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Consultancy Title: Technical Support for the Development of the Country Programme Document (CPD) for UNICEF Eritrea

Section/Division/Duty Station: Representative's Office

Duration: 22 Sept 2025 to 31 July 2026 (60 Working Days)

Home/ Office Based:  Both on-site and Remote (International Consultancy)

For every child, Commitment

How can you make a difference? 

The current Country Programme is approaching its end in 2026, and a new Country Programme needs to be established to commence in 2027. In preparation for this transition, a new Country Programme Document (CPD) must be developed. To ensure efficiency and strategic focus, the process will be lean. It will leverage innovative, context-adapted approaches such as participatory prioritization methods and scenario-based planning to streamline decision-making and enhance relevance. The emphasis will be on strategic content and decision-making, with deliverables that are concise, action-oriented, and aligned with UNICEF’s corporate guidance.

The purpose of this assignment is to provide technical support to UNICEF Eritrea in developing a high-quality, evidence-based, and results-oriented CPD.  The consultant should focus on strategic content, not exhaustive documentation.

The consultant will:

• Facilitate participatory processes for prioritization using inclusive and context-sensitive facilitation techniques, including low-tech and high-touch methods suitable for the Eritrean context.
• Provide technical inputs and quality assurance for Evidence Synthesis (ES), Programme Strategy Explanatory Notes (PSENs), Strategic Moment of Reflection (SMR) and Results and Resources Plan (RRP).
• Draft the CPD narrative in line with UNICEF corporate guidance.

 Scope of Work:

Inception Phase

• Conduct initial consultations with UNICEF Eritrea management and key stakeholders.
• Review core documentation and finalize CPD process workplan with timeline.

Evidence Synthesis (ES)

• Review and enhance ES, identify gaps, support validation. Make sure the ES strongly supports prioritization of key child rights issues, using triangulated data sources and equity-focused analysis.
• Given the well-known challenges in Eritrea—such as limited access to national data—ECO will adopt a practical approach by synthesizing existing evidence rather than waiting for new data. This will draw on institutional knowledge and available sources, including studies, assessments, administrative systems, field monitoring, and beneficiary feedback, to update the bottleneck analysis. A new, rigorous analysis will not be initiated. Therefore, the evidence synthesis will be concise, focused, and action-oriented, reflecting the realities of the context while supporting timely decision-making.

Prioritization and ToC

• Provide a structured framework for and facilitate the strategic discussions to guide the prioritization of critical deprivations for Eritrean children, using visualization tools to aid conceptualization/analysis, establishing the agenda for strategic visioning meetings – both internal and external.
• Provide refresher of concepts such as RRBM and Theory of Change as low-key embedded elements of overall discussion, prioritizing practical applications of theories/methods/tools. 
• Support programme teams to map the partner landscape for each critical deprivation.
• Based on the prioritisation, prepare one overarching strategic intent note, summarizing the most critical deprivations, disparities, and drivers of exclusion, with clear implications for strategic prioritization under limited resource scenarios.

Strategic guidance and technical support on Explanatory Notes (or other form of documentation) .

• Provide simple document template with outlines and guide the documentation of strategic programmatic formulation conversations along the proposed programme result structure.
• Review and guide the quality of the document to remain strategic, clear and succinct.

Strategic Moment of Reflection (SMR)

• Provide support in establishing the intent/purpose and agenda of the SMR.
• Provide support in reviewing the content preparations for the SMR.
• Support the facilitation as needed.

Results and Resources Plan (RRP)

• Support the preparation of the RRP – including Outcome and Output level results statements, baselines, targets, means of verification, and indicative resources.  as part of the UNICEF CPP guideline/template.
• Provide innovative suggestions and support the Country Office to streamline documentation processes where duplications are observed.
• Ensure that the CPD development process explicitly addresses risks associated with unpredictable global and Eritrea-specific funding environments. This includes integrating financial risk mitigation strategies, including scenario planning and adaptive resource allocation frameworks/adaptive planning mechanisms.

CPD

• Produce the draft CPD narrative and consolidate the Annex: Results and Resources Framework derived from more detailed RRP
• Support the preparation of the Costed Evaluation Plan.
• Support incorporating feedback and comments from RO, HQ and member states to the draft CPD.
• Support the written response to any comments from individual Executive Board/member states using standard OSEB-prescribed template.

UNSDCF: As necessary, provide strategic advice, guidance, and technical support to the office during the full preparation stages of the UNSDCF for Eritrea

In order to know more about this position, please review the complete Terms of Reference and the concept note here:   ToR for CPD Consultant 04 Sep 2025.docx Concept note Eritrea CPD process simplification draft.docx

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

Advanced university degree in Economics, Social Science, Sociology, Development Studies or similar areas.

Work Experience: At least 10 years of experience in leading strategic planning processes, including demonstrated experience in leading UNICEF planning processes (for example, CPD development); good understanding of strategic prioritization, ToC development, rights and results- based management and rights and results-based management programming.

Previous work experience at a senior level with UNICEF is strongly preferred; experience with another UN agency is an asset.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required

HOW TO APPLY

Interested consultants should provide the following:

Curriculum Vitae

Technical proposal

• The Technical Proposal should include but not be limited to the following:
• Methodology:  Detailed Methodology / approach to requirement detailing how to meet or exceed UNICEF requirements for this assignment
• Profile: Ensure to include information related to the experience of the consultant Including similar assignments.
• References: Names and contact details of supervisors/refences for similar assignments undertaken.

Financial proposal

• Please provide indicative travel costs to/from Asmara with separate budget line for each item/expense category.
• Professional fee and other expenses:  include all expenses related to the assignment professional fees.
• Complete the attached financial proposal form and upload it in this application  Financial Proposal template.xlsx

Applications submitted without both the Technical Proposal and Financial Proposal will not be considered.

ADMINITRATIVE FORMALITIES

UNICEF will regularly communicate with the consultant and provide feedback, guidance, and necessary support to achieve the objectives of the work, as well as remain aware of any upcoming issues related to the performance and quality of work.

As per policy on consultants, the individual will be expected to complete a list of mandatory training, including policies on Prohibiting and Combatting Fraud and Corruption, Prohibition of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority and other relevant policies for their information and acknowledgement upon acceptance of the offer.

Before issuing the official contract, the consultant must complete the applicable training. The consultant will be provided with office space, access to office resources and other administrative arrangements necessary to complete the assignment.

CONDITIONS

• The consultancy will be for 60 working days.

• The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.
• No contract may commence unless both UNICEF and the consultant sign the contract.
• The consultant will be paid an all-inclusive fee (stationary, communication and other miscellaneous expenses) as per the stipulated deliverable and payment schedule.
• No travel should take place without an email travel authorization from the section before the commencement of the journey from the duty station.
• Standard UNICEF procedures will apply for invoicing and all other financial management requirements set out in the contract.
• Standard penalty clauses will also apply for late and poor-quality deliverables. The supervisor of the contract will provide the consultant with the criteria for the evaluation of the quality of each deliverable.
• Additional details of UNICEF rules, regulations and conditions will be attached to the contract.
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on the UNICEF budget.
• Individuals engaged under a consultancy contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures. They 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 assignment is both on-site and a remote support.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed 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

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit our competency framework

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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.

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, overtime, weekends, public holidays 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.

Applications submitted without technical and financial proposal will not be considered