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For every child,Timely support

Background

In 2010, to increase the overall efficiency of social protection programmes and to address programme fragmentation, the Government of Lesotho (GoL) initiated the process to develop a National Information System for Social Assistance (NISSA). The system is set up as a national database that uses consumption indicators to categorize households (HHs) into poverty levels. It uses a common entry point and is an essential mechanism for integrated systems, providing information which can be used to plan for, target, coordinate, monitor and evaluate HHs and individuals for various programmes. The NISSA is managed by the Director of Social Assistance at the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development (MoGYSD).

Currently, NISSA includes about 90% (488,000) of Basotho household demographic and socioeconomic information, from both rural and urban areas of the country, across all 10 districts. The nation-wide coverage was achieved after several rounds of updates both in rural and urban communities.  The multi-step process of household inclusion in the NISSA database includes the following:

1. Raising of community awareness
2. Household listing (census approach)
3. Community based targeting (CBT) resulting in Categorization of households by wellbeing status
4. Household enumeration that is followed by application of Proxy Means Test
5. Community Validation
6. Case management and grievance and redress mechanism.

The NISSA system is currently undergoing an upgrading to improve its functionality, to introduce integration with other national systems and extend the data range in the database.  As with any social registry, the data in the NISSA needs to be updated periodically to ensure that it provides accurate information to facilitate targeting and other policy decisions. The MoGYSD, therefore, seeks to update household data in 9 community councils in 5 districts. These updates are co-funded by the European Union and UNICEF. The data collection needs to be completed by March 2026.

UNICEF and the MoGYSD expect that data collection for approximately 57,000 households in the 9 community councils will be completed within an 8-month period. Table 1 below shows the community councils where data will be collected.

This assignment therefore seeks to hire a suitable national individual consultant that will provide training to enumerators and supervisors that will conduct the NISSA household data collection as well as provide field monitoring support to UNICEF and the MoGYSD during the data collection that will be conducted by a contracted institutional vendor.

This consultancy will directly contribute to strengthening of the Social Protection system in Lesotho under the Social Policy section and ultimately contributing to the achievement of the Country Programme, and its outcomes of the 2025/26 rolling work plan. 

How can you make a difference? 

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGMENT

Goal and Objective: The objective of the assignment is to train enumerators and supervisors and provide day-to-day field monitoring support to UNICEF and the MoGYSD during NISSA household data collection that will be conducted by a contracted vendor.

SCOPE OF WORK

Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered: The assignment for the consultancy will contribute to the achievement of Output 3.1 of the SP 2025-2026 rolling work plan stating that: By 2028 the Government has enhanced capacities to implement a strengthened social protection system that ensures equitable, integrated and adaptive social protection services for vulnerable children and their families.

 DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES

Specifically, the assignment has the following key activities and tasks:

1. Inception Report that includes a workplan for the NISSA household data collection

In collaboration with UNICEF and the MoGYSD, develop a clear and comprehensive workplan with clear timelines for training and monitoring activities.

1. Develop tools and checklists for monitoring the data collection exercise.
2. Participate in preparatory planning meetings for the NISSA household data collection.

1. Training of Enumerators and supervisors

1. In collaboration with the data collection contractor and the MoGYSD, plan and organize training of enumerators and supervisors.
2. Using the available NISSA Data Collection Manual and training materials, facilitate the training of enumerators and supervisors, with the support of MoGYSD, UNICEF and the data collection contractor.
3. Lead the pre-testing of data collection and provide additional training where needed.
4. Produce a comprehensive training report.

2. Monitoring of Data Collection in three (3) Community Councils

1. Participate in planning workshop(s) of the data collection exercise in the three (3) CCs.
2. Conduct field monitoring of data collection performed by the data collection contractor to ensure adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs)/NISSA Manuals and adherence to prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA). UNICEF and the MoGYSD may in some instances assign specific geographic locations to be monitored.
3. Produce detailed monitoring reports of household data collection for each of the 3 three (3) Community Councils, including any challenges encountered by enumerators and clear recommendations on how to resolve the challenges.
4. Participate in and contribute to the review workshop(s) of the data collection exercise in the three CCs.

1. Monitoring of Data Collection in six (6) Community Councils

1. Participate in planning workshop(s) of the data collection exercise in the six (6) CCs.
2. Conduct field monitoring of data collection performed by the data collection contractor to ensure adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs)/NISSA Manuals and adherence to prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA). UNICEF and the MoGYSD may in some instances assign specific geographic locations to be monitored.
3. Produce detailed monitoring report(s) of household data collection for each of the six (6) Community Councils, including any challenges encountered by enumerators and clear recommendations on how to resolve the challenges.
4. Participate in and contribute to the review workshop(s) of the data collection exercise in the six CCs.
5. Participate in and contribute to the final project reflections workshop.

2. Handover of Tools and Data, and submission of Final Report

1. Handover to the MoGYSD of all household data and data collection tools, such as tablets and accessories, and documents such as manuals and other materials that were assigned to the consultant for use during the project. No data, whether complete or incomplete, shall remain in the custody of the consultant after completion of the consultancy.  
2. Submission of a comprehensive final consultancy report.

Work relationships: The consultant will be supervised by the Social Policy Specialist (P3); however, the consultant will also work closely with the Director of Social Assistance and in close technical collaboration with the NISSA Team. The consultant will also interact with the data collection consultant but has to ensure he/she maintains their independence.

WORK ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW

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

BA social sciences or related fields, a Master’s degree will be an added advantage.*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree. 

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• At least five (5) years working experience in surveys and/or research.
• Demonstrated experience in large scale surveys, such as national surveys, censuses etc.
• Demonstrated practical experience of NISSA data collection, training and supervising NISSA data collection in the past.
• Excellent experience in using mobile TABLET devices for data collection.
• Experience working with government staff and institutions.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills.
• Excellent training, analytical, and reporting skills.
• Excellent spoken Sesotho is required.

Specialised skills and/or training if needed:

• Sets high standards for quality of work; monitors and maintains quality of work.  
• Works in a systematic, methodical, and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals.  
• Flexibility to adjust own workplans on the request of the client.  
• Expresses opinions, information and key points of an issue clearly.
• Structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience.  
• Shows respect for the views and contributions of others.  
• Accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm.
• Willingness and ability to work long hours and travel by foot in mountainous terrain (when necessary) to each remote households and communities

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about children’s rights and making a lasting difference on children’s lives, one of the global leading entities on children’s rights would like to hear from you.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

UNICEF is also proud of a diverse workforce who are profoundly committed to supporting the full realization of children’s rights, and in uplifting a rights-based approach in all that we do.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Interested candidates should indicate their ability, availability, and rate (daily/monthly) expressed in USD to undertake the terms of reference. Please indicate an all-inclusive fee (including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable) to undertake the tasks in the Terms of reference.

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.