CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST for sub-Saharan Africa Pre-Qualified

Roster of Consultants in Child Poverty, Public Financial Management, Social

Protection, Humanitarian Cash Transfers

Background
In sub-Saharan Africa, UNICEF provides analytical and technical support in child poverty
analysis, public financial management and social protection, including humanitarian cash
transfers, in order to support more equitable and sustainable results for children. To support 44
Country Offices in their work in these areas, UNICEF has two Regional Offices, one for Eastern
and Southern Africa Region (ESARO), based in Kenya, and one supporting Western and
Central Africa Region (WCARO), located in Senegal. The Regional Offices have established
regional rosters of consultants covering the technical areas across several languages (English
French, Portuguese and Spanish) to facilitate the swift engagement of social and economic
policy expertise. However, given the similar profiles of candidates across the continent, UNICEF
is now in the process of updating this roster, which will be utilized by Country Offices throughout
sub-Saharan Africa for different assignments.

Scope of Work and Duties

UNICEF ESARO and WCARO invites qualified experts to express their interest in being
included in the Roster of Consultants to deliver advisory services, access to knowledge, and
technical expertise to UNICEF’s social policy portfolio in the following areas:

• Child poverty analysis and advocacy

• Public finance for children (PF4C)
• Child-sensitive social protection
• Humanitarian cash transfers

Consultants may provide a range of advisory services to UNICEF’s Regional Offices, Country
Offices and their government partners in the four thematic areas above. The range of tasks for
the consultants may include research and assessments, diagnostic missions, provision of
strategic and operational guidance, training and capacity building, technical assistance to
country offices and governments on policy, strategy or programme design and implementation,
development of policy papers, and monitoring and evaluation. Precise tasks, outputs, reporting
and working relationships will be specified at the time of contracting for the given assignments.

The roster will serve as human resources repository from which the two Regional Offices and 44
Country Offices can draw pre-vetted, well-qualified experts quickly and efficiently for
assignments. Note that experts may specialize in more than one of the desired fields. It is
therefore requested that candidates self-identify both their field(s) and tier(s) of expertise as well
as their language proficiencies upon submission of their application.
Required Skills and Experience

Child Poverty Experts

• Advanced university degree in economics, statistics, public policies, development studies,
social policies or other relevant field.
• Minimum 15 years of relevant professional experience for tier one senior experts; minimum
8 years of relevant professional experience for tier two senior experts; minimum 5 years of
relevant professional experience for tier 3 junior experts.
• Substantial experience in poverty analysis, including child poverty, multi-dimensional
poverty and multiple overlapping deprivations.
• Proven track record in working with large national survey data (e.g. integrated household
surveys, census, demographic and health survey, multiple indicator cluster surveys, etc.)
• Strong quantitative analysis skills, including ability to use advanced Excel functions and
relevant software such as Stata, Eviews, R, SPSS, etc.
• Strong report writing, data visualization, and presentation skills.
• Proven experience with capacity development of partners especially National Statistical
Agencies and relevant government departments.
• Demonstrable capacity to translate evidence into policy and programmatic proposals.
• Good inter-personal and communication (oral and written) skills – publication record on
areas related to child poverty is preferred.
• Fluency in English or French is required (dependent upon assignment). Knowledge of other
languages applicable to the region (Portuguese, Spanish, etc.) is a plus.

Public Finance Experts

• Advanced university degree or equivalent in economics, statistics, public administration,
public policy, development studies or other relevant field.
• Minimum 15 years of relevant professional experience for tier one senior experts; minimum
8 years of relevant professional experience for tier two senior experts; minimum 5 years of
relevant professional experience for tier 3 junior experts.
• Hands-on experience with public finance management (PFM) issues, including PFM legal
and policy frameworks; medium-term revenue and expenditure planning; domestic
resource mobilization; government budgeting approaches and classification systems
including programme-based budgeting; financial accountability systems, including Chart of
Accounts; fiscal decentralization and intergovernmental transfer systems; budget
transparency and accountability (formal and social); fiscal space analyses; costing;
designing and implementing Public Expenditure Reviews, Public Expenditure
Tracking Surveys; value for money analysis; cost-efficiency analysis; cost-benefit analysis;
cost of inaction analysis, political economy analysis, etc.
• Demonstrable experience working in child-focused sectors, including, but not limited to child
protection, health, education, nutrition, social protection, and water, sanitation and hygiene.
• Strong quantitative analysis skills, including ability to use advanced Excel functions and
relevant software such as Stata, Eviews, R, SPSS, etc.
• Proven experience with capacity development initiatives targeting legislative and executive
arms of government (namely Ministry of Finance and/or Ministry of Planning).
• Understanding of public financial management reform in the Sub-Saharan Africa context is a
strong advantage.
• Good inter-personal and communication (oral and written) skills – publication record in areas
related to public finance preferred.
• Fluency in English or French is required (dependent upon assignment). Knowledge of other
languages applicable to the region (Portuguese and Spanish) is a plus.

Social Protection Experts

• Advanced university degree or equivalent in public policy, economics, social policy,
development studies, political science, or related field.
• Minimum 15 years of relevant professional experience for tier one senior experts; minimum
8 years of relevant professional experience for tier two senior experts; minimum 5 years of
relevant professional experience for tier three junior experts.
• Substantial experience in the field of social assistance, cash transfer programming, social
insurance (including health insurance), social services and/or labor market analysis and
employment policies.
• Demonstrated understanding of child-sensitive social protection, disability sensitive and/or
gender sensitive social protection a plus.
• Proven track record in all / some of the following areas: research and evaluation (Poverty
analysis, risk and vulnerability assessments, Cost-benefit and benefit incidence analyses,
Social protection systems mapping and functional reviews, Programmes and systems
evaluations, Qualitative research methods, Meta-analysis/synthesis); systems and
programmes (design of protocols and tools for cash transfer programmes including
beneficiary outreach, targeting, registration, payments, monitoring, referrals, coordination,
communications, etc.); beneficiary data management/MIS (design and/or management of
beneficiary ID and administrative data systems, management information system
development/programming, design and implementation of social registries); shock
responsive social protection including national system assessment, design and/or piloting
and assessment of SRSP programmes; information dissemination and
communication (knowledge sharing and advocacy); high-level policy analysis and
advocacy (development of national social protection strategies, policies and plans,
development of regulations and by-laws, development of monitoring and evaluation
frameworks, analysis and development of legal, regulatory and/or policy frameworks); cash
plus design and implementation (linking social protection programmes with
complimentary social services, strengthening social welfare workforce, facilitating multi-
sectoral collaboration); inclusive social protection including assessment, review, design or
implementation of child-sensitive, disability and/or gender inclusive social protection;
capacity development and/or training of stakeholders including government, civil society,
UN staff, including accredited (or candidates for accreditation as) TRANSFORM Master
Trainers.
• Understanding of Sub-Saharan contexts where social protection is implemented in fragile,
poly-crisis contexts, including understanding of dynamics related to climate, conflict, and
displacement is a strong advantage, with experience in protracted crises is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex topics on social protection.
• Analytical thinking and strategic planning skills, ability to facilitate, consult and negotiate with
a broad range of government and non-government partners.
• Experience working on social protection in Sub-Saharan Africa is a strong advantage.
• Familiarity with the UN agenda, including the social protection floor, SPIAC-B and the SDGs.
• Good inter-personal and communication (oral and written) skills – publication record on
areas related to social protection is a plus.
• Full working knowledge of English or French, including excellent report writing and
presentation skills in the relevant language is required. Knowledge of other languages
applicable to the region (Portuguese, Spanish, etc.) is a plus.

Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) Experts

• Advanced university degree or equivalent in public policy, economics, development studies,
social sciences, international relations, political science, operations management or other
relevant field.
• Minimum 15 years of relevant professional experience for tier one senior experts; minimum
8 years of relevant professional experience for tier two senior experts; minimum 5 years of
relevant professional experience for tier three junior experts.
• Hands-on experience with humanitarian/emergency response, including HCT related needs
assessments supporting preparedness, humanitarian needs, market functionality and price
monitoring, and feasibility assessments; Design of HCT interventions including SRSP and
Emergency Rapid assessments of national systems, risk assessment, mitigation and
monitoring, programmatic design (targeting, benefit level, payment frequency and modality),
operational model (including selection of payment mechanism, data management, data
protection, etc., M&E including PDMs, payment verification, third party monitoring and
programmatic monitoring; Oversight and quality assurance of implementation including
coordination, supportive monitoring, identification of bottlenecks and troubleshooting of
solutions; Capacity building of stakeholders including government, civil society, payment
service providers and UN staff.
• Understanding of the humanitarian context in sub-Saharan Africa is a strong advantage,
experience in protracted crises is an asset.
• Good inter-personal and communication (oral and written) skills.
• Experience working with national government actors on coordination or system
strengthening (e.g., improving implementation capacity though transfer of knowledge or
skills; implementation through national systems; transfer of emergency programme
beneficiary information to government) is a plus
• Fluency in English or French is required (dependent upon assignment). Knowledge of other
languages applicable to the region (Portuguese, Spanish, etc.) is a plus.

Evaluation of Applicants
Applicants will be screened against the qualifications and competencies specified above for
each thematic area. The inclusion into the Roster of Consultants will be offered to those
individual consultants whose applications have been evaluated and determined as: (i) meeting
the required skills and experience and (ii) having received high scores against the evaluation
criteria. Note that references will be checked prior to contracting by the requesting CO.

Technical criteria
• Level and relevance of education to the selected thematic area
• Relevance of professional experience in the selected thematic area
• Record of drafting policy papers and other high-quality products
• Experience working with UNICEF, other international organizations and national partners in
the region
• Fluency in languages relevant to the region (English, French, Portuguese, Spanish)

Successful candidates will be included in the Roster of Consultants for a period of 3 years with
option for renewal. Entry into the consultant roster system does not mean that a contract with
UNICEF is guaranteed, contracting and agreed fee rate will be negotiated with requesting office
and dependent upon forthcoming needs. Where a request for services arises, UNICEF offices
will approach the selected consultants from the roster with a specific Terms of Reference
outlining the specific assignment scope and duration, and negotiate with roster consultants on
their interest, availability and daily fee.

Application Instructions
Candidates are invited to submit an Expression of Interest to be included in the Regional Roster
for Sub-Saharan Africa, a pool of consultants available for assignments during July 2024 – July
2027. Applications should be submitted online by the deadline.

Expression of interest must include:

• Cover letter describing your qualifications and past experiences (maximum 2 pages), which
very clearly indicates your current indicative daily fee rate in USD (Note: contracted daily fee
will be contingent upon assignment scope and duration, final agreed rate will be
negotiated with requesting office at time of contracting)
• Curriculum vitae (CV), including a list of relevant publications with links
• Submission of at least two evaluation reports from previous consulting assignments
• Completion of Mandatory Questionnaire*
• Names and contacts of three referees (applications without referees will not be considered)

View UNICEF’s 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.

Final notes
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection
process. UNICEF will communicate the official inclusion into the regional roster to all successful
candidates.
Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for paying any taxes derived from the
earnings received from UNICEF.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country
of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions.
Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against
SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with
UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment
with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without
compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation
requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.