Job no: 534718
Position type: Consultancy
Location: Rwanda
Division/Equivalent: Nairobi Regn’l(ESARO)
School/Unit: Rwanda
Department/Office: Kigali, Rwanda
Categories: Communication for Development (C4D), Consultancy
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, Opportunity
Category of the assignment: National
Proposed level of assignment: Junior Level
Section: Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships (CAP)
Duration: 11.5 months
Background and purpose
UNICEF is working with the Government of Rwanda to implement the Country Programme 2018-2023. The overall aim of the Country Programme is to accelerate progress towards the realization of all rights of all children.
The programme of cooperation seeks to achieve sustainable results for children at various stages of the life cycle, and is focused on selected outcomes related to health, education, early childhood development, nutrition, water and sanitation and child protection.
Special emphasis in both development and humanitarian contexts is put on applying Communication for Development (C4D) as a strategy to effectively promote social and behavioural change among caregivers and other immediate duty-bearers and address harmful social norms. This strategy contributes to reducing barriers to the equitable realization of children’s rights in family and community settings in a more sustainable and efficient manner.
The National Early Childhood Education Programme (NECDP) is one of the key partners of UNICEF. Currently, NECDP in coordination with multiple partners and stakeholders is implementing the National Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Strategy for Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH (2018-2024), with the overarching aim of reducing the level of stunting among children below the age of five.
The purpose of the proposed assignment is to further strengthen the strategic C4D capacity of NECDP in support of the National SBCC Strategy implementation.
Justification
Ever growing scope and complexity of social and behaviour change interventions for Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH undertaken by NECDP with support from UNICEF Rwanda and other partners as well as additional challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic require additional capacities with specialized communication skills and knowledge, to ensure timely implementaiton, monitoring and quality assurance of the comprehensive SBCC interventions.
Therefore, UNICEF seeks services of National Individual Contractor who will contribute to strengthening the strategic C4D interventions in support of the National SBCC Strategy implementation led by NECDP.
Objectives
The National Contractor under the supervision of the Head of Nutrition and Hygiene Department, NECDP and guidance of UNICEF C4D Specialist will work closely with the NECDP and UNICEF teams to enhance social and behaviour change communication, social mobilization and advocacy activities for Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH.
Key expected results:
• Support provided to NECDP and UNICEF in coordination, implementation and monitoring of the communication, advocacy social mobilization and community engagement interventions for Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH, including in the context of COVID-19 response.
• Support provided to NECDP and UNICEF in coordination, maintenance and further strengthening partnerships with all relevant stakeholders, including government entities, international organizations, civil society and private sector in support of the implementation of the National SBCC Strategy for Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH.
• Support provided to ensure that the key joint communication interventions in support of Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH SBC communications agreed in the work-plan between NECDP and UNICEF for the period of 2020-2021 are rolled out as per set timelines, the progress is regularly monitored and possible implementation challenges are identified and addressed in a timely manner.
• Support provided to NECDP and UNICEF to ensure that culturally relevant and attractive social and behaviour change communication materials are designed, pre-tested, produced and disseminated timely, meeting quality standards.
How can you make a difference?
Deliverables and Timelines
- Inception report with the detailed timelines, methodology, work-plan, including the M&E component for ensuring quality deliverables submitted and endorsed by NECDP and UNICEF. Quarter 4, 2020
- The stocktaking report on the National Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH Campaign with clear recommendations on way forward in 2020-2021 on: 1. Campaign materials finalization and dissemination; and 2. Action plan for social mobilization component implementation in the context of COVID-19 submitted and endorsed by NECDP and UNICEF. Quarter 4, 2020
- The Care for Caregivers Framework and COVID-19 prevention materials for ECD caregivers designed and disseminated. Quarter 4, 2020
- Social mobilization and community engagement component of the National Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH Campaign is supported and monitored. Quarter 1, 2021
- Support provided in informing the content of the Itetero and Urunana radio programmes with the key messages of the Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH Campaign. Quarter 1, 2021
- Support provided in adapting and contextualizing the ‘Care for Cargivers’ ECD framework for frontline workers and parents/caregivers in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. Quarter 1, 2021
- Culturally relevant and attractive behaviour change communication materials on Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH are designed, pre-tested and disseminated. Quarter 1, 2021
- Support provided to enhance advocacy with the private sector around the issues of the Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH services. Quarter 2, 2021
- Support provided in rigorous documentation and publicizing the successes around the implementation of the National SBCC Strategy for Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH. Quarter 2, 2021
- Support provided in systematic review and assessment of the progress of the implementation of the National SBCC Strategy for the Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH and recommendations to address challenges and further enhance implementation are provided. Quarter 3, 2021.
- Implementation of the National Integrated ECD, Nutrition and WASH Campaign supported and quality assured with all relevant stakeholders onboard. Quarter 3, 2021.
- Final detailed implementation report with the recommendations on way forward submitted and endorsed by NECDP and UNICEF. Quarter 3, 2021.
Payment schedule
The Contractor will be paid by UNICEF on a monthly upon submission of invoice and progress report on each deliverable, against the table of agreed deliverables, subject to certification by the direct and secondary supervisors.
Evaluation Criteria
The technical proposal (described in How to apply section for the ) is weighted at 70% and 30% will be allotted to the Financial proposal.
Please note that the final remuneration will be negotiated by HR.
Risks associated with the contract
Risk: Considering that the assignment involves multiple stakeholders and complications posed by COVID-19 pandemic, the anticipated timelines may potentially be missed and subsequently, the delays may occur.
Mitigation: During the inception phase, there will be considerable investment made in consensus building on key approaches and methodologies and the work modalities among the Contractor, NECDP and UNICEF. NECDP and partners will try as much as possible to identify potential bottlenecks, promote active discussions and secure consensus through the technical working groups and other relevant platforms.
Risk: Since the payments will be processed on a monthly basis against expected deliverables, there is a risk of paying for the full contract duration, whilst the full assignment is not completed, resulting in cost contract extension requests.
Mitigation: the primary and secondary supervisors will closely supervise the contractor and ensure such situation doesn’t occur. In case any of the expected deliverables are not provided in due course, the reasons will be documented in the form of the email exchange between the contractor and the direct and secondary supervisors, and the contractor will submit the invoice and report once the particular expected deliverables are finalized. Therefore, there might be instances when combined invoices and reports for two or more months might be submitted by the contractor for processing of the payment, subject to certification by the direct and secondary supervisors. In case of non-delivery, appropriate actions for contract amendment will be undertaken.
General conditions
The assignment is office-based in Kigali. The Contractor will use her/his own computer and mobile phone. The office space, internet connection and other relevant materials for the assignment will be provided by NECDP.
The assignment may involve travel to different locations within Rwanda. NECDP shall provide the transport for the Contractor to attend meetings within Kigali as well as for field visits and the Contractor will be reimbursed the living allowances in the field based on the applicable Government rates based on a submitted voucher/claim approved by the supervisor.
All necessary readings, documents, guidelines and forms will be provided by NECDP.
All materials developed will remain the copyright of NECDP and UNICEF.
The Contractor is not considered a staff member. Notwithstanding this status, she/he will observe all applicable rules, regulations, instructions and procedures and directives of NECDP and UNICEF.
The Contractor will respect the impartiality and independence required of UNICEF and will not seek or accept instructions regarding the services performed under the contract from any Government agency, except NECDP, or from any authority external to UNICEF.
Unless otherwise authorized by NECDP and UNICEF, the Contractor may not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government, except NECDP, or any external source any information, which has become known to her/him. She/he may not use any such information without the written authorization, and such information may never be used for personal gain. These obligations do not lapse after the end of the assignment.
UNICEF and NECDP accept no responsibility for the medical insurance of the Contractor or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during the assignment, including while on duty travel. The Contractor must demonstrate proof of medical insurance prior to the beginning of the assignment.
The Contractor will not have supervisory responsibility within UNICEF and/or NECDP, nor responsibilities on UNICEF and/or NECDP budget and other resources.
Under the assignment contract, a month is defined as 21 working days, and fees are prorated accordingly. Contractors are not paid for weekends or public holidays.
Contractors are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
• University degree in social/behavioral sciences, communication, education, public health, social work or similar fields.
• At least three years of professional work experience in the field of ECD, education, social and behaviour change communication, media, public health and other relevant fields.
• Experience in communication, social mobilisation, outbreak/risk communication, media, and development of information, communication materials will be an asset.
• Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda.
• Working knowledge of computer, internet and various office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Proven ability to work as part of a multicultural team.
• Work experience with government, UN and other international organizations will be an asset
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
View our competency framework at
http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
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.
How to apply
UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females are strongly encouraged to apply.
Interested candidates should send their complete Personal History (P11) form, which can be downloaded from
http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc or the latest CV/resume, as well as the technical proposal (cover letter). Only shortlisted candidates will be requested to submit their financial proposal separately from technical proposal.
Remarks:
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
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.
