International Consultant for Study on Formative Lessons Learned and Costed Scale-up Plan for the Child Benefit Pilots in Iraq

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:

Social protection covers the range of policies and programmes needed to reduce the lifelong consequences of poverty and exclusion, particularly on the vulnerable population. It is an important tool to address multi-dimensional poverty and vulnerability through its protective, preventative, promotive and transformative functions. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees this right (Articles 22 & 25). UNICEF is also taking a rights-based approach towards universal social protection as set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of this consultancy is two folds:

1. to conduct a formative lessons-learned, by gathering and analysing the development and implementation of the pilots, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and area for improvement and generating comprehensive lessons learned to guide the potential scale up of the pilots. Analyses and documentation of post-distribution monitoring will also be carried out -which the data will be available at the time of study. The study will also draw out the main effects and cost/benefits of the approach, especially in terms of child well-being.

2. to develop a costed scale-up and institutionalisation proposal for the Child Plus Pilot ProgrammesScope of Work:

Scope of Work:

The consultant is expected to conduct an independent formative lesson learned study, which includes documenting the strengths, weaknesses, challenges, opportunities, and rationale for course of action of the pilot. This will be done during the implementation of the pilots and in the weeks following the finalization of the pilots.

The methodology will be; consultant will conduct key informant interviews with the parties including but not limited with central and local government agencies, UNICEF and other line ministries, focus group discussions with beneficiaries (not included children) and review of written documentation. The consultant is also be expected to analyse and assess the post distribution monitoring data of the Pilots in all locations through desk review, field research and especially validation with relevant institutions.

With the main purpose that the process will help assess the quality of implementation of the pilot components and design features to underpin credible, reliable and useful evidence through a learning-oriented approach: what is working, not working, how and why, aned to identify lessons learned, focusing on perceived effects on child wellbeing. The final validation of the study with all stakeholders will take place during a workshop where participants can discuss “How best could the program be scaled up, with what means and parameters?”. Below is an illustration of the expected scope of the work which will be further discussed and finalized with the consultant at the inception phase;

Based on the scope of the work, those are the expected outcomes of the consultancy;

1. Study Report: Conduct a formative lessons learned study and generate a comprehensive analysis of the manner in which all the components of Child Plus Pilot Programmes in all locations are implemented with achievements and lessons learnt,

a. Design the formative monitoring and evaluation framework for the pilot in each location

b. Develop a real-time comprehensive documentation and assessment of the overall process that led to the final design and the implementation of the pilot. The objective is to capture the lessons learnt including best practices, reflections, findings and recommendations from collaborative design and implementation.

c. Assess the design components of the existing pilot programs in all locations against expected objectives and operational constraints. The objective is to capture whether the design was able to meet intended objectives or resulted with any unintended outcomes.

d. Support the design of Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM)frameworks and assess, analyze and report of PDM data for each round in each location and provide a consolidated final report covering all rounds for each location. It is expected total of two rounds of PDMs in each location,

e. Assess the intended and unintended perceived effects and achievements, particularly on child wellbeing through focus group discussions with beneficiaries, social workers, DoE/DoH, DoLSA.

f. Provide programmatic recommendations for each component and element of the pilots (cash, social services, behaviour change including eligibility criteria, beneficiary selection, payment processes, monitoring, and reporting, communication, cash operations, Grievance, Redressal mechanism GRM, coordination mechanism, digital information management systems used for the implementation (government’s existing information systems are leveraged for the implementation), integrated service delivery, and operational manuals) and with linkages to the Joint Programme outcomes (Social Protection Programme- Leveraging Effective Response and Accelerating Reform) tailored to the unique requirements and local context of each location.

g. Carry out discussions and consultations of the report (in the form of meetings or interviews) with MoLSA and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the report is in accordance with priorities and capacities of respective institutions

2.Costed Scale-up Plan Report: Generate a report on a costed scale-up plan with recommendations to create the conditions for a gradual expansion of the Child Plus Benefit in Federal Iraq and KRI;

a. Assess the potential impacts, costs and cost benefits of a national level child plus benefit based on variable parameters as highlighted in the pilot concepts (and others if relevant) in consultation with MoLSA and other relevant stakeholders,

b. Develop recommendations to foster further integration of cash transfers with services

c. Propose a monitoring and evaluation framework for the scale-up for GoI and KRI in consultation with MoLSA and other relevant stakeholders,

3.Validation Workshop: Facilitate a Final Validation workshop for all findings with MoLSA and relevant stakeholders:

1. For the final validation and consultation of all outputs, a Final validation workshop will be arranged and co-facilitated by UNICEF and the Consultant -consultant’s physical presence is required as also detailed in the section 6

b. The consultant is expected to: i) present the Lessons-learned, and costed scale-up plan reports from assignment ii) collect and share reflections as part of assignment; and iii) discuss and consult on key recommendations iv) Document the outcomes of the workshop, and v) Finalize the reports in line with the recommendations/comments from the workshop

4.Advocacy Brief: Develop a set of policy and programme recommendations in the form of an advocacy brief document,

Develop an advocacy brief for each location highlighting key messages including points from scale-up plan

Activities and Tasks:

Deliverables:At the end of the consultancy work, the consultant shall deliver the below products/deliverables:

Task/Milestone

Deliverable/Outcome

Estimated # of Days

Desk Review and Inception

1.The consultant shall submit an inception report to UNICEF within 4 weeks of signing the contract. The inception report shall include:

2.Desk review of existing literature

3.Overall work plan including travel plans

4.Detailed methodological approach, draft tools, tentative fieldwork schedules, checklists, work plans, proposed workshops, consent forms etc.

5.Ethical considerations*

6.Identification of risks and mitigation measures.

7.The inception report may also propose adjustments to the ToRs and/or identify any other pertinent issues.

• The inception report will be submitted for ethical review and must be cleared before proceeding with the next phase; UNICEF will facilitate the submission of the Inception report to an Ethical Review Board

Within 1 month upon signature of contract

2-Draft reports phase

• on the lessons-learned
• Assessment report on PDMs and reviewed M&E framework with recommendations for scale-up

Draft report of the costed scale-up plan

• Preliminary draft report for validation on in-depth review of the existing pilot designs in all locations for all components including findings, reflections on lessons learnt, good practices, innovations, and recommendations,
• Preliminary draft report for validation on a costed scale-up plan with recommendations and an improved design to create the conditions for a continuation of the Child Plus Benefit in FI and KRI
• Analysis and report on the PDMs data available with recommendations on the improvement of the overall framework and arrangements including questionnaire, sampling, data collection methodology and analyses
• Reviewed M&E framework for the child benefits program and Draft refined framework for scale-up in all locations,

By April 2025

3- Final reports on lessons learned and costed scale-up plan

• Final Endline Assessment report on PDMs and reviewed M&E framework with recommendations for scale-up

Advocacy brief on the overall review, recommendations for scale-up

Agenda, content, and in-person facilitation and PowerPoint presentations for each workstream reports for validation workshop

• – Final comprehensive report on in-depth review of the existing pilot designs in all locations for all components including findings, reflections on lessons learnt, good practices, innovations, and recommendations,
• Final diagnostic report for a costed scale-up plan with recommendations to create an enabling environment for scale up Child Plus Benefit

Final PDM report with endline assessments and detailed recommendations on an improved and aligned framework on all elements and arrangements.

Advocacy brief on the lessons learnt and on the overall proposed scale-up plan including all components for all locations (6-8 pager for each location)

By the end of August 2025

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

. Education: 

Master’s degree in social policy, Economics/Statistics/Development or related fields

. Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in social policy and social sector programme implementation with knowledge of social protection and cash transfer such as child grants design and implementation

. Proven experience in programme reviews, documenting and reporting on programme management

. Proven experience in writing reports, documentation to convey programming efforts, facilitating workshops/discussions and documenting case studies in an international development context is required.

. Knowledge and exposure to UNICEF programming, particularly in the areas of Social policy, social protection, child protection and cash transfers will be a big advantage.

. Knowledge of Iraq and MENA context and previous experience is an asset,

. Previous experience in Iraq is an asset.

. Proficiency in English and Arabic are required, knowledge of Kurdish is 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 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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