Consultancy to provide technical assistance to develop a localization strategy and an operationalization plan, Maputo, Mozambique, 4 months (Home-based with visits to UNICEF Mozambique)

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 

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The consultancy will provide technical assistance to UNICEF/Mozambique to develop a localization strategy and an operationalization plan to guide the Mozambique Country Office (MCO) efforts for the next 2 years.

Objectives:

a. Develop a tool for MCO to analyze the institutional capacity of local NGOs and potentially government partners and conduct a local partner capacity gap analysis (based on the existing global tools), with disaggregation capabilities (geography, competency area, etc.).

b. Develop a localization strategy for the UNICEF MCO.

c. Develop a related action plan and integrated monitoring framework.

Scope of Work: The Country Programme of Cooperation between the Government of Mozambique and UNICEF (CPD) for 2022-2026 aims to support Mozambique to accelerate efforts towards achieving the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and meeting its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of children, in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action. It derives from the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022–2026 and aligns with the Government Five-Year Plan 2020–2024, the National Development Strategy 2015–2035 and relevant sector policies and programmes.

Background:

The interest in and request to strengthen localization is not new. In United Nations General Assembly Resolution 46/182, the guiding principles for humanitarian assistance stipulate the need for the international response to focus on strengthening national systems in line with international law. Since the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, there has been a push for international humanitarian actors to improve localization efforts, recognizing that local actors are essential in ensuring timely delivery and in strengthening the resilience of communities affected by crises. The need for complementarity between international and national responders has been emphasized by the SPHERE and core humanitarian standards, both of which call for international actors to reinforce local capacities and minimize negative impacts of humanitarian action on the affected population. UNICEF has committed to advancing these normative frameworks by strengthening local systems and maintaining and strengthening local capacities to scale-up humanitarian action while ensuring the needs of affected children are addressed. Through the Grand Bargain process, UNICEF and other signatories committed to making principled humanitarian action as local as possible and as international as necessary.

Beyond humanitarian action, localization is a strategic priority of UNICEF’s triple humanitarian/development/peace nexus commitments and in that regard, a localized programming approach contributes to building resilience, promoting peace and social cohesion and increasing trust and access during sudden onset crises. Localization also applies to UNICEF’s development programming spanning child health, nutrition, WASH, child protection, education, social policy, and social protection with key thematic areas including climate change, early childhood development, and adolescent engagement. In all of UNICEF’s work, the ‘best interest of the child’ is a priority.

UNICEF’s global strategic approach to localization includes 12 strategic areas:

• Promotion of principled partnership
• Capacity sharing between UNICEF and local actors
• Localized surge capacity
• Coordination and leadership in clusters
• Humanitarian programme cycle and localization
• Country programme development process and localization
• Predictable and flexible funding for local actors
• Engaging local communities, including youth
• Risk management and local actors
• Local governance and humanitarian action
• Local economies and localization, and
• Visibility and communication

Context in Mozambique

It is within this larger framework that the UNICEF MCO seeks to develop a localization strategy to guide the office for the remainder of the 2022-2026 Country Programme and look at how localization can be incorporated into the follow-on country programme. UNICEF’s primary partner is the Government of Mozambique who receives nearly 75 per cent of total funding. The remaining funds are currently spent roughly evenly between local and international NGOs.

Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 181st on the 2020 Human Development Index with approximately 62 per cent of the population living in extreme poverty in 2014, earning less than $1.90 per day. COVID-19 has created additional economic burdens on households. On top of this social and economic vulnerability, the country is highly vulnerable to climate-related hazards, such as cyclones and flooding, and has suffered from conflict in the north since 2017. Public health emergencies (e.g., polio, cholera, and measles) are putting an additional strain on limited resources.

Given the country’s exposure and vulnerability to multi-hazard shocks, the Government developed a specific framework for disaster response including Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). This includes the establishment of coordination bodies at national and local levels, including DRR community-based committees. In 2023, under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator and OCHA, the humanitarian community started the development of a Humanitarian Localization strategy. UNICEF is a member of this effort.

Emergencies in Mozambique affect different populations across the country aggravating existing inequalities and weakening already inadequate structural basic services, and undermining access of not only directly affected populations, but more generally, the vulnerable people and children in Mozambique. Therefore, emergency response goes hand in hand with building resilience of people and institutions to mitigate the impact of future emergencies and facilitate recovery. Responding in emergencies, after the first response, is about nexus programming, which is at the core of UNICEF’s 2022-2026 Country Programme Document (CPD).

In the 2022-2026 CPD, UNICEF/Mozambique prioritized four provinces of the country—Sofala, Zambezia, Nampula and Cabo Delgado. The provinces were chosen due to their high child population, significant deprivations for children, and need for humanitarian preparedness/response programming. To achieve the goals of the CPD, UNICEF works in partnership with government ministries as well as international and national NGOs.

Methodology:

1. Desk Review

• Develop an inception report on the proposed work and approaches to be used to deliver the tasks outlined in the consultancy utilizing existing UNICEF localization guidance.
• Prepare a preliminary workplan with a timeline for activities and deliverables.
• Review existing localization efforts and challenges with local partners (i.e. national/local NGOs, government).

2. Develop a Localization Strategy for the MCO

• Conduct focus group discussions or interviews with relevant actors including staff (including Field Office staff), local partners (including government partners), UN agencies/donors or others as needed.
• Using UNICEF global guidance and information from FGDs/interviews, develop a localization strategy for MCO that outlines principled partnership, capacity sharing, improving cluster engagement and leadership (humanitarian) or sector coordination (development), financial management, risk mitigation/management, etc.
• Seek alignment with existing structures of engagement with local partners (including govt).
• Include in the strategy indicators to demonstrate the MCO commitment and progress towards the implementation of a localization strategy/plan.

3. Develop an operationalization plan

• Based on the approved localization strategy, break down the action items into a clear “road map” or action plan for the MCO to engage in to implement the strategy. The plan should be concise and have clear accountabilities.

4. Develop/contextualise and pilot an institutional capacity assessment tool

• Based on the approved localization strategy, develop a tool that will help UNICEF identify the capacity of current/new/potential local partners that covers the core areas of competencies required and allows MCO staff to quickly identify where additional support is needed.
• In addition to the core competency areas, the tool should align to/utilize the information collected in the Core Value Assessments (UNPP) and Micro Assessments (eTools) of current partners.
• Tool must allow for analysis and disaggregation by geography (provincial- and district-level) as well as core competency area.

5. Support the development of localization inputs/language to be used in both humanitarian and development project proposals/agreements.

Work Assignments Overview

1. Desk review, definition of methodology and inception report

Deliverables/Outputs

Desk review of existing UNICEF’s and UN localization guidance, policies and tools

Meeting with the reference group

Inception report and methodology

Timeline

2 weeks (10 days)

Payment schedule

10%

Work Assignments Overview

Develop a localization strategy for Mozambique country office

Develop of an operationalization plan 2024-2025

Deliverables/Outputs

Timeline

1 month (20 days)

Interviews with UNICEF staff and partners

Internal validation workshop

Operationalization plan

Timeline

1 month (20 days)

Payment schedule

50%

Work Assignments Overview

Contextualization and piloting of an institutional capacity assessment tool

Lead the design of a guide for UNICEF staff on increasing the capacity of local partners

Deliverables/Outputs

Piloted tool

Timeline

3 weeks (15 days)

Deliverables/Outputs

Completed guide, including addressing the most needed areas of support

Timeline

2 weeks (10 days)

Work Assignments Overview

Support development of localization inputs/language to be used in both humanitarian and development project proposals

Deliverables/Outputs

Approved language

Timeline

1 week (5 days)

Payment schedule

40%

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in
• Social Sciences/Development studies/Management/planning/ public policy/ business administration
• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
• At least 5 years of experience in similar fields (decentralization, localization, capacity building, etc.) with expertise in developing policy documents, designing, planning, and facilitating capacity building initiatives.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with proficiency in English. Proficiency in Portuguese is an added advantage.
• Good documentation skills and competent in analytical and presentation skills.
• Knowledge and experience of UNICEF programming/ mandate is an added advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

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

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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: 

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. 

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