Consultant – Data Management and Monitoring (YOMA), Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO)

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. 

Background and Justification

UNICEF aims to ensure that every child and adolescent, learns and acquires skills for their future. It focuses on addressing the global learning crisis, shifting to increased skills acquisition and alternative learning pathways to better reach the most marginalized. In line with the global prioritization of youth, UNICEF’s Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa’s (ESARO) priorities are focused on secondary-age education and transitions into work to advocate for and ensure equity in that more youth in the region, including the most vulnerable, are equipped with skills to succeed in life, school, work, and livelihoods.

Whether young people are educated, trained, or employed has significant implications for their overall well-being and ability to promote future economic growth, development, and socio-political stability. Since 1999, there has been a concurrent global decrease in young individuals’ labor force participation whilst the proportion of youth increased. In 2020, young individuals were three times more likely than adults to be unemployed (ILO 2020). Many are not only facing a challenging present but also, a most uncertain future. To meet the changing demands of the labor market, young people will need to be equipped with a set of skills and competencies to compete both locally and globally. The concept of Yoma (Youth Agency Marketplace) was developed by young Africans as a holistic approach to address these challenges and increase youth agency across the globe.

UNICEF’s Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa (ESARO) has partnered with the Botnar Foundation to create a platform called the Youth Agency Marketplace (yoma.world) to support youth and digital innovation across Africa. This platform centers on young people, giving them control over their data and growth journey. It facilitates interactions with peers, communities, service providers, and employers based on shared values, and offers tailored skills acquisition opportunities.

Key features include:

• Autonomy: Young people control their data and growth.
• Relatedness: Facilitates interactions based on shared values.
• Competence: Provides tailored skills acquisition through impact tasks.

YOMA uses advanced technologies like blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, and psychometric matching. Its first large-scale MVP launched in May 2020, with over 90,000 young participants. Since then, it has engaged over 457,000 youth through various challenges. The platform collects and consolidates data to monitor key performance indicators and ensure transparency and success.

Aligned with UNICEF’s Africa Strategy, YOMA is a global solution of Generation Unlimited (GenU) and supports the Youth Force agenda and implementation in several countries. YOMA’s current strategy comprises of) Youth Force, b) Youth Identity (YoID), and c) the Impact Marketplace. The Youth Force initiative aims to empower 100 million young Africans (50% female) by 2030 with skills and experiences in sectors like digital, green, agribusiness, creative, care, and education. This initiative will help youth contribute to the UN SDGs, AU’s Agenda 2063, and other key development plans. By investing in youth skills, it addresses social service gaps, and an aging workforce, and opens opportunities in both formal and informal employment and entrepreneurship.

The contractor will manage data, present findings, and monitor KPIs across all YOMA workstreams.

Scope of Work

1. Goal and Objective:  Under the supervision of the Programme Manager for YOMA, the consultant will help create a comprehensive dashboard with important metrics to prove the concept of YOMA to potential/existing partners and allow for external and internal transparency and success monitoring. In this process, the consultant will clean and consolidate data and implement ways to regularly update data from YOMA partners as well as define key performance indicators with the different YOMA workstream leads to be presented on the dashboard. He/she will create various dashboards for different audiences (e.g. partners, externals, internal core team).

Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered: Oversee overall coordination and provide TA to COs on innovative platforms for youth engagement, skills building, and employability (ie YOMA, Atingi), as well as the African Data and Drone Academy (ADDA)

Activities and Tasks:  

1. Familiarization with data: There are several data sources used within YOMA such as Google Analytics, data from challenges organized by partners, and the database from the platform. The contractor is expected to familiarize him/herself with the data.
2. Familiarization with PowerBI: If the contractor does not have previous in-depth experience, he/she is expected to familiarize himself/herself with PowerBI to build a dashboard for Yoma.
3. Identify key metrics for the overall dashboard including key performance indicators for each workstream: Together with the YOMA team and specifically the workstream leads, the contractor is expected to identify key metrics to be presented on the dashboard. In a second step, the contractor will support in identifying data that would need to be collected additionally to monitor the identified key performance indicators.
4. Develop a functioning YOMA monitoring tool including a dashboard that responds to key stakeholders’ needs (UNICEF, GenU, Fondation Botnar, SAP,…), hence, build different dashboards for internal and external use with PowerBI
5. Desktop research and development of integrating external data, which updates itself automatically on a regular basis: The contractor is expected to build a dashboard that integrates data from partners and updates the data regularly and automatically.
6. Regular check-ups to identify and eradicate bugs
7. Manual data updating for partner data where automatic data funnel cannot be developed yet due to data privacy
8. Support the YOMA tech team with any data-related tasks

2. Work relationships:  The contractor will work under the supervision of the YOMA manager in close collaboration with the Senior Programme Manager. He/she will focus on the data management and monitoring of YOMA.

3. Outputs/Deliverables:   As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to YOMA and its ecosystem partners in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

• Updated and easy-to-use YOMA dashboard for an array of users using PowerBI or a similar tool
• Regular monitoring reports (weekly/monthly/quarterly) to be shared with partners
• Quality performance-related data for YOMA reporting

Deliverables	Duration (Estimated # of days or months)	Timeline/Deadline
Update the YOMA M&E Framework and develop key metrics and success indicators to track progress towards YOMA strategic goals	1 month	15 February 2025
Develop a YOMA ecosystem data collection plan	1 month	15 March 2025
Partner data alignment and Integration	1 month	15 April 2025
Quarterly analytical reports on youth engagement	1 month	15 May 2026
Update YOMA’s overall dashboard	1 month	15 June 2026
Conduct user feedback sessions to refine and improve the dashboard experience for all stakeholders.	1 month	15 July 2026
Support countries and partners on data and monitoring	1 month	15 August 2026
Quarterly analytical reports on youth engagement, lessons learned, and suggestions for future development	1 month	15 September 2026
Work closely with the tech team to improve data integrations between YOMA and ecosystem partners	1 month	15 October 2026
Advanced dashboard customization for partners and country offices	1 month	15 November 2026
Develop a long-term data strategy that aligns with YOMA’s strategic objectives	1 month	15 December 2026
Final report on assignment	1 month	15 January 2026

 

Desired competencies, technical background, and experience 

1. Education 
   • Postgraduate degree in an academic field related to data science.
2. Work experience and skills
   • Experience in cleaning and working with large datasets.
   • At least six months of experience working with data and monitoring post-graduation
   • Strong analytical skills
   • Good drafting skills
3. Language
   • Fluency in English, Knowledge of French 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. 

Administrative Issues

• The consultant will work under the supervision of the Program Manager.
• This is a remote position. As most of the Yoma team is working remotely most meetings will be online with occasional in-person meetings. The consultant will need to be available for calls between 10 am to 4 pm Nairobi time
• All travel (in case of any) will be by the most economical fare and reimbursement will be as per UNICEF policy.
• The consultant will be based in UNICEF Regional Office with additional travel depending on COVID-19 travel restrictions for which the UNICEF office would cover subsistence allowances and travel costs. If the consultant is required to quarantine while traveling, UNICEF will pay for the quarantine if not organized by the host country.
• 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.
• The selected candidate is solely responsible for ensuring that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.

Conditions

• The consultant will work from his/her own premises as per the UNICEF Flexible Working Policy and use his/her own computer and related infrastructure.
• As this would be a junior consultant role, we are preferably looking for talented young candidates
• As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment will be made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 percent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.
• 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 and will 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.

Risks

This is a remote role that does not foresee any direct contact with children. There are no reasonable risks associated with this consultancy, all deliverables will be cleared by the supervisor before they are shared with external partners.

 

How to apply

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV, and their technical proposals to the online recruitment portal (Talent Management System) 

Interested candidates are to indicate their ability, availability, and rate (daily) expressed in US$ to undertake the terms of reference. 

Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered.

 

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 increasing 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 jobs-near-me.org 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 promoting 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 for ensuring 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.