Background
In April 2018, UNICEF initiated the Generation Unlimited (GenU) partnership at the global level, mobilizing public and private sector actors, UN agencies, and civil society organizations around the goal of ensuring every young person (aged 10-24 years) is in education, training or age appropriate employment by 2030.
Within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) framework, and the UN Youth Strategy 2030, GenU will contribute to results related to education, skills, fostering decent work opportunities, and youth entrepreneurship. Like other UN agencies, UNICEF contributes to the implementation of the UN Youth Strategy in several ways, and UNICEF's engagement in GenU is one of these. On its part, UNDP is forging ahead in implementing this UN Strategy through a lens of youth empowerment, seeking to co-design initiatives that would help youth to become agents of change and to build the capacities needed for youth to empower themselves economically and to promote dialogue and build trust. GenU provides a platform for that to happen. Moreover, UNDP is creating a new capability for decision-makers to explore, experiment, and grow portfolios of mutually reinforcing solutions to tackle complex challenges from multiple angles through its accelerator lab. This will allow UNDP and partners to convene dynamic, new partners around specific local issues and, importantly, allow the solutions that are created to go to a national scale.
The inaugural GenU Executive Board meeting in September 2018, agreed that UNICEF will host the GenU Secretariat until the end of 2020 in what is a transitional phase for GenU. The secretariat consists of a core of UNICEF seconded staff, in addition to others seconded from GenU partners. Longer-term operational modalities for GenU and within that the secretariat are being decided upon as part of the development of the GenU strategy. ·
GenU is a global partnership of over three dozen of actors. ft is distinct from UNICEF, although UNICEF was the original catalyst and is hosting the secretariat for two years, in addition to still offering the incubating ecosystem of technical capacity. While the GenU Secretariat and UNICEF HQ divisions, Regional Offices and Country Offices will work closely together to support the partnership.
In Apr il 2019, the GenU Global Board was presented with a partnership strategy that recommends the launch of in-country multisector GenU partnerships in frontrunner countries. The Board approved the strategy, creating a strong mandate for GenU to begin implementation.
The GenU in-country public/private platforms aim to attract and pool investment in scalable, bankable initiatives that have the transformational potential for positive youth development outcomes. A meaningful group of focal public-private and civil society leaders, including young people, will be invited to commit formally to join the GenU initiative at country !eve!. Among others, setting up an Executive Board that is co-chaired by government and another partner, prominently involves senior figures from the private sector, the development community, civil society organizations, and young people, with a target of 30% of seats for the latter group is a natural starting point for exploring an evolution into a full-fledged GenU national partnership.
In this context, Ethiopia together with Argentina, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa are some of the initially identified frontrunner countries to establish GenU. For instance, in Kenya, under the leadership of President Kenyatta and a Steering Committee co-chaired by the President's Deputy Chief of Staff and the UN Resident Coordinator, GenU has been launched and is designing investment opportunities for private/public partners and helping to establish stronger links between employers and the education system. In this regard, the UNDP Ethiopia, along with the concerned UN agencies could learn, from other country offices that have a similar context and already initiated GenU so as to emulate an adopted structure for GenU implementation to Ethiopian case.
In every frontrunner country, GenU is being set up and operationalized through a three-tier approach. The first step in this process are various activities in "supporting the GenU movement". These core activities while being fully aligned with the GenU's mission and strategic priorities encompass
The Consultant is expected to be physically placed at the JCC offices2 to take the lead -under the overall guidance of the UNICEF supervisor- on the three (3) initial GenU core activities as outlined here.
The Consultant is needed during the initial six (6) months for the establishment of the GenU in Ethiopia. This is also indicated in a joint "Letter of Exchange" between the JCC, UNICEF, and UNDP.
Work area | Staff member responsibilities | Additional Consultant responsibilities |
General | Ensure GenU is launched and established in Ethiopia | Act as the prime Genu technical focal point at the hosting government entity - Liaise and follow-up with hosting government agency on GenU matters daily Liaise and initiate discussions with UN Country Team members, International Finance Institutions, other national government agencies. CSOs, young people, the private sector, bilateral donors - Support the setting up of a GenU Board/Advisory Group |
Building a strong knowledge and evidence foundation | Landscape analysis is undertaken and approved (including country investment framework and road map | - Jointly input and guide the Landscape Analysis (LA) - Ensure the overall Landscape Country Analysis is aligned with and builds upon government analytical research outputs in general and JCC's in particular; - Sharing JCC's extensive diagnostics, benchmarks, and evidence-based analyses to expedite GenU's Landscape Analysis ; - Shall guide the service provider (in close coordination with the UNICEF supervisor) around existing research outputs and shape the structure of the Landscape Analysis as necessary and accordingly ; - In line with the Consultant's technical competencies and work experience he/she shall interact, guide and inform the service provider on research areas and or research needs in line with GenU's overall strategic priorities, ToR for the Landscape Analysis and initial research findings - Together with the service provider ensure adolescents and youth are actively engaged and part of the research |
Identify, engage and establish a network of like-minded partners | - Identify and establish hosting government entity and build partnership and leadership - Ethiopia GenU partnership established and launched - Facilitate and establish links to GenU global secretariat at HQ and other GenU Country teams | - Identify, assess and engage potential GenU partnership members based on local in-depth knowledge and familiarity with initiatives and projects - Leverage own and government networks of public and private stakeholders, especially private companies, in line with GenU's strategic priorities (also for advocacy purposes); - Pro-actively reach out and build new networks, especially adolescent and youth as well as enterprise networks in line with GenU strategic priorities |
Undertake advocacy efforts (e.g. GenU Youth Challenge) | - GenU advocacy efforts were undertaken - GenU youth engagement activities are undertaken | - Identify, prepare, coordinate and undertake any GenU advocacy efforts, in particular, the Youth Challenge - Utilize national stakeholder networks to ensure strong country buy-in and representation - Identify, utilize and activate existing and newly built youth networks for the launching of GenU and regular engagement - Hosts and implements any Youth Challenges or other youth engagement approach |
Purpose
The Consultant will ensure that the Generation Unlimited (GenU) hosted by the Jobs Creation Commission (JCC) is established at country-level with all necessary core activities delivered, e.g. support the (i) foundational "Landscape Analysis" research and programmatically ensure GenU/#etworks alignment (ii) initiate a range of cross-sectoral partnerships, especially with the private sector and young people through youth challenges for GenU and (iii) establish the necessary in-country governance mechanism.
Specific tasks
Specific task | Indicator |
General | # of weekly progress reports to the Supervisor # formal briefings to Supervisor and or JCC |
Building a strong knowledge and evidence foundation | #of government analytical outputs identified #Landscape Analysis adaptions recommendations produced # of technical guidance given to service provider # identified entry points for adolescent and youth-led research |
Identify, engage and establish a network of like-minded partners | # of potential public and private GenU partners identified # of potential public and private GenU partners engaged (e.g. meetings, phone conversations, emails, etc.) # of partner assessment reports submitted to UNICEF and JCC # number of GenU partner commitments to GenU Ethiopia signed |
Undertake advocacy efforts (e.g. GenU Youth Challenge) | #of GenU advocacy efforts identified # of GenU advocacy efforts prepared (e.g.ToR , Agenda, etc) # of GenU advocacy efforts undertaken (e.g.events) #of Youth Challenges undertaken |
# of youth advocacy activities undertaken |
Liaison
The consultant will be hosted by the JCC and report daily to the JCC offices.
Expected deliverables
Activity | Deliberable | Time |
Overall coordination and management | -Activity plan drafted and shared - Progress report drafted and shared - Five (5) monthly report against deliverables with technical narrative - One (1) Final report | Weekly Monthly 3rd week of the last working month |
Landscape Analysis undertaken | - One (1) research process concluded with draft Landscape Analysis Report - 12 service provider meeting reports written and shared - Coordinated minimum three (3) youth-led research pieces | In line with Landscape Analysis ToR |
Identify, engage and establish a network of like-minded partners and overall partnerships | - Minimum 10 partner commitments to join the GenU partnership created - Minimum 40 rapid partner assessment reports written and shared based on meetings or other engagements - One (1) list of potential GenU partners in Ethiopia (excel table) drafted and shared | After 5 months Continuously During 1st month |
Undertake advocacy efforts | - Minimum three (3) GenU youth advocacy events held (including Youth Challenge) - Minimum six (6) youth engagement meetings held - One (1) list mapping out GenU advocacy opportunities | As determined Monthly During 1st month |
Expected background and experience
Payment schedule