International Individual Consultancy: Assessment of Knowledge Gaps in Adolescents and Youth Programming for UNICEF Viet Nam

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

To improve UNICEF’s understanding of adolescents and youth situation in Viet Nam by:

• Synthesize existing data and information about the situation of adolescents (10-19 years old) and youth (15-24 years old) in Viet Nam, as well as key policy frameworks and systems related to adolescent development and participation (ADAP) role and development;
• Identify strengths and weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of ADAP programme of Vietnam Country Office (CO), including the mapping of existing adolescents- and youth-led networks, and provide recommendations to improve ADAP programming for the remaining period of the Country Programme (2025-2026);
• Identify knowledge gaps and potential priority areas/entry points for future programming in the new Country Programme (2027 and onwards). 

Background:

In Viet Nam, there are approximately 15,4 million adolescents aged 10-19 years, representing about 15% of the total population. According to the latest population data, boys account for 51%, while girls represent 49% of this group. Despite progress, adolescents in Viet Nam continue to face significant challenges across sectors, which hinder the fulfillment of their potentials and limit their opportunities as they transition into adulthood. There are notable disparities between boys and girls, particularly in access to education, mental health services, and opportunities for empowerment.

Investing in adolescents is crucial for Viet Nam’s socio-economic development. Adolescents play a vital role in driving the country’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), contributing to a competitive labor force, sustained economic growth, and improved governance. Evidence shows that adolescence provides a critical second window of opportunity to shape physical, cognitive, and emotional development. By supporting adolescents – through targeted policies, services, and care – Viet Nam has the potential to break cycles of poverty, discrimination, and violence, ultimately enabling young people to thrive and contribute meaningfully to society.

UNICEF Viet Nam promotes the rights and well-being of adolescents which requires action that touches on multiple aspects of their lives, notably their health and nutrition, education, protection, and participation. In the 2022-2026 programme cycle, adolescent development and participation (ADAP) is specified as a cross-cutting issue in various outputs for UNICEF Viet Nam. In the past years, there have been several studies, research, and reports on adolescent and youth engagement that have been conducted by UNICEF and different institutions on diverse topics. However, these efforts are fragmented and primarily sector-focused, lacking a comprehensive landscape overview of cross-sectoral adolescent situation. With emerging cross-cutting issues affecting adolescent development and participation, it is crucial to understand the knowledge gaps in current programming across different sectors to improve UNICEF’s awareness of adolescents’ challenges and determine areas where programmatic focus might be lacking. Identifying these gaps will enable UNICEF Viet Nam to refine its approach, ensuring its programmes better meet the evolving needs of adolescents and support their transition into healthy and empowered adults.

Specific objectives include:

1. To synthesize existing data and information about the situation of adolescents (10-19 years old) and youth (15-24 years old) in Viet Nam across key sectors, including health and nutrition, water and sanitation, climate and disaster risk reduction, education, transition to work (employability and employment), protection, participation, and social inclusion among others, with a gender lens to assess disparities between boys and girls, as well as key polies and systems of Viet Nam directly linked with ADAP role and development;

2. To develop the SWOT analysis of VCO’s ADAP programme to inform and enhance ADAP programming for the remaining period of the current Country Programme (2025–2026). This includes the detailed mapping of key stakeholders in adolescents and youth programming, including active adolescents- and youth-led organizations and communities across the country;

3. To identify knowledge gaps and potential priority areas and entry points, with a gender lens, for future adolescents and youth programming in the new Country Programme (2027 and onwards).

Scope of Work:

This study will take place during January – April 2025. Key questions to be addressed during data collection, compilation, analysis, and assessment include:

Data Synthesis and Knowledge Gaps in Adolescent Programming:

1. What are the most significant challenges facing adolescent and young girls and boys in Viet Nam (aged 10-24 years old) in terms of health, nutrition, water and sanitation, climate and disaster risk reduction, education, transition to decent work, protection, participation, and social inclusion?

2. What emerging issues (i.e., climate change, digitalization, changes in the labor market or shifts in family dynamics, etc.) are affecting adolescents and youth well-being and development?

3. What are the existing platforms UNICEF Viet Nam is using, and how effective they are, in strengthening meaningful participation of adolescents and youth in decision-making processes?

4. What are the current gaps in programming for adolescents and youth across key sectors such as health, nutrition, water and sanitation, climate and disaster risk reduction, education, transition to decent work, protection, participation, and social inclusion?

5. How adequate is the available data in addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by adolescents and young people?

6. Are there specific disparities in programming for adolescent boys and girls, and how can a gender lens be applied to improve this?

7. How well are existing programmes addressing the unique needs of marginalized groups, such as ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, out-of-school adolescents / youth, and those with disabilities?

8. Key government’s policies, systems and priorities directly linked with ADAP role and development?

Stakeholders Mapping:

9. Who are the key stakeholders (governmental departments, NGOs, youth-led organizations, private sector, etc.) involved in ADAP programming (including GenU/Youth programming), what are their roles, capacity gaps and how can it be improved?

10. What are the prominent and active adolescent- and youth-led organizations operating in Viet Nam? What is their legal status / scope of work / reach / main activities / operational strengths and challenges? Specify if it is led by girls or young women.

Recommendations for Future Programming:

11. What specific, evidence-based recommendations can be made to address the identified gaps in programming and data collection?

12. How can UNICEF Viet Nam ensure that future programming is adaptable to local contexts and responsive to the evolving needs of adolescents and youth?

13. What opportunities exist for cross-sectoral collaboration to enhance the effectiveness of ADAP programming?

14. What strategies can be employed to ensure that adolescents and youth, especially girls or those from marginalized groups, are meaningfully included in the design and implementation of future programmes? 

15. What role can the private sector play in strengthening the effectiveness of ADAP and youth programming, especially in the transition from learning to earning? How can a public-private-youth partnership model and platform be leveraged to improve the impact of programmes for adolescents and youth in Viet Nam?

Methodology:

The consultant is expected to employ a mix of desk reviews, stakeholder consultations, and data analysis to assess knowledge gaps. Specific methods can be employed include:

1. Desk Review: Analysis of global, regional, and national reports, surveys and studies and best practices on adolescent and youth participation and programming. A list of suggested reference documents, reports and analyses will be shared with the consultant once on board.

2. Expert Consultations: Engage with UNICEF programme staff and other important players (development partners, NGOs, local organizations working for adolescents and young people) across sections to understand adolescents programming to identify gaps and opportunities.

3. Adolescents and Youth Consultation: Engage with adolescents and youth (aged 13-24) representing different groups, including representatives from marginalized backgrounds, to collect their inputs. The consultations with adolescents and youth are expected to be forward-looking and solution focused.

Supervision and Management:

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of UNICEF’s Adolescent and Youth Engagement Officer and the overall management of UNICEF’s Chief of the Social Policy and Governance Programme. He/she will ensure a participatory process that incorporates technical perspectives and guidance from all UNICEF key programmes, other key players (development partners, NGOs, local organizations working for adolescents and young people) as well as relevant adolescents and youth network.

The international consultant is expected to work closely with UNICEF throughout the entire assignment. She/he might work with local consultant(s) if necessary and relevant for in-country data collection. However, the international consultant will retain overall responsibility and accountability for the quality of the final report.

Full TOR as attached 

TOR_International Consultant for Gap Assessment on Ado and Youth Programming-to share.pdf

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

Minimum requirement: 

• At least a master’s degree graduate specializing in social sciences (sociology, anthropology, development studies), Statistics or related fields relevant for the assignment.
• At least 10 years of experience in the fields of children’s issues/social issues/adolescents and youth development and engagement/socio-economic/sustainable development or related fields. 
• Understanding of Viet Nam’s political environment, and awareness of emerging issues and trends concerning adolescents and youth, particularly in the Southeast Asia context.
• Have excellent skills and experience in research and analytical and report writing on children, adolescents, and youth/social issues/sustainable development or related fields.
• Proficient in both spoken and written English.

Assessment criteria:

The ratio between the technical and the financial proposal for this task is 75:25 respectively. 

a) Technical Evaluation: maximum of 75 points:

1.1 Educational background: 20 points

1.2 Relevant working experiences and skills: 55 points

• At least 10 years of experience in the fields of children’s issues/social issues/adolescents and youth development and participation/socio-economic/sustainable development or related fields. (20 points).
• Understanding of Viet Nam’s political environment, and awareness of emerging issues and trends concerning adolescents and youth, particularly in the Southeast Asia context. (15 points)
• Have excellent skills and experience in research and analytical and report writing on children, adolescents, and youth/social issues/sustainable development or related fields. (10 points)
• Proficient in both spoken and written English. (10 points)

b) Financial Proposal (maximum of 25 points):

The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened /evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 50 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 candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview if needed.

Submission of applications:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents to the assigned requisition in UNICEF Vacancies: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/

1. CV/Letter of interest and confirmation of availability;
2. Examples of recent work;
3. Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments (if available);
4. Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including consultancy fee and any other related costs for this assignment.

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

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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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

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