National Consultant: Social Assistance, Nairobi, Kenya (Home based)  

Job no: 576323  

Contract type: Consultant  

Duty Station: Nairobi  

Level: Consultancy  

Location: Kenya  

Categories: Social Policy  

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, a fair chance   

Background  

Since 2004, the government has steadily increased the coverage and the number of households that directly benefit through Cash Transfer Programmes. Through the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs, the GoK supports three cash transfer programmes namely: Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC), Older Persons Cash Transfer (OPCT), and Persons with Severe Disability Cash Transfer (PwSD-CT).  

In 2016 the three programmes were consolidated under the Social Assistance Unit (SAU), now the Directorate of Social Assistance (DSA). The DSA is today responsible for the administration of cash stipends to over 1.7 million beneficiaries. Consolidation of social assistance programmes has resulted in improved efficiency by allowing a harmonized approach to targeting, disbursement of funds, and case management which has greatly improved the turnaround time in responding to poor and vulnerable households.  

Through CCTP MIS, DSA has greatly enhanced efficiency in the implementation of Cash Transfer Programmes in the State Department. The system mirrors the CCTP operations manual, a tool that informs the day-to-day implementation of the cash transfer programmes under the State Department. The Directorate of Social Assistance (DSA) together with other stakeholders recently reviewed the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC) eligibility criteria with an aim of expanding the categories of vulnerable children to be included in the programme. This has led to the revision and expansion of the CT-OVC eligibility criteria. DSA intends to mainstream the revised CT-OVC eligibility criteria into the CCTP operational tools, including the Operations Manual the Harmonized Targeting Tool (HTT), and monitoring tools.  

Moving forward, DSA will be conducting on-demand registration and continuous replacement of exited households through the utilization of the Enhanced Single Registry (ESR) data. This calls for a well-established referral pathway structured processes that will guide the vulnerable groups providing for the process, actors, levels to refer, and the needs. The payment model has also changed and now the beneficiaries and caregivers are receiving their payments monthly. DSA is also piloting mobile money payments under the CT-OVC and PwSD-CT programmes.  

Based on these changes, the Directorate intends to engage the services of a Technical Assistance (TA) necessary to support the review and validation of the CCTP operations manual and develop an implementation roadmap and operationalization of the revised criteria.  

Objectives and Specific Tasks  

The objective of the assignment is to update the operational manual of the CCTP programme and help to define the standards, procedures, and guidelines for the operationalization. The specific tasks of the assignment include:  

Operationalization Road map: develop a road map on how the criteria will be operationalized including targeting and enrollment.  

Description of the CCTP programmes: Including objectives, programme components, results, target areas, beneficiaries, etc.  

Programme Eligibility Criteria: Incorporate the revised OVC criteria into the CCTP OM  

Institutional, Coordination, and Implementation Arrangements: update the chapter to include roles and responsibilities including implementation, project management and staffing, the role of governments (national and county) and other stakeholders, coordinating mechanisms, the role of the G&CM during implementation, and CCTP administration.  

Financial Management: Elaboration of the guidelines for an appropriate Financial Management System that ensures funds are processed, managed, and reported properly for improved internal controls and accountability to all stakeholders and donors. The guidelines for financial management shall include:  

• Planning and Budgeting arrangements  

• Funds Flow Mechanisms  

• Internal Controls and Internal Audit Arrangements  

• Financial monitoring and reporting  

• Asset management and disposal plan  

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Reporting: Gender and Age sensitive Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Reporting Framework for capturing the information and data (disaggregated by sex) necessary for the measurement/tracking of the performance and for reporting of the CCTP programmes from a gender perspective. Key components include:  

• Participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning system  

• Project monitoring structures, approaches, and responsibilities at the national and county level as well as component level  

• Knowledge generation and management approach including Learning and Adaptive Management (CLA strategy)  

• Reporting framework including types of reports, schedules, and responsibilities.  

Communication and Information Sharing: Develop an effective information-sharing framework that will support CCTP communications, branding, visibility, and sharing of best practices at all levels. The framework should guide:  

• communications and visibility plan  

• branding  

• Information sharing and content gathering  

Risk Assessment and Management: Review the risk management framework for the programme. Key components of the framework include risk identification, analysis, review, and risk reporting tools.  

Grievance and Complaints Mechanisms: Review/refine a mechanism for handling grievances relating to the entire programme. The grievance and case management mechanism should include the mode of receiving and publishing grievances, eligible grievances and procedures for grievance resolution, grievance templates, update process and tools, and any other relevant information.  

Complimentary Programmes: Review of the payments and G&CM processes related to other KSEIP programmes including Nutrition Improvement through Cash and Health Education (NICHE), Universal Child Benefits (UCB), and Economic Inclusion Programme (EIP).  

Complimentary Programmes: Review of the payments and G&CM processes related to other KSEIP programmes including Nutrition Improvement through Cash and Health Education (NICHE), Universal Child Benefits (UCB), and Economic Inclusion Programme (EIP).  

Work Assignment Overview  

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:  

• A master’s degree in international development or any other field relevant to the assignment  

• At least ten (10) years of experience in institutional operations consultancy services preferably with the United Nations (UN) or International NGOs (INGOs)  

• Demonstrated experience in cash transfer programme design and operations  

• Proven experience in developing Operational Manuals, especially for cash transfer programmes  

• Understanding of the Government of Kenya (national and county governments) operational policies and procedures  

• Experience working with the State Department of Social Protection (SDSP) or NSNP programmes  

• Knowledge and experience on age and gender issues would be a plus  

• Experience in multi-institutional and multi-donor funded programmes is an added advantage  

Conditions  

As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is 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 advances purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

Consultants are responsible for determining and meeting their tax or duty liabilities in accordance with local or other applicable laws. UNICEF does not issue statements of earnings to consultants.  

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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.  

How to apply  

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV or P11 form, and their technical and financial proposals to the online recruitment portal (Talent Management System). Interested candidates are to indicate their ability, availability, and rate (daily/monthly) expressed in KES to undertake the terms of reference. The fees should be inclusive of other costs incurred such as travel, communication costs, etc. Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered.  

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.   

Remarks:    

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.   

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.   

Advertised: 15 Oct 2024 E. Africa Standard Time  

Deadline: 21 Oct 2024 E. Africa Standard Time