UNICEF’s WASH programme will be an asset.
• Language Proficiency: English required; additional UN language preferred

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect:
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory 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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.