Individual National 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.

Background:

The protection of children without parental care is a national priority for Viet Nam and anchored in its state policy documents and laws, including the Law on Children, and its sub-laws.

Acknowledging the detrimental effects of institutionalization on children, it is recognized that steps need to be taken to reform the institutional care system including combining deinstitutionalization efforts with development of community-based alternative care system.

There is insufficient national information available on all forms of alternative care in Viet Nam that are provided by the government. In 2012, the Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed its concern about the lack of reliable information on children deprived of their family environment. The Committee recommended that Viet Nam should undertake a comprehensive survey on all children deprived of a family environment and create a national register of all such children. However, this recommendation has not been implemented so far. The lack of comprehensive understanding on children without parental care impacts negatively to the development of suitable national plan on alternative care especially on community-based alternative care and deinstitutionalization.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), in Viet Nam, there are currently around 250 registered residential care facilities (both public and non-public) across the country. The total number of children in these institutions is estimated from 22,000 to 33,000. Noting that these data excluded informal and unregistered care facilities that continue to function without monitoring of standards.

Accurate and reliable figures on the numbers of children in residential care are essential for Viet Nam to ensure appropriate attention to alternative care, to reduce the numbers of children living in residential care/institutions, (particularly those that do not meet acceptable standards) and whenever possible, prevent institutionalization, or reunite children with their families.

The above issues, and the limited information available on the background and situation of those children, and on selected measures of their well-being, call for increased efforts in Viet Nam to provide guidance and support to undertake a survey. Mapping and enumeration of residential care facilities and the children living in them will strengthen the national monitoring system for child protection.

Recently, UNICEF Headquarter has developed a draft standard protocol including tools/questionnaires for data collection on children in residential care and advised countries that are working on deinstitutionalization such as Viet Nam to use them for strengthening data system on children in residential care. 

Objectives:

In close cooperation with UNICEF and MOLISA Department of Children’s Affairs, the consultant is expected to support initial work to prepare for a national survey on residential care.

Specific objectives include:

- To conduct literature review on reports and data systems on residential care in Viet Nam.

- To act as a resource person in a workshop to share lessons learned on residential care surveys and UNICEF HQ standard protocol and tools for data collection on children in residential care; and facilitate discussions in the technical meetings to develop a plan for a national survey on children in residential care in Viet Nam.

- To facilitate the adaptation of the UNICEF HQ standard protocol and tools for data collection on children in residential care for further use in Viet Nam.

- To develop a roadmap for a plan for a national survey on children in residential care in Viet Nam.

Specific Tasks:

In consultation with UNICEF and MOLISA DCA, the consultant shall perform the following tasks:

Task 1: Conduct desk review of recent studies, statistical reports, current protocols, different types of administrative data sources, policies and practices in data management on collecting data on children in residential care in Viet Nam. 10 days

Task 2: Act as a resource person in a workshop on sharing of relevant international experiences and good practices national surveys on children in residential care. This includes recommending key stakeholders for participation in the workshop, preparing a presentation on the literature review on data management and reporting on residential care in Viet Nam for dissemination at the workshop, and support facilitation and documentation of discussions during the workshop.  5 days

Task 3: Based on results from the workshop, and meetings with MOLISA and other stakeholders draft a plan for a national survey on children in residential care in Viet Nam which includes relevant steps, scope and methodology for data collection, stakeholders and responsibility and timeframe for sharing with UNICEF, MOLISA and selected partners for comments. Finalise the plan upon receiving comments from concerned stakeholders. 10 days

Task 4: Adjust/adapt the existing UNICEF global protocol, tools and survey questionnaire on children in residential care. The consultant needs to work closely with UNICEF, MOLISA and key government agency partners to ensure appropriate consultation for the adaptation of the survey protocol, tools and questionnaires. 10 days

Total: 35 days 

Methodology and deliverables:

The consultant is required to work closely with UNICEF and MOLISA Department of Children’s Affairs (DCA) to get technical guidance and exchange information on the implementation of the consultancy.

Please find attached the full TOR for specific tasks and deliverables  Consultancy Notice Nat Consultant_Residential Care Survey.docx

Reporting:

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Chief of Child Protection, and direct supervision of the Child Protection Specialist Alternative Care in the implementation of the specific tasks. The Chief of Child Protection will approve the final products of the consultancy.

The UNICEF Child Protection Section will support the selected consultant to collaborate with MOLISA in consultations with concerned stakeholders for the adaptation of the survey protocol, tools and questionnaires as well as in the organization of the consultation workshop related to this assignment. 

Performance indicators for evaluation:

Timeliness, inclusion of and response to UNICEF and MOLISA comments, quality of services rendered.

The performance evaluation is conducted upon the completion of deliverables according to timeline as mentioned above.

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

Qualification/Specialized Knowledge and Experience:

The consultant should have the following qualifications to effectively carry out the proposed tasks:

- Education: Post graduate degree in Statistic, Data Analysis or other relevant discipline(s).

- Proven knowledge in international standards and practices on data management and reporting, especially on children’s issues.

- At least ten years working experience related to managing or supporting national or big scale surveys/research, data management and reporting of issues related to children, women or other vulnerable groups.

- Proven knowledge and working experience in working with multiple partners, especially key government social sectors in research and data management.

- Strong ability and experience in facilitating consultations and workshops.

- Working experience and familiarity with UNICEF vision, mission and programming on child protection is preferable.

- Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Assessment criteria:

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

a) Technical Qualification (max. 100 points) weight 70 %:

-  Education:  Post graduate degree in Statistic, Data Analysis or other relevant discipline(s). 15 points

- Proven knowledge in international standards and practices on data management and reporting, especially on children’s issues. 15 points

- At least ten years working experience related to managing or supporting national or big scale surveys/research, data management and reporting of issues related to children, women or other vulnerable groups. 20 points

- Proven knowledge and working experience in working with multiple partners, especially key government social sectors in research and data management. 20 points

- Strong ability and experience in facilitating consultations and workshops. 10 points

- Working experience and familiarity with UNICEF vision, mission and programming on child protection. 10 points

- Fluency in written and spoken English. 10 points

Financial Proposal (max. 100 points) weight 30 %

The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened/evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 70 points score 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:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents to the assigned requisition in UNICEF Vacancies: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/

1. Letter of interest and confirmation of availability;
2. Technical proposal which clearly explains the outline on how to deliver the tasks and deliverables;
3. Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments (if available);
4. Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including consultancy fee, travel and accommodation cost for this assignment as per work assignment.
5. CV/P11 form (UN Personal History Form)  P 11 form.doc

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.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

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.

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.

Application close: Aug 29 2021 SE Asia Standard Time