Ethiopia faces multiple and complex humanitarian situations such as displacement due to civil conflicts, seasonal droughts, floods, and health related hazards such as disease breakouts. Such situations present critical challenges for children and their families. In many cases security restrictions make it difficult for UNICEF staff to access and reach children and families need of support due to security restrictions. This affects both program delivery and monitoring and reporting. It is imperative that while such restrictions stand, quality program implementation and monitoring is sustained.
Justification
Experiences from the field are showing that due to security limitations some of the locations where UNICEF programs are being implemented by either Government or other partners are inaccessible or hard to reach with a certain regularity. This hampers UNICEF staff’s travel to those locations to support program implementation and conduct program monitoring. This implies that it is not possible in some cases for programs implementation to be facilitated and in other cases for monitoring, quality assurance, and reporting to take place. It is imperative to ensure, clear understanding of children’s needs, continued delivery of services and other program related activities that alternative mechanisms be explored. The geographic scope of this consultancy is determined by the Access WG map of inaccessible/hard to reach areas as prioritized in coordination with UNICEF Field Offices and Field Operations unit.
This TOR serves a dual purpose in response to the above situation. On one hand individuals to be deployed as facilitators for program implementation and on the other hand, as program monitors — or in some instances both. Facilitators will need to be of a given technical competence to support program implementation and monitors will need a certain set of competences to monitor and report on the situation of children and on programme implementation.
Key TASKS
Facilitators
1. Situation Monitoring: Undertakes regular situation monitoring in specific areas based on specific requests, to assess the overall situation and specific unmet needs in particular of women and children in UNICEF areas of intervention.
2. Implementation: Coordinates if required with implementing partners and provides expert technical advice to implementing partners and counterparts in the respective subject matter area, to ensure effective and efficient implementation of UNICEF- supported programs, in consultation with the respective UNICEF Chief of Field Office and Programme Specialist.
3. Distribution: Oversee the distribution of supplies and Non-Food items (NFIs) in case they are part of the program, ensuring that intended users receive such supplies and documenting both the process and the feedback.
4. Ensure GBV and PSEA mitigation measures are in place as well as reporting mechanisms are functional
Monitors
1. Preparation: review of relevant documentation (AWP, Programme Document, FACE forms) to inform the scope of the visit and guide data collection efforts; review of information on concerned partner(s), including reports on activities undertaken and status of achievement of outputs and of findings from previous assurance activities; and review of the status of cash and supplies transferred in view of ascertaining coherence between inputs with actual programme implementation;
3. Data Collection. Using appropriate methods such as observation, interviews, and focus group discussions, validate that the activity under review was implemented as planned, check and verify data quality. Data should be collected on quality of program delivery, effectiveness of the program in addressing barriers and bottlenecks, accuracy of reports, and progress towards intended results
3. Reporting: Prepare a trip report that outlines the findings of the field visit, recommendations and responsibilities for follow up actions; discussion of monitoring findings with Partners and sharing of the report
with relevant UNICEF staff; and determine future actions including deadlines both with UNICEF and with
partners.
Job Requirement
Expected Background and Minimum Experience
The successful consultant should offer the following range of skills and experience:
A. Technical Competencies
• Good understanding of UNICEF programming in Ethiopia. Previous ex patience with the country office/UNICEF is an asset.
• Excellent oral and written communication and report writing skills in English.
• Excellent communication (written and oral}, negotiation, and other human relations skills;
• Demonstrated capacity in program monitoring and conducting field visits
• Excellent ability to collect, treat and analyze and synthesize data and findings.
B. Education
• An advanced University Degree in development and/or social sciences or related technical field is required.
C. Experience
• At least five (5) years of progressively advanced work experience in development and humanitarian settings with Government and civil society
• Demonstrated experience writing field reports and debriefing partners.
D. Language requirements
• Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of local language is an asset.
Professional Competencies
I. Core Values: Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability
II. Competencies : Builds and maintains partnerships {I} , Drive to achieve results for impact {I} , and Works collaboratively with others (II}
General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics
Location: The consultant is expected to be based at the closest location to the partners to be visited.
Equipment: Consultants to use their own equipment to facilitate the work.
Transport: the lump sum payment will cover transportation. It is full responsibility of the facilitator to arrange her/his own transportation means and be fully mobile in the area of operation.
Payment terms: The consultant will be paid on a monthly basis following a detailed report outlining the key deliverables. The quality and timeliness will be reviewed/cleared by the supervisor before any payment is made.