Consultant(UN Children's Fund)-Job vacancies in USA

Job title:Consultant To Support Capacity Building, Monitoring and Knowledge Management for Sanitation, Hygiene and WASH in Schools
Organization: UN Children's Fund
Job Location: United States of America
Deadline: 18 Feb 2014
TERMS OF REFERENCE:
CONSULTANT TO SUPPORT CAPACITY BUILDING, MONITORING AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FOR SANITATION, HYGIENE AND WASH IN SCHOOLS, WASH SECTION
I. Background
Increasing the equitable access to and use of safe water and basic sanitation services and improved hygiene practices will reduce child mortality, improve health and education outcomes, and contribute to reduced poverty and sustainable development as a whole. Yet fulfilling every child’s right to water, sanitation and hygiene education remains a major challenge for policymakers, school administrators and communities in many countries. Globally, over a billion people practice open defecation, and in a group of surveyed developing countries, less than half of primary schools have access to safe water and just over a third have adequate sanitation.

In 2012, eliminating the practice of open defecation was recognized as an organizational priority. To support this aim, UNICEF is implementing Community Approaches to Total Sanitation (CATS) in more than 50 countries. CATS is an umbrella term developed by UNICEF to encompass a wide range of community-based sanitation programming (including CLTS, SLTS, TSC), all of which aim to eliminate open defecation in communities around the world. Handwashing with soap after defecation is increasing being promoted as an integral component of CATS, and are complemented by broader handwashing behavior change campaigns.

In 2013, UNICEF, in collaboration with GIZ developed the “Field Guide: Three Star Approach for WASH in Schools” to improve the effectiveness of hygiene behavior change programmes for children. The approach ensures that healthy habits are taught, practiced and integrated in to daily school routines. The Three Star approach helps schools meet the essential criteria for a healthy and protective school environment for children as part of the broader child friendly schools initiative. It aims to address the bottlenecks that block the effectiveness and expansion of current WASH in Schools programmes.

II. Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the Toilet Team (WASH Section) to develop the capacity of UNICEF Country offices and partners for sanitation, hygiene and WASH in Schools programming, and to monitor and document implementation.

III. Duty Station and duration

The consultant will be based and hired locally in NY and will work for 110 days between 1st March and 24th December 2014.

IV. Activities, outputs, duration and deadlines

The consultant is expected to:
    Provide logistical, technical, communication support to implementation of capacity building activities for sanitation, hygiene and WASH in Schools with UNICEF Country offices and partners. Estimated work load per month is (7 days a month * 10 months = Total 70 days)
    a. Support development of training packages (online and face-to-face): Development of agenda, power-point presentations, manage online discussions (using Lynx software), initial and end line surveys for trainings etc.

    Map and monitor implementation, and support documentation of CATS, HWWS, and WinS Three Star Approach (12 days a month * 10 months = Total 120 days)
    a. Map out UNICEF country offices implementing CATS, HHWS and WinS programmes.
    b. Organize the logistics and content of monthly exchanges (using Lynx, Skype, etc) between the HQ/ROs/COs.
    c. Keep and disseminate minutes of the monthly exchanges to ensure constant communication.
    d. Gather relevant updates from our regional and country offices through email communication/website search etc. and place them on the UNICEF website.
    e. Support country offices in writing up case studies on their CATS, HWWS and WinS programmes.
    f. Support revision and update of sector field notes and publications based on inputs from COs and partners.

    Maintain Toilet Team & WASH in Schools presence on the internet and intranet (2 days a month * 10 months = Total 20 days)
    a. Contribute postings to relevant blogs, communities of practice, (facebook, twitter blogs) etc.
    b. Update website using RedDot and adding new stories each month to the site.

Time Table
Between 1st March – 24th December 2014
Deliverables Duration
(Estimated # of days) Deadline
A. Provide logistical, technical, communication support to implementation of capacity building activities for sanitation, hygiene and WASH in Schools with UNICEF Country offices and partners. 70 days by end of December 2014
Training packages for orientation, advocacy on implementation of CATS, HWWS, WinS Three Star Approach developed. 40 May
Online training sessions successfully held with UNICEF Country Offices and partners (three days a month for 8 months) 24 On-going
Initial and end line surveys conducted for each training package 6 May / December
B. Map and monitor implementation, and support documentation of CATS, HWWS, and WinS Three Star Approach 120 days by end of December 2014
UNICEF country offices implementing CATS, HWWS and WinS programmes mapped 20 June / December
10 country case studies (one case study per month) 50 December
Inputs for revision and update of CATS Field Notes and WinS Three Star Package compiled. 20 August
Revised CATS Field Note and WinS Three Star Package revised, updated and disseminated. 30 December
C. Maintain Toilet Team & WASH in Schools presence on the internet and intranet 20 days by end of December 2014
Toilet Team and WASH in Schools micro-sites kept up-to-date (one day a month for 10 months) 10 On-going
Maintain WASH in Schools presence in Social media (one day a month for 10 months) 10 On-going

V. Key Skills and Experience required
Minimum relevant working experience of 5 years
Advanced University degree in engineering, public health or social sciences
Strong writing skills essential
Good inter-personal and communication skills
Experience with developing advocacy, communications and/or training materials
Experience with website management
Understanding of the work of the UN, and UNICEF would be an advantage.

General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors

Legal Status:
The individual engaged by UNICEF under this contract as a consultant or individual contractors (the “Contractor”) is engaged in a personal capacity and not as representatives of a Government or of any other entity external to the United Nations. The Contractor is neither a “staff member” under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor an “official” for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946. The Contractor may, however, be afforded the status of “Experts on Mission” in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention and the Contractor is required by UNICEF to travel in order to fulfill the requirements of this contract, the Contractor may be issued a United Nations Certificate in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.

Obligations:
The Contractor shall complete the assignment set out in the Terms of Reference for this contract with due diligence, efficiency and economy, in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices.

The Contractor must respect the impartiality and independence of UNICEF and the United Nations and in connection with this contract must neither seek nor accept instructions from anyone other than UNICEF. During the term of this contract the Contractor must refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF or the United Nations and must not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF. The Contractor must exercise the utmost discretion in all matters relating to this contract.

In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, the Contractor (a) will conduct him- or herself in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service; and (b) will comply with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICE relating to fraud and corruption; information disclosure; use of electronic communication assets; harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority; and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.

Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, the Contractor must not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other entity external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to the Contractor by reason of his or her association with UNICEF or the United Nations. The Contractor may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF, and shall under no circumstances use such information for his or her private advantage or that of others. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of this contact.

Title rights:
UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract. At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights.

Travel:
If UNICEF determines that the Contractor needs to travel in order to perform this contract, that travel shall be specified in the contract and the Contractor’s travel costs shall be set out in the contract, on the following basis:
(a) UNICEF will pay for travel in economy class via the most direct and economical route; provided however that in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons, travel in business class may be approved by UNICEF on a case-by-case basis.
(b) UNICEF will reimburse the Contractor for out-of-pocket expenses associated with such travel by paying an amount equivalent to the daily subsistence allowance that would be paid to staff members undertaking similar travel for official purposes.

Statement of good health:
Before commencing work, the Contractor must deliver to UNICEF a certified self-statement of good health and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement. In addition, the Contractor must include in this statement of good health (a) confirmation that he or she has been informed regarding inoculations required for him or her to receive, at his or her own cost and from his or her own medical practitioner or other party, for travel to the country or countries to which travel is authorized; and (b) a statement he or she is covered by medical/health insurance and that, if required to travel beyond commuting distance from his or her usual place or residence to UNICEF (other than to duty station(s) with hardship ratings “H” and “A”, a list of which has been provided to the Contractor) the Contractor’s medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations. The Contractor will be responsible for assuming all costs that may be occurred in relation to the statement of good health.

Insurance:
The Contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of this contract as he or she considers appropriate taking into account, among other things, the requirements of paragraph 5 above. The Contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members. The responsibility of UNICEF and the United Nations is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below.

Service incurred death, injury or illness:
If the Contractor is travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF’s expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or is performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval, the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate), shall be entitled to compensation from UNICEF in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the fact that the Contractor was travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF’s expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contractor, or was performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval. Such compensation will be paid through a third party insurance provider retained by UNICEF and shall be capped at the amounts set out in the Administrative Instruction on Individual Consultants and Contractors. Under no circumstances will UNICEF be liable for any other or greater payments to the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate).

Arbitration:
(a) Any dispute arising out of or, in connection with, this contract shall be resolved through amicable negotiation between the parties.
(b) If the parties are not able to reach agreement after attempting amicable negotiation for a period of thirty (30) days after one party has notified the other of such a dispute, either party may submit the matter to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL procedures within fifteen (15) days thereafter. If neither party submits the matter for arbitration within the specified time the dispute will be deemed resolved to the full satisfaction of both parties. Such arbitration shall take place in New York before a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties; provided however that should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, the arbitrator shall be designated by the United Nations Legal Counsel. The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute.

Penalties for Underperformance:
Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contractor, including each installment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor’s full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF’s satisfaction, and UNICEF’s certification to that effect.

Termination of Contract:
This contract may be terminated by either party before its specified termination date by giving notice in writing to the other party. The period of notice shall be five (5) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two (2) months and ten (10) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of impropriety or other misconduct by the Contractor (including but not limited to breach by the Contractor of relevant UNICEF policies, procedures, and administrative instructions), UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. If this contract is terminated in accordance with this paragraph 10, the Contractor shall be paid on a pro rata basis determined by UNICEF for the actual amount of work performed to UNICEF’s satisfaction at the time of termination. UNICEF will also pay any outstanding reimbursement claims related to travel by the Contractor. Any additional costs incurred by UNICEF resulting from the termination of the contract by either party may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the Contractor under this paragraph 10.

Taxation:
UNICEF and the United Nations accept no liability for any taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant and individual contractor on payments made under this contract. Neither UNICEF nor the United Nations will issue a statement of earnings to the consultant and individual contractor

How to apply:
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and signed P11 form (which can be downloaded from our website , to pdconsultants@unicef.org with subject line “Consultant to support Capacity Building, Monitoring & Knowledge Management for Sanitation, Hygiene, & WASH in schools” by 18 February 2014. 5:00 pm New York time. Please indicate your ability, availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above.
Applications submitted without a daily (or monthly) rate, or without a methodology, will not be considered.