National Individual 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. UNICEF Viet Nam is one of more than 190 offices of the United Nations Children’s Fund globally and part of the United Nations system in Viet Nam working in close collaboration with all UN agencies in the country. Guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF has a universal mandate to promote and protect the rights of all children, everywhere – especially those hardest to serve and most at risk. UNICEF’s mission in Viet Nam is to make sure every child in the country is healthy, educated and safe from harm, therefore having the best start in life and a fair chance to reach her or his full potential and benefit from the country’s prosperity. We believe children have a right to live in a more equitable society, where their voices are heard and needs met as a matter of priority in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. More information on what we do in Viet Nam is available at https://www.unicef.org/vietnam/ Background: Viet Nam is at a critical juncture in socio-economic development. In spite of COVID-19, Viet Nam’s economy is demonstrating resilience, with GDP growth rate of 1.8 percent in the first half of 2020, projected to reach 2.8 percent for the year. Meanwhile, the socio-economic context is likely to undergo dramatic change due to demographic transition, pockets of widening disparities, urbanization and employment sector. Moreover, many more children have been affected new forms of vulnerabilities, namely the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 and climate change. As such, regular update of socio-economic and poverty analysis with implications on children is crucial to inform adjustments in the course of the GoV-UNICEF cooperation in an evidence-based manner. In parallel, investment and allocation of budget in equity-oriented policies and ultimately identifying options for expanding them to address new forms of vulnerabilities are urgent. Among the priority policies is the social protection / social assistance reform. Under the One UN Strategic Plan and with the financial support from SDG Fund for Social Protection, UNICEF has been working closely with the UN agencies in social protection reform in Viet Nam over the past years. The Master Plan on Social Assistance Reform and Development in the period 2017-2025 with vision to 2030” (MPSARD) approved by the Government in April 2017 is a key outcome of the joint advocacy and technical support. A key aspect of the reform now is to enhance social spending and expand cash assistance to more children with a vision to achieve universal child benefit. Expanding child benefit has increasingly become an important focus of the Government, IFIs and other development partners given the potentially deepening poverty and vulnerabilities due to intensifying climate change-related natural disasters and COVID-19 coupled with economic crisis. In such context, UNICEF plays a crucial role in providing financing options for social assistance and other equity-oriented policies in light of the changing nature of poverty and vulnerabilities. Purpose and objective: The purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical support to the regular updating of socio-economic analysis and social assistance-related work supported by UNICEF Viet Nam, particularly to strengthen evidence and policy design to inform policy decisions around budget allocation. This assignment requires specialized expertise and close working relationship with the relevant GoV partners as well as the UN agencies. Scope, methodology and technical approach: This assignment involves technical review and input to assessments and studies (including formulation of research methodology and design, review and edit of reports, and development of policy briefs), development of proposals, preparation of programme and background documents, and technical contribution to relevant consultation meetings. A workplan with monthly deliverables will be developed upon onboarding of the incumbent. Tasks, deliverables and workplan: as attached TOR  Vacancy Notice financing equity oriented policies.docx Management: The consultant will be supervised by the Chief of Social Policy and Governance Programme /UNICEF Viet Nam. Payment Schedule: Payment for the assignment will be made based on a monthly progress report against the workplan developed at the start of the assignment and updated at the start of the month. The monthly report should be attached with the output products.  Performance indicators for evaluation:

• Quality of deliverables meet the standards set by UNICEF and specifications outlined in the contract.
• Deliverables are submitted in a timely manner as indicated in the contract.
• Technical assistance delivered in a contextualized and tactful manner, drawing on the inputs from UNICEF and partners.
• Performance evaluation will be completed at the end of the assignment.

Qualification: The consultant should possess the following qualifications:

• Post-graduate degree in economics, public policy or social science-related field.
• At least 8 years of experience in managing and implementing socio-economic analysis and social policies especially social protection policies.
• Experience and track record of delivery of technical advice to governments on social protection policies.
• Experience in socio-economic and policy research with good understanding of methodology and use of key findings for policy change and advocacy.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills in both English and Vietnamese.
• Previous work experience with the UN is an asset.
• Skills in synthesizing complex evidence into succinct, strategic and reader-friendly policy briefs.
• Excellent team work and communication skills.

Assessment criteria: A two-stage procedure shall be utilized in evaluating proposals, with evaluation of the technical proposal being completed prior to any price proposal being compared. 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 %

1. Degree Education in economics, public policy or social science-related (20 points)
2. Knowledge of socio-economic analysis and social policies especially social protection policies. (30 points)
3. Experience in socio-economic and policy research with good understanding of methodology and use of key findings for policy change and advocacy (30 points)
4. Quality of past work (e.g. understanding, methodology) (20 points).

b) 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 and any other costs as per work assignment.
5. CV/P11 form (UN Personal History Form)

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Remarks: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Tags: UNICEF