Consultancy: Laaha Scalability Assessment Consultant – Req. #570866

UNICEF, in collaboration with Washington University, is planning an Impact Evaluation to assess the platform’s effectiveness and to understand how to best implement in humanitarian and low-resource settings. UNICEF also intends to conduct a scalability assessment to reflect on the readiness of Laaha to scale globally.

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, hope.

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Laaha Scalability Assessment Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Child Protection Section, Programme Group – NYHQ

Duration: May 1, 2024 to October 31, 2024

Home/ Office Based: REMOTE

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does – in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life – in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions – her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens – addressing inequity – not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital.

Related to this mission, UNICEF is directly involved in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) in the world’s most intense and complex conflicts and disasters. GBV constitutes a global crisis which undermines social and economic progress; GBV must be addressed to ensure universal rights and principles with regard to equality, security, liberty, integrity and dignity of human beings. Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in emergencies (GBViE) is recognized as a life-saving measure and an essential component of humanitarian action. As a lead agency in addressing GBViE, UNICEF has expanded its on-the-ground programming in recent years and made prevention and risk mitigation of, and response to GBViE one of its targeted priorities in its Strategic and Gender Action Plans 2022-2025, as well as in the Child Protection Strategy.

In 2019, UNICEF’s Executive Director issued a call to innovate to fill gaps in accessibility and availability of services at the Oslo Conference on Ending GBV in Emergencies. Since 2020, UNICEF has embarked in developing new technologies for GBV programming. One of these innovative solutions is Laaha, a Virtual Safe Space platform for women and girls. Laaha is a gender equality commitment (Beijing +25) between UNICEF, USAID, the Government of Finland and the Open Society Foundations.

Safe spaces for women and girls have been established as a key approach for reaching and providing them with information, links to services, skills-building, peer connection. Yet, access to physical safe spaces is often limited. UNICEF has developed a Virtual Safe Space for them to find information and services. The Laaha’s design and content have been developed using a human-centered design methodology, based on the information needs and priorities women and girls have expressed throughout the research phase. As of today, Laaha offers 85 modules on SRHR and GBV.

Laaha is currently deployed in Afghanistan, Ecuador, Iraq, Lebanon, OpT, Ukraine and Venezuela and reached over 85,000 users. It is expanding to Bangladesh, DR Congo, Moldova, Myanmar, Sudan, Turkey. To accommodate scaling, the platform is shifting from country-based instances to language-based.

UNICEF, in collaboration with Washington University, is planning an Impact Evaluation to assess the platform’s effectiveness and to understand how to best implement in humanitarian and low-resource settings. UNICEF also intends to conduct a scalability assessment to reflect on the readiness of Laaha to scale globally.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the GBViE Specialist, the consultant will be responsible for the completion of the following deliverables:

1.     Review documentation; finalize the assessment questions, develop methodologies, develop an assessment matrix; develop a detailed workplan.

2.     Conduct consultation; collate primary and secondary data following the assessment questions and methodology defined/agreed in the initial phase; prepare a draft report.

3.     Based on the draft report, share and present report during validation exercises in a series of consultations.

4.     Incorporate comments and deliver final report and summary brief.

The consultancy will be home-based, with anticipated travel to implementation countries.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Review documentation. Finalize the assessment questions, develop methodologies, develop an assessment matrix. Develop a detailed workplan.

• Inception Report submitted and approved – 31 May 2024

Conduct consultation. Collate primary and secondary data following the assessment questions and methodology defined/agreed in the initial phase. Prepare a draft report.    

• Draft report (including roadmap) shared – 31 July 2024

Based on the report, share and present report during validation exercises, in a series of consultations.

• 3 validation webinars with slide deck finalized
• At least 3 webinars/calls held – 31 August 2024

Incorporate comments and feedback – and deliver final report; 2-page summary brief       

• Final report delivered
• Executive summary finalized – 31 October 2024

Qualifications

Education:

• University degree in Engineering, Economics, Business Development, International Development, Social Science, Innovation or a related field.
• Fluency in English is required.

Work experience:

• At least 8 years’ experience leading digital innovations, preferably in the field of GBV, gender, health. Experience with digital systems analysis in a non-profit setting and/or in the international development field, including with a UN agency.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Experience in conducting portfolio reviews, strategy reviews, evaluations, systems analyses, retrospective reviews, and/or similar.
• Experience in business development, strategy, and operations within the technology sector, with direct involvement in creating and implementing business models and governance structures.
• Exposure to and awareness of the systems development life cycle, structured analysis, design and programming techniques, web-based tools / solutions, system utilities and development tools, application software packages, and PC-based packages used in development or support of production systems.
• Strong analytical background, including planning and conducting complex analytical exercises.
• Experience with mixed methods approaches, with substantive experience in qualitative or synthetic research, analyzing large quantities of data/documents and conducting syntheses.
• Experience working with the UN system, NGOs, national governments, and/or in the development/humanitarian context.
• Knowledge of international organizations innovation principles, programming, processes and work streams an asset. Familiarity with UNICEF procedures, especially procurements and digital solutions is recommended.
• Experience implementing digital solutions in LMICs an asset.
• Excellent analytical and research skills.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written outputs.
• Ability to convey an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders
• Ability to participate in open dialogue and value diverse opinions, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
• Ability to work in a team and independently.

Requirements: (DO NOT EDIT)

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.