Background and Justification
The Regional Inter-Agency Task Team on Children and AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa (RIATT-ESA, or simply, ‘the network’) was established in response to the 2006 Global Partners Forum recommendation to establish regional task teams to accelerate commitments to meet the 2001 UNGASS and MDGs (2006 Abuja Declaration) targets and regionalize the mandate and goals of the global IATT on Children and AIDS. RIATT-ESA now works to implement the UN General Assembly’s 2011 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS, harnessing the power of a joint response across regional political and economic bodies, civil society organizations, academia, donors and UN agencies. It seeks to add value to global and regional initiatives including the 2011 HIV and AIDS Investment Framework, the joint UN programme’s strategy (Getting to Zero), and the 2013 Sub-Saharan joint statement on Child Protection System Strengthening. UNICEF ESARO is a member of the RIATT-ESA inter-agency Steering Committee and also performs the role of network Secretariat.
The network implemented a strategy between 2011 and 2014 and currently operates within the scope of a governance, operations and management manual (or simply ‘governance manual’) that was last reviewed in April 2012. In October 2013 RIATT-ESA commissioned a Mid-Term Review (MTR) of its Sweden/NORAD funded project. The MTR recommendations were discussed during a RIATT-ESA partnership forum which took place in December 2013. As a result, it was decided to carry-out a strategic planning workshop to revisit the network’s purpose, structure and performance and inaugurate a new phase in RIATT-ESA’s development.
Guided by the recommendations of the MTR and the partnership forum, the process of preparation leading to the strategic planning meeting (held in June 2014) included the commissioning of a learning paper on “existing similar networks and models: what works and what does not work in practice” and a RIATT-ESA member survey covering a wide range of issues critical to the future of the network. Largely, all of these consultative processes came to the same conclusion: RIATT-ESA would benefit from a streamlined, lighter governance structure and from a clearer description of the roles and responsibilities of its different operational bodies and functions (such as Steering Committee, Secretariat, Programme Management, etc). The strategic planning meeting endorsed this call and proposed an update of the governance manual to reflect the new thematic priorities of the network and lessons learned from its operations over the past years. A Steering Committee meeting held in August accepted UNICEF-ESARO’s offer to lead the process of updating the manual before end of 2014.
An external consultant is being sought to produce an updated governance manual, building on existing documentation and consultations with a small number of stakeholders directly involved in the network’s operations.
Scope of Work
Goal and objective:
Under the supervision of Regional HIV/AIDS Advisor, the consultant will produce a new governance, operations and management manual for RIATT-ESA.
Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered:This assignment falls under Activity “Cultivate and engage partnerships with donors, RECs, networks and civil society to strengthen protection, care and support programmes” in the HIV-AIDS section workplan (WBS 240R/A0/09/001/002/012).
Activities and Tasks:
In order to produce the manual, the consultant is expected to:
· Review all relevant documentation produced by RIATT-ESA during 2013-2014 (meeting minutes, reports, surveys, etc.), extracting all relevant inputs for the revision of the manual;
· Carry-out key-stakeholder interviews (at least 5);
· Produce a brief ‘note for the record’ mapping all the inputs collected from documentation and stakeholder interviews against the proposed changes in the network’s governance and operational structure to ensure proper record is kept of the rationale behind the proposed adjustments;
· Produce an updated RIATT-ESA Governance, Operations and Management Manual;
· Produce a power-point presentation of no more than 10 slides to introduce the new manual to network members;
· Participate in the RIATT-ESA Steering Committee meetings taking place on October 30 (teleconference) and in December 2014 in Johannesburg to present draft and final versions of the manual, respectively.
Work relationships: Consultant will be under the direct supervision of the Regional HIV/AIDS Advisor, who will be work in close collaboration with the Child Protection, Care and Support Specialist.
Outputs/Deliverables:
DeliverableDuration (working days) Deadline and
Payment Schedule Report summarizing outcomes of key stakeholder interviews (maximum 3 pages) 2 October 10. Note for the record with rationale behind adjustments made to the manual (maximum 3 pages) 1 October 20. First draft manual for Steering Committee review (teleconference to be held on October 30) 4 October 20. Second draft of manual 1.5 November 10. Power-point presentation introducing new manual 0.5 November 15. Final draft of manual (maximum 10 pages, electronic Word and PDF formats), after presentation to and final feedback from December Steering Committee meeting 1 December 15.
Final payment upon submission and approval of agreed deliverables TOTAL 10
Payment Schedule
Payment will be a lump sum at the end of the contract upon receipt of invoice, and deliverables that meet UNICEF’s quality standard. If necessary, economy class airfare Johannesburg will be paid for, and Daily Subsistence Allowance paid according to UN rates for the consultant to attend the RIATT-ESA Steering Committee meeting.
Desired competencies, technical background and experience
· Master’s degree in international relations, political science, management or related field with relevant experience in child protection and rights, HIV/AIDS or related health sectors.
· Minimum eight years’ experience in project and programme reporting in disciplines including international development, public policy, global public health. Experience in Africa considered an asset;
· Has highest-level communication skills, including engaging and informative public speaking;
· Strong analytical skills and ability to synthesize and consolide information;
· Proven ability to communicate complex matters in a concise and user-friendly manner;
· Strong writing, editing, reporting skills. Experience in drafting reports, manuals and documenting consultative processes is considered an asset;
· Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment. Ability to work with a range of UN and civil society development partners is considered an asset;
· Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals;
· High-level proficiency in standard computer software, in particular, Microsoft word.
How to apply:
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV, and signed P11 form (which can be downloaded athttp://www.unicef.org/kenya with subject line “Regional Inter-Agency Task Team on Children and AIDS (RIATT-ESA) Consultancy” by cob 29 September 2014, quoting the indicative fee range (Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered) to; esarohrvacancies@unicef.org.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
