International consultancy to conduct an analysis of budget allocations and expenditure on child protection in Eswatini, 6 months, Remote (with on-site data collection)

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Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

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For every child, Protection 

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Child protection is one of the key strategic areas in the current Country Programme (2021-2025) between UNICEF Eswatini and the Government of Eswatini. It entails working with government, civil society and community to strengthen child protection systems for the prevention of and response to violence against children and adolescents.

While Eswatini has made strides in policies, legislation and institutions to address all forms of violence against children e.g., enactment of the Children’s Protection and Welfare Act 2012, Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act 2018, and the establishment of the National Children’s Services Department, adequate public financing for child protection programmes remains an important bottleneck, including limited evidence on the country’s investments in child protection.

Following Eswatini’s submission of its second to fourth periodic report on its implementation of Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Committee on the Rights of the Child in its Concluding Observations in October 2021, noted the absence of child-specific budget allocations and an inefficient public finance management system related to children’s issues in Eswatini. Among other recommendations, the Committee specifically recommended an increase in budget allocations to child related issues, and the establishment of mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the adequacy, efficiency and equitability of the distribution of resources allocated for the implementation of the CRC.  

As an initial step towards advocacy for strengthening public financing for child protection in Eswatini, the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, with support from UNICEF Eswatini, seeks to commission an in-depth analysis of Eswatini’s budget allocations and expenditure for child protection interventions. The primary objective of this analysis is to produce a sound and credible evidence base that can be used to advocate for enhanced national investments in the implementation of child protection policies, legislations, plans and interventions. The budget analysis aims to assisting the government to rationalize and improve budget allocation for child protection, thereby enhancing the adequacy, efficiency, and impact of service delivery in this critical area.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the Chief, Youth and Adolescent Development and working closely with the Child Protection Specialist and Social Policy Specialist, the Consultant will collect and analyse budget and expenditures data to identify the current trend and gaps for improvements. The specific tasks to be undertaken in carrying out and completing the assignment will include the following key activities:

1) Map out how government financial resources are allocated and spent on Child Protection sector priorities over the past three consecutive fiscal years and assess the extent to which Child Protection services and initiatives rely on donor funding.

2) Identify financing gaps and inefficiencies in the implementation of national Child Protection related policies, strategies, and programmes.

3) Based on findings, propose recommendations to enhance national budget allocations and improve donor coordination for Child Protection financing.

4) Explore the feasibility of setting up mechanism(s) for the systematic identification, tagging and regularly monitoring of Child Protection related spending. 

Work Assignment Overview:

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline (period/deadline)

Payment structure (% of the total fee)

Workplan

10 days

15%  

Desk review summary report

15 days

10%

Draft technical budget analysis report (including expenditure tables, classification summaries, trend graphs, and analytical narrative)

20 days

20%

Final full budget brief

10 days

30%

Draft budget briefs (concise, user-friendly briefs tailored for policy dialogue and advocacy with government and partners)

10 days

15%

Slide presentation on key report findings

5 days

15%

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

• Advanced university degree in economics, public finance, social or public policy or related disciplines.
• Preferably with specialization in social budgeting or public finance management and fiscal space analysis in social sectors.
Work experience:
• Demonstrable experience and proven track record of conducting analysis of public finance data and public finance management processes.
• Experience in child protection budget analysis will be an added advantage.
• Solid knowledge of public finance management instruments and at least 8 years of work experience with analyses of social sector government budgets.
• Example and samples of previous budget analysis work will be an added advantage.
• Experience of planning and budgeting in Africa will be an asset.
• Excellent analytical writing and communication skills.

Language

• Fluency in English is required.

1. Administrative issues:

The selection and conditions of service of consultant will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s Policies and General Terms and Conditions for individual consultants/contractors.
No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant/contractor.
Consultant/Contractor will be required to complete mandatory online courses (e.g. Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security) upon receipt of offer and before the signature of contract.
Consultant/Contractor will be required to sign the Health Statement for consultants/contractors and to share an applicable proof of health insurance covering medical evacuation (if travel is involved) prior to taking up the assignment.

2.How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit an online application through the Talent Management System (TMS) that consists as a minimum of the following:
-TMS Profile/ Curriculum Vitae
-Financial proposal must be ‘all inclusive’ of all expenses related to the assignment

Incomplete applications will not be considered.
If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.

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.