Senior consultant to conduct an endpoint assessment of ECD Financing grant performance, lessons’ learning and documentation for knowledge sharing, and options for future engagements, Kigali Rwanda, 2 months (Work remotely) at United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF): (Deadline 20 October 2024)

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, Development.

To learn more about UNICEF career and the work in Rwanda, please visit the country website https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/RWA/ or watch this video about UNICEF work in Rwanda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7B91m5Yzoc and UNICEF Careers | UNICEF Careers.

How can you make a difference?

Background:

The Government of Rwanda through the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1) (2018-2024) has aimed to scale up children’s access to ECD services to 45% by 2024. According to the Demographic and Health Survey report (DHS 2019/20), the proportion of children who are developmentally on track in terms of literacy-numeracy, physical, social-emotional, and learning domains has increased from 63% in 2016 to 76% in 2021. However, nearly one-fourth (24%) of children are at risk of not attaining their developmental potential if no further interventions are made by the Government or other key stakeholders¹. The data show that 28% of children under 5 are either left alone or left in the care of another child younger than 10 years. Home environments do not offer much support for early learning and stimulation for young children as only 36% of children aged 0-59 months engage with an adult household member in four or more activities that promote learning and school readiness. Only 2% of children under age 5 have access to three or more children’s books in the household.

Furthermore, the 2022/2023 Education Statistical Yearbook, shows that at the pre-primary education level, the number of learners increased from 355,325 in 2021/22 to 540,998 in 2022/23, indicating a 34.2% increase in just two years. Additionally, the net enrolment rate (NER) increased from 24.2% in 2022 to 39% in 2023. However, this performance shall short the national target as outlined in the NST1.

The current status of ECD service access indicates the need to continue expand access to pre-primary education and, coverage of ECD services in Rwanda which will require additional public and non-public financing.

UNICEF in partnership with the National Child Development Agency (NCDA) received funding from ELMA Philanthropies to strengthen ECD Financing in Rwanda through three broad areas of intervention namely: (i) support the GoR in its efforts to develop an integrated ECD financing framework to accelerate progress towards the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1) and SDG implementation.

(ii) strengthen institutional capacities (human, systems, and tools) to plan, budget, monitor, and accelerate the delivery of integrated ECD services; and (iii) strengthen the enabling environment to promote more public and private investments in ECD services.

Since 2022, UNICEF in collaboration with various stakeholders has been implementing a series of interventions towards achievements of the above broad priorities to strengthen national ECD financing. Specifically, embedded technical advisors have been placed at the NCDA to strengthen institutional capacity of ECD budget analysis and expenditure mapping, and enhance partnerships collaboration. Improved collaboration with the private sector for child-friendly policies implementation; supported evidence generation and diagnostics works for ECD financing in Rwanda including ECD investment case and countrywide ECD mapping. Additionally, various capacity building and consultations sessions were organized to improve plans and budget for ECD and Nutrition both at local and central government levels. Moreover, coalition of support was built through parliamentary and media engagements.

Purpose:

1. Review progress in the implementation of the project work plan at the end of Year 2 and identify successes, lessons learned, and best practices.
2. Facilitate consultations with partners to understand how the interventions identified/implemented by this programme have contributed to strengthening the ECD financing framework in Rwanda
3. Assess future opportunities for continued support in ECD financing

Scope of Work:

The endpoint assessment will focus on assessing the programme performance at the end of the programme (2^nd Year) based on its result framework and programme targets, looking at the programme relevance and effectiveness with the view to ascertaining the programme was able to achieve the intended results.

Additionally, the endpoint assessment will be informed by the findings from mid-point programme assessment consultation with stakeholders mainly NCDA, MINECOFIN, ADEPE, CEO Forum of children, Help a Child and UNICEF staff involved in the management of the programme.

Methodology:

While the consultant shall develop a detailed methodology to conduct this assessment, it is expected that the overall framework will be guided by the theory-based approach which will focus mainly on the Theory of Change and assess the progress made by using “Before-After” method. A mixed methods will be applied with qualitative and quantitative technics to assess the programme results. Purposive sampling frame will be coupled with cluster sampling to collect views and perceptions of various stakeholders to enrich the assessment and come up with credible data.

Data collection and analysis will focus on (i) desk reviews of the national ECD financing landscape (ii) consultations with various partners for data collection, and (iii) conducting key informants’ interviews, (iv) observations, (v) drafting reports and organizing various presentations.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

• Develop a simple Inception Report with a more detailed methodology.
• Present a draft report to key stakeholders following desk review and consultations.
• Endpoint assessment of the project including recommendations on adjustments to be made in year 2 – final report.

Deliverables/Outputs:

Payment 1: 50%

1. Inception Report submitted.
2. Endpoint assessment report (draft) and PowerPoint presentation

Payment 2: 50%

3. Endpoint assessment report (final)

Duration and Duty Location

This consultancy will be completed within 2 months. The consultant will be working from home.

Selection Criteria

Applications shall be assessed based on their technical and financial proposals. Maximum scores for technical and financial applications will be 75% and 25%, respectively.

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

• An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in Development Studies, Project Management, Business Administration, Social Sciences Applied Statistics, Sociology, Anthropology or Education.
• Must have proven experience in producing analytical write-ups on development (financing) programmes or projects
• At least 10 years of working experience in the analysis of social issues, preferably in ECD, Education, health in national and international environments
• Solid and demonstrable experience in project assessment or evaluation
• Demonstrable understanding of Rwanda’s socio-economic development is an asset
• Demonstrate knowledge and experience with the application of the Human Rights-based Approach to Programming (HRBAP)
• An understanding of gender analysis and other relevant frameworks, ability to conduct equity-focused research and analysis
• Strong facilitation skills and excellent English language writing skills
• Knowledge of Kinyarwanda 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.

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