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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, Education

How can you make a difference? 

Background and Context

The UNICEF Mozambique Country Programme Document (CPD) for 2022-2026 aligns with the Government Five-Year Plan 2020–2024, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022-2026, and the National Development Strategy 2015–2035. It aims to support Mozambique in achieving the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, focusing on children's rights as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Due to multiple shocks such as droughts, cyclones, armed conflict, disease outbreaks, displacement, political unrest, and fiscal challenges, the situation for children in Mozambique has worsened. Child monetary poverty increased from 49% to 70% between 2015 and 2022, with multidimensional poverty showing slight improvements. The northern provinces, particularly Nampula, Niassa, and Zambezia, are most affected.

As part of the planning process for the new CPD 2027-2031, the UNICEF Mozambique country office will undertake an evidence synthesis to understand how the needs of children and adolescents have evolved in the light of the multiple shocks the country has faced in recent years and how UNICEF action should be adjusted to address persisting and new challenges. In this light, UNICEF intends to produce a Situation Analysis (SitAn) of children and adolescents in Mozambique, as well as a gender and evidence programmatic review. These analyses are critical to lay the foundation for the CPD design and inform the office’s strategic priorities in the new Country Programme starting in 2027.

Objectives, Purpose, and Expected Results

The equity-focused Situation Analysis (SitAn) aims to examine the progress, challenges, and opportunities for achieving child rights and well-being in Mozambique. It will highlight strategic priorities to reduce disparities and address vulnerabilities, contributing to the national development agenda and accelerating the achievement of development goals for children and adolescents.

The Gender Programmatic Review (GPR) will analyze and prioritize strategic areas for gender programming, focusing on adolescent girls' health and well-being. The review will identify root causes of gender challenges, define programming interventions, establish performance monitoring indicators, and outline resource requirements.

Alongside the SitAn and the GPR, the office will also require a country programme review of all existing evidence generated by various UNICEF-supported programmes since the start of the current CPD in 2022. This evidence triangle, comprising the SitAn, GPR, and country programme evidence review, will guide programme decisions and priorities, and steer partnership efforts to advance child rights in the upcoming country programme.

In view of the above, UNICEF Mozambique is seeking the services of an individual consultant or a team of consultants to lead consultations with key stakeholders (as needed) and develop a comprehensive SitAn report using the latest available data and evidence. Additionally, the consultants will conduct a gender programmatic review, and a country programme evidence review.

Methodology

The primary methodology involves a desk review of recent and available data, research, evaluations, assessments, studies, and other relevant documents. It will integrate views from focus group discussions with key population groups, including adolescent girls and boys, young women, and people with disabilities. Minimal primary data collection will be conducted, potentially including up to 6 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with UNICEF staff and key government stakeholders.

Analysis Approach

SitAn-specific Analysis

The SitAn will provide an updated analysis of children and adolescents' status using UNICEF global SitAn guidance. It will review and update the situation of children within the context of the Agenda 2030 of Leave No One Behind, using newly available data, literature, interviews, and discussions focusing on data and information triangulation.

Gender Programmatic Review-specific Analysis

The GPR will follow the "Management and Operations Guide to the Gender Programmatic Review," analyzing the nine gender results of the GAP within the national context, identifying root causes of gender-inequitable outcomes, developing programmatic responses, solutions, outputs, and indicators, and documenting findings and agreements.

Country Programme Review-specific Analysis

The country programme review will include:

• Research Questions: Outline specific questions focused on the effectiveness, coherence, efficiency, and sustainability of interventions and UNICEF operations.
• Literature Search: Comprehensive search of UNICEF-produced evidence, data, and annual reports in Mozambique from 2022 onwards.
• Data Extraction: Extract data from selected studies using standardized forms.
• Quality Assessment: Assess the quality of included studies using established tools and criteria.
• Interpretation and Reporting: Interpret findings in the context of research questions and broader evidence base, highlighting key findings, limitations, and implications.
• Recommendations: Provide recommendations to improve the design and implementation of future interventions and support evidence-based decision-making for the next CPD.

Expected Deliverables and Reporting Requirements

The consultant will work under the supervision of UNICEF Mozambique's Social Policy Specialist, Gender Manager, and Evaluation Specialist. Deliverables include:

• Inception Report: overall inception report that covers the SitAn, GPR and country programme review, including detailed workplan, identification of all planning requirements to ensure quality assurance through the process and from deliverables
• Data Gathering and Analysis: 
• Consultations with UNICEF programme teams conducted.
• Presentations of preliminary key findings and conclusions: a) SitAn; b) GPR and country programme review
• SitAn draft and final report (limited to ~ 50 pages, not including Annexes), including a vulnerability mapping.
• GPR and country programme evidence review draft and final report(s)

 Annex 3 - TORs_Situation Analysis (SitAn) of Children and Adolescents in Mozambique and Gender and Evidence Review.docx

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

The consultancy requires:

• Academic Qualification: Master's degree in relevant fields such as public policy, human/child rights, development studies, social policy, social sciences, demographics, etc.

• Work Experience: 5-8 years of experience in evidence synthesis, analytical report development, literature review, and gender analysis. Proven experience in review and analysis of secondary quantitative and qualitative data, policy (and financial) analysis, including consistently using age- and sex-disaggregated and gender sensitive data, and report preparation. Proven track record in facilitating consultations and coordinating multi-stakeholder groups (e.g., government, NGOs, academia, children, adolescents, etc.) is essential.
• Technical Skills: Strong analytical skills, knowledge of statistical data, social service systems, development agenda, human rights-based approach, gender-responsive programming, and UN/UNICEF policies. Working knowledge of Eastern and Southern Africa geographic and socio-economic situation, especially in Mozambique will be an asset. Previous experience with UNICEF is an advantage.

• Competencies: Analytical and conceptual thinking, coordination and facilitation skills, drive to achieve results, ability to work under pressure, strong communication skills (written and verbal), and collaborative work style.
• Languages: Fluency in English, with knowledge of Portuguese as an asset.

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 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. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

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 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.