International Consultant :Realization of a comprehensive child-centered risk and impact analysis for UNICEF Cameroon

Akwajobs   (Bala, Nord, Cameroon)

Posted : 21 July, 2021

Category : Development & Humanitarian Aid   Location : Bala, Nord, Cameroon

Job type : Full Time

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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, Protection

The UNICEF Cameroon Country Office is currently preparing for a new programme cycle for the period 2022-2026. As part of this process, the UNICEF Country Office wishes to ensure a risk-informed and conflict sensitive approach to our programme delivery. In order to do that this consultancy is planned to ensure a thorough exploration of the multiple risks faced by children and women in Cameroon. Further, the impact of these risks on children, women and social service delivery mechanisms and systems will be explored. The impact analysis will consider the vulnerability of children and women, the capacities of existing structures to mitigate and respond to risk and the impact of risk, based on exposure. Risks are considered, both natural (including environmental) and human induced; but also, socio-political, considering the critical role that Cameroon plays in the region and situated between Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea and the Republics of Congo and Gabon (Economic Community of Central African States).

The findings from the analysis will contribute to UNICEF Cameroon’s efforts to ensure sharper geographic targeting-based on vulnerabilities and risk for children. The analysis will inform fit for purpose programme approaches and design to mitigate risks and address root causes of crisis and fragility with the focus on prevention to reduce the risk of humanitarian crisis on one hand and the deepening of the deprivations on the other. Specifically, the analysis will be used to inform sectoral and cross-sectoral theories of change as part of programme strategy notes and the annual / multi-year workplans from 2022. The analysis will also inform policy advocacy and the leveraging of resources by counterparts, development partners and humanitarian donors. As much as possible the findings will also be used to input into joint UN initiatives, including the Common Country Analysis, United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and the work of the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus Task Force.

How can you make a difference?

The objective assigned to the consultation is to thoroughly explore the multiple risks faced by children and women in Cameroon.

Role

More specifically, considering both natural (including environmental) and human induced, socio-political, considering the critical role that Cameroon plays in the management of conflicts that are affecting the Central Africa sub-region, the region and the consultant will

• Identify and analyze risks to which children and women in Cameroon are exposed.
• Analyze the impact of these risks on children, women and social service delivery mechanisms and systems.
• Analyze vulnerability of children and women to risks.
• Assess the capacities of existing structures to mitigate and respond to risk.
• Analyze the impact of each major risk, based on exposure.

 

ACTIVITIES, DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINES, PLUS BUDGET PER DELIVERABLE

• Activity 1: Desk and tools review. Using existing UNICEF tools, source relevant information as it pertains to children and the impact of these risks to easily facilitate the review of documents collected and collated for the literature review. The tool reflects the key questions to be answered by the exercise and the scope of the Risk and Impact Analysis for children in Cameroon.
• Activity 2: Literature review on key risks related to children. With the local consultant, conducting the literature review, prepare initial findings on the potential risks and impacts on children, women and the capacity of individuals, communities, and social service delivery systems, taking into account various hazards, exposure, vulnerability and copying capacity elements. This literature review should determine what these risks pose for children and women, their immediate or longer-term impacts, considering existing capacities and critical gaps in information. Risks that are human induced or natural should be clearly defined, including underlying causes, actors, and dynamics of conflicts.
• Activity 3: preparation of tools for the validation exercise. Based on the risks and impact posed to children, understand what role duty bearers, including caregivers, the community and state must play to mitigate the impact of these risks on children using a Social-Ecological Model. Prepare a draft paper. Conclusions should be validated, through a consultative process (1-day working group).
• Activity 4: recommendations. Make clear programmatic and operational recommendations to UNICEF Cameroon in approach, Government, partners, and measurable actions that can be considered and incorporated in what and how UNICEF delivers for children in Cameroon through the new Country Programme 2022-2026. Validate the recommendations
• Activity 5: final report. Write the final report, in English to be no more than 50 pages (main report, annexes additional) that captures steps 1-4. An executive summary should highlight the immediate, medium-term, and longer-term recommendations for UNICEF Cameroon. Further, the report will provide details on risks, observed and expected impact of hazards, conflict causes, actors, dynamics and peace capacities and include as an annex proposals to adapt UNICEF supported Government programmes to build resilience and social cohesion and maintain service delivery while reducing direct impact of hazards on children, deliberately reducing the risk of humanitarian crisis or deepening of deprivations.

 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, political sciences, risk/social cohesion study or related area.
• Knowledge of the UN and UNICEF programming is highly desirable, especially an understanding of the relation between violent conflict and child rights and basic social service delivery in natural and man-made risk settings including climate change.
• At least ten years of programmatic or consulting experience in complex contexts, ideally with a focus on multi-sectoral risk analysis and designing disaster prevention, analysis of conflict contexts and social cohesion programming.
• Understanding of and rich experience in conceptualization, programme planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation as well as systems development highly desirable.
• Familiarity with UNICEF planning processes highly desirable.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills. Experience facilitating child-centered consultations a significant benefit.
• Strong background in research design, research methodology and data collection.
• Fluency in English and French is required.
• Knowledge of the Cameroon country and regional context is highly desirable.

 

CONDITIONS OF WORK

The consultant will work on home-based modality. He will work in close collaboration with the national consultant who oversees information gathering.

For every Child, you demonstrate

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

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 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.

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