UNICEF is a UN organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. In Lao PDR, UNICEF is working with its partners to support the Government to realize children’s rights on survival, development, protection and participation.

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, support

UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for an Individual international Consultancy for Cost of child Marriage study. The duration of this assignment is three months spread across six months, starting as soon as possible and the consultant will be based in UNICEF Office in Vientiane, Laos.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

The study will focus on the following four key areas:

1. Review available Policies, laws, strategies and plans, reports of existing studies, official projects of stakeholders, organisations and government agencies, line ministries papers and Lao Social Indicator Surveys (LSIS) for child marriage to understand the landscape of the subject matter.
2. Design an economic model to understand the financial and economic cost of child marriage, considering the added impact of the pandemic—macroeconomic shocks and school closures.
3. Building evidence on the economic impact of child marriage at the national, household and girls' levels at health, nutrition, education, gender-based violence and other CP-related issues.
4. Cost of Inaction—This economic analysis will assess the financial and economic cost of not addressing child marriage. It will highlight the economic benefits of ending child marriage and explore alternative practices that could enhance livelihoods and stimulate economic growth. In addition, propose actionable recommendations to reduce child marriage incidence.

In conducting this assignment, the consultant will engage with all relevant government ministries and departments responsible for implementing programmes that address the practice of child marriage through the technical working group coordinated by the Lao Academy for Social and Economic Science (LASES) both at the National and at the selected provinces of Phongsaly, Borikhamxay and Sekong.  The stakeholders will include education ministers, health, finance, social welfare, culture and justice, the Lao Women's Union (LWU), the National Commission on the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children (NCAWMC), the Lao Front for National Development (LFND), Provincial and National Assembly. And will conduct a systematic review of relevant documents and past surveys, including the 2019 Violence Against Children (VAC) survey and the recent Lao Social Indicator Survey round three (LSIS III) data, drivers of child marriage study in Laos and regional study on understanding the pathways to adolescent pregnancy in Southeast Asia and existing child marriage related policies, plans, and budgets. The study will also involve a desk review of pertinent literature on the issue, including previous evaluations, Standard Operating Procedures, legal framework relating to legal aid and access to justice costs, policy documents relating to child protection system, including the social service workforce, etc.

The consultancy will work under the technical guidance of the Social Policy Specialist and Child protection specialist, with the overall supervision of the Chief Social Policy.

Methodology

• Inception Report and Workplan
  1. Develop and submit an inception report outlining the study's objectives, scope, and methodology.
  2. Create a detailed work plan specifying the costing study's timelines, milestones, and key deliverables.
• Literature Review
  3. Conduct a comprehensive desk review of existing literature and documents related to child marriage.
  4. Review relevant materials, including end-child marriage plans, legal frameworks, strategy documents, National Plans of Action, and sectoral development plans, to identify critical issues and data gaps.
• Burden Assessment
  5. Utilize regression analysis and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) to assess the health outcomes and overall burden of child marriage on girls and their children.
  6. Quantify the direct and indirect health impacts of child marriage using these analytical tools.
  7. Conduct focused group discussions and gather information from selected districts in the two provinces of  Phongsaly, Borikhamxay and Sekong .
• Cost Analysis
  8. Analyze the costs associated with child marriage across various sectors, including:
     9. Education: Impact on educational attainment, skills, and related expenses (loss of human capital.

2. 2. 2. Health: Increased costs of health care outcomes and services for individual child mothers and households caring for them.
      3. Child protection and Welfare: Financial implications for child protection and welfare services.
      4. Labour Participation: Effects on employment and productivity and earnings.
      5. Gender-Based Violence: Costs related to violence and support services.
      6. Criminal Justice: Expenses related to legal and judicial processes.

• Review and evaluate these costs at the levels of girls, families, communities, selected provinces, and the national level.

       Analyse the benefits of ending child marriages.

• Propose actionable recommendations in the report and policy briefs to reduce child marriage incidence and thus reduce the financial and economic costs on girls, themselves, society, and the economy.

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

Qualification and experience:

• Enter Disciplines: Advanced degree in finance, economics, business administration and related fields.
• Strong Microsimulation modelling techniques.
• Proven track record in delivering high-level expert advice, technical support, and capacity development to governments on Public Financial Management and broader sustainable development financing issues; specific experience in child-related social sectors will be an asset.
• Skills in developing policy briefs
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to work in a team and a diverse work environment.
• Familiarity with child marriage challenges.

Knowledge and skills: 

• At least ten years of experience and long-standing expertise in similar services
• Enter Disciplines: Advanced degree in finance, economics, business administration and related fields.
• Strong Microsimulation modelling techniques.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to work in a team and diverse work.
• Proven track record in delivering high-level expert advice, technical support, and capacity development to governments on Public Financial Management and broader sustainable development financing issues; specific experience in child-related social sectors will be an asset.
• Experience in cost-effectiveness analysis of social sector interventions.
• Familiarity with child marriage challenges.
• Proven experience in policy processes and undertaking research.
• Skills in developing policy briefs 

Submission of applications:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents:

• Letter of Interest (cover letter)
• CV or Resume
• Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments (if available)

Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost, including travel, accommodation cost and insurance with Medevac for this assignment as per work assignment

Assessment Criteria:

A) Technical Evaluation (minimum 50 points and maximum  80 Points) 80points

• Track record of conducting microsimulation modelling techniques (30 points)
• Proven track record in delivering high-level expert advice, technical support, and capacity development to governments on Public Financial Management and broader sustainable development financing issues; specific experience in child-related social sectors will be an asset. (30 points)
• Skills in developing policy briefs (20 points)

B) Financial Proposal (minimum 20 points and maximum 50 Points) 20 points

The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened /evaluated and compared among those technically qualified candidates who have attained a minimum (60 points) points score in the technical evaluation. Other Financial Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

The Contract shall be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview.

Please find the TOR here:  TOR Cost of child marriage for VA.pdf

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.

View our competency framework at here

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.