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, hope

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: DAPM Systems ‐ International Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Programme Effectiveness Team (PET), DAPM, NYHQ

Duration: 1 December 2024 to 30 June 2025

Home/Office Based: Remote

About UNICEF 

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The objective of this assignment is to provide comprehensive advisory support to DAPM digital systems by collaborating with concerned units to conceptualize and develop new digital modules and platforms, analyze help desk support systems for efficiency and better user experience and identify opportunities for performance improvements across digital platforms. The consultant will facilitate stakeholder engagement, produce analytical reports, and support the development of a cohesive user interface for the InSight Portal. Additionally, the consultant will coordinate efforts to maximize efficiency, reduce redundancies and enhance overall systems management within DAPM.

Scope of Work:

The Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM) is responsible for driving, shaping and guiding UNICEF’s evidence‐informed analysis, corporate and country planning, programme implementation and related risk management, monitoring, knowledge management and organizational performance. As such, DAPM enables the organization to deliver on results in a more coherent manner, based on agile and contextualized programming processes, and on data, evidence, and analytics, as well as the application of human‐rights based and results‐based approaches.

Within DAPM, the Programme Effectiveness Team (PET) leads, regulates and coordinates the development and issuance of organization‐wide policies, procedures, standards, guidance, systems, tools and platforms to strengthen programme effectiveness across all contexts, including programme planning, implementation and related risk management, safeguarding, monitoring, organizational performance, knowledge management, at all levels. In doing so, PET engages with all divisions/offices across HQ as well as with all regional offices, UN agencies, funds and programmes, specialized agencies, other technical organizations and the UN Development Coordination Office.

The Organizational Performance unit plays a central role in advancing UNICEF’s strategic vision by driving performance management agenda at the country, regional, and global levels. This includes streamlining and strengthening annual reporting of results, simplification of systems and tools that provide real‐time analytics for informed decision making and results‐based management. Additionally, the unit leads on increasing transparency to stakeholders, including beneficiaries.

The scope of work includes providing advisory support to the PET digital systems by collaborating with the Organizational Performance Unit and Monitoring Unit on the Unified Indicator Module and business case requirements. The consultant will analyze existing help desk systems, identify gaps and inefficiencies, and come up with a recommendation paper outlining the way forward to enhance user experience. They will also facilitate stakeholder meetings to identify opportunities for efficiency gains and develop methodologies for measuring these gains. Additionally, the consultant will support the coordinate monthly DAPM meetings, and recommend strategies to improve overall systems management and resource utilization within DAPM.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Support to PET on‐going and new digital modules:

• Work with Organizational Perfromance Unit (OPU) and Monitoring Unit (MU) on the conceptualization of the Unified Indicator Module and prepare the case submission to the DX board by 28 February 2025
• Provide expert guidance andsupport to Programme Implemntation Unit (PIU) in the development and roll‐out of last mile monitoring and workplan implementation under eTools by 30 April 2025
• Support in drafting the communication plan, training and roll out of the new InSight platform drafted and shared by 30 June 2025

Systems Feedback Analysis and Communication:

• A comprehensive analysis of the existing help desk support systems across various digital platforms (CPx, RAM and eTools) developed, along with a recommendation paper outlining the way forward by 30 June 2025
• Seven CommuniCare WG meetings are facilitated including progress monitoring on the follow‐up action plan for surveys and related recommendations by 30 June 2025 (monthly)
• CommuniCare user survey disseminated, analyzed and follow‐up action plan developed and monitored by 30 June 2025
• CommuniCare DAPM Feedback guidance analyzed and follow‐up action plan developed and monitored by 30 June 2025

Systems Efficiency and Gains Analysis:

• Methodology note for measuring efficiency gains across all PET digital systems systems (CPx, RAM, and eTools) developed by 30 June 2025
• Reports on system performance and efficiency gain shared with DAPM management and GSSC by 30 June 2025

Overall support guidance to DAPM senior management on digital systems:

• Support in the coordination of 7 monthly DAPM meetings to track the progress of digital  projects, identify key issues and challenges, and support the division in resolving them by 30 June 2025
• Facilitate and support in conducting 2 DAPM Governing Board monitor the implementation and rollout of IT investment‐funded initiatives, provide updates to board members, and support in finding solutions to the challenges or delays by 30 June 2025

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s Degree: Computer science, Business Administration or related field required.

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• At least ten (10) years of professional experience in systems management, design, integration, or business operations.
• Proven experience in designing and managing surveys, with strong analytical and report‐writing skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Able to work effectively with a diverse range of audiences and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience managing corporate systems and collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Familiarity with UNICEF systems issues and challenges is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.