Individual National Consultant to Support the Initial Phase of the Nutrition Cash Plus Programme in Gia Lai, Viet Nam

National consultant to support the initial phase of the Nutrition Cash Plus programme in Gia Lai

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, an opportunity…

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of the assignment is to support the initial phase of the Nutrition Cash Plus programme in Gia Lai, including conducting a formative assessment to inform the design of nutrition cash plus programme and developing an operational manual to guide the actual implementation of the model.

Purpose and Objectives:

The overall objective of the consultancy is to support the initial phase of the Nutrition Cash Plus programme in Gia Lai, including conducting a formative assessment to inform the design of the model and developing an operational manual to guide the actual implementation.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work:

The cash plus consultant will support UNICEF Social Policy and Governance section in the initial phase of the Nutrition Cash Plus programme in Gia Lai. This will include the review of the relevant documents related to social protection, health and nutrition and meetings and interviews with local authorities and key informants.

This assignment includes:

– Conduct the formative assessment including need assessment to identify target group, geographical selection, proposed components of intervention including cash transfer and plus, answering the 5Ws (what, who, how and where and why) to inform the design of nutrition cash plus programme.

– Develop the concept note of nutrition cash plus model including concrete information on proposed components of model, targeting criteria of beneficiaries, location, proposed transfer value, frequency of transfer, duration of intervention, governance structure and human resources for implementation of model as well as a brief costing exercise; and facilitate consultation meetings with related stakeholders to finalize the concept note.

– Develop an operational manual with concrete guidance on the key steps of implementing the model.

Specific expected outputs include:

The consultancy is expected to be delivered by one national consultant with technical expertise on cash assistance and cash plus.

1. Output 1: Inception report: This report needs to present a workplan to carry out the consultancy including methodology, tools for field mission, timeline, expected deliverables and the outline of formative assessment.

2. Output 2: The formative assessment report including need assessment and geographical selection of intervention areas and proposed components of nutrition cash plus model.

3. Output 3: Availability of nutrition cash plus concept note on nutrition cash plus model in selected location of Gia Lai province for consultation workshop with related stakeholders.

4. Output 4:  A draft Operational Manual on nutrition cash plus model which is sufficiently specific and detailed to be used by the intended local users for the practical rolling out of nutrition cash plus model in selected location of Gia Lai province

5. Output 5: The final Operational Manual which has incorporated the feedbacks received during the validation workshop and which has been discussed and agreed upon among related stakeholders.

Methodology:

To carry out the consultancy work, it is expected that the consultant will use the following methods: (1) document review of the relevant materials including sample of cash plus models from other countries, and (2) conduct field mission to collect information and data through consultations and meetings with local stakeholders, (3) facilitate consultation workshops and meetings with related stakeholders to validate concept notes and draft reports and (4) regular meetings with UNICEF Viet Nam country office (Social Policy and Governance and Child Survival, Development and Environment section/Nutrition and C4D team) to consult about specific technical issues related to cash transfer and nutrition interventions.

Management:

The consultancy is to be supervised by UNICEF Social Policy Officer under the overall guidance of Chief of Social Policy and Governance Section. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the colleagues from SPG and CSDE section/Nutrition and C4D team and Gia Lai PMU.

Full TOR with deliverables as attached  TOR Consultant for Nutrition Cash Plus Feasibility Study.pdf

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

Advanced degree in public (social) policy, development studies, economics, statistics, social work or social science-related field. Being part of academic or affiliate researcher is an asset

– Over 10 years of experience in undertaking cutting-edge policy-level research on social protection with focus on children.

– Proven experience in developing formative assessment and operational manual on delivery of cash transfer programme;

– Knowledge of UNICEF’s organizational positioning on universal social protection / child grant, cash plus, child sensitive and shock responsive, is an advantage.

– Knowledge of Viet Nam’s socio-economic context as well as social protection framework and reform process would be an asset.

– Excellent written and communication skills in English.

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. 

Assessment criteria:

For evaluation and selection method, the Cumulative Analysis Method (weight combined score method) shall be used for this recruitment:

a) Technical Qualification weight 75%:

– Educational background (15 points):

+ Master’s degree, ideally in public (social) policy, development studies, economics, statistics, social work or social science-related field.

– Relevant work experience (40 points):

+ Minimum 10 -years of working experience in doing research on social protection, social work, child protection and monitoring and evaluation

+ Have a good understanding of Da Nang’s socio-economic and partnership context.

+ Strong knowledge and technical capacity.

– Relevant skills and competencies (20 points)

+ Excellent research, analytical, writing, and communication skills;

b) Financial Proposal weight 25%:

– All prices/rates quoted must be exclusive of all taxes as UNICEF is a tax-exempt organization.

– Financial proposal should be all-inclusive lump-sum cost including consultancy fee, costs for domestic and international travels and communication.

The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened/evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates in the technical evaluation. Other Financial Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

The Contract shall be awarded to candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview if needed.

Submission of applications:

a. Letter of interest/CV;

b. Three references of relevant previous assignment(s);

c. Technical proposal;

d. Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including consultancy fee, travel and any other relevant costs for this assignment.  

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.