International Consultant to Develop Evidence synthesis for UNICEF Timor-Leste Country Office

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, Commitment

Find out how UNICEF programmes drives change for children in Timor-Leste by visiting https://www.unicef.org/timorleste. 

How can you make a difference? 

Under supervision of the Chief Social Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation (SPME), develop the evidence synthesis report for UNICEF Timor-Leste CO using existing and emerging data and identifying deprivations and bottlenecks with equity lenses. The outcome will inform the design of UNICEF’s next Country Programme (2026-2030) in Timor-Leste and will also help improve performance in the ongoing Country Programme.

WORK ASSIGNMENT:

Phase I:  Desk Review and Preparatory Work – conceptual framework – 5 days (offsite home-based) – by 15th June

Tasks and Activities:

• Review the key documents (to be suggested/ supported by UNICEF TL CO),
• Identify data and information necessary for evidence synthesis.
• Share an inception report – brief two-pager (outline of the report, including every element required per the UNICEF Country Programme Planning (CPP) guidance, Evidence Synthesis chapter, and timeline for work plan consultancy).

Phase II:  Data gathering, analysis, and report writing, including interaction with UNICEF team in Timor-Leste – 20 days (home-based) –June 15 – July 15

Tasks and Activities:

• review and develop the draft report – dimensions and sub-dimensions.
• Share initial findings with UNICEF for feedback.
• Collect further information; determine and summarize what key data may not be available and communicate these findings back to the UNICEF team for determination on follow-up;
• Review the adolescents and youth consultation report and incorporate the findings into the synthesis.
• The process will require at least one meeting with the Programme Chiefs from Timor-Leste CO; the engagement can be agreed upon bilaterally – the Chief of SPPME will facilitate
• Finally, on finalization of the report, present it to the TL CO.

Phase III: Compile the final reports after UNICEF completes the bottleneck analysis—5 days (offsite, home-based)—between 15 and 31 August.

Tasks and Activities:

• Between mid-July to mid-August, UNICEF TLCO will internally undertake the bottleneck analysis for the sub-dimensions, considering three areas: the enabling environment, supply, and demand.
• Upon this, the consultant will review the entire report (which will eventually be uploaded to the UNICEF internal website, as per the standard norms) to ensure overall synchronizations avoid duplicity and with language editing.

DELIVERABLES:

Deliverables 1:

• The inception report with a draft outline of the report with details of areas for focus
• Work plan for the assignment with an indicative timeline of key milestones – one page.

Deliverable 2: Draft report developed as per the following structure:

• Overall contexts (5): Geopolitical dynamics, economy, demographics, public finance for children, child rights governance and the stakeholder landscape – 500 words per category
• Five cross-cutting areas: gender equality, disabilities, climate action, peacebuilding and resilience:  maximum 500 words per category
• 19 sub-dimensions: 2-3 pages each (each sub-dimension will cover suggested headings of deprivations (40 words), national and sub-national data (500 words), data gaps (500 words), rural/urban dynamics, gender, and subnational context,

Deliverable 3: Final report and summary presentation of the PowerPoint presentation, Total Pages: 50 to 60 pages and PowerPoint slide decks.

All applications should include a 2-page Concept Note on how he/she plans to approach the assignment. The applicants should also submit two samples of previously similar work (or online link) produced. Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Please refer to the attached TOR for the details of the assignment.

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

• Advanced degree in the social sciences (sociology, anthropology, development studies), Economics/Statistics, or related fields relevant to the assignment
• At least 10 years of research and other relevant professional experience
• In-depth knowledge of children’s rights, including CRC, CEDAW and other international legal instruments, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Knowledge and Demonstrated experience with Human Rights Based Approach to Programming
• Institutional knowledge of the UN and UNICEF
• Proven experience in writing analytical papers on children and gender issues
• Fluency in English. Knowledge of Tetum will be an added advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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:  

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. 

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.