Tanzania is at a
critical juncture in its history, which makes accelerating progress in social
inclusion a clear need. Over the next 10-15 years, the largest ever youth
population will enter their economically productive years. Further, the country
is on the verge of reaching middle income status with a strong political will
to achieve rapid industrialization. Yet, the future workforce that Tanzania is
relying on to achieve its vision, consists today of a significant share of
children who are affected by monetary and non-monetary poverty.
The Government
Five-Year Development Plan (2016-2021) – FYDP II, which will also constitute
the SDGs implementation plan for Tanzania, is under finalization and will come
into effect on 1st July 2016. Strongly engaging in its operationalization will
prove critical to ensure adequate investments in children are made and an
equity perspective to development is mainstreamed across sectors. With
industrialization firmly put at the center of the current national discourse,
it is paramount to ensure that child rights fulfillment and human capital
development are recognized as key pre-conditions for achieving the desired
economic transformation, and therefore assigned clear priority.
Research plays a
critical role in generating high quality evidence that can support policy,
programming and advocacy for children; identifying and analyzing emerging and
strategic issues for children; and contributing to global knowledge on
children. Recognizing the strategic importance of producing quality research
findings through high integrity research processes, UNICEF has put in place a
research policy complemented by procedures, guidelines and reference materials
which together contribute to a more unified approach to research within the
organization. The regional office of UNICEF in Eastern and Southern Africa has
also developed a Regional Research Strategy and Action Plan for 2015-2017 with
specific deliverables for country offices. Due to the decentralized research
function with country offices responsible for implementing their own research
activities while ensuring quality and integrity of the process, strengthening
country office research capacity is essential.
In this context, the
TCO Social Inclusion Programme (2016-2021) will implement an integrated
strategy where strategic evidence on monetary and non-monetary child poverty
informs efforts to enhance quantity and quality of investments in child
well-being, in both Mainland and Zanzibar, complemented by strategic research
and evaluations from programme sections. In order to kick-start the SPRME
ambitious programme for 2016-17, in the context where the section remains
understaffed with a vacant Chief post, additional support is necessary with the
following strategic focus:
Public Finance for
Children (PF4C): Addressing child poverty in all its forms, as per SDG 1,
requires adequate, efficient, effective and equitable public spending. In this
light, UNICEF SPRME intends to support the establishment of a government-led
mechanism to measure, track and report on child-focused budget provisions and
expenditure. SPRME will also support UNICEF programme sections and
correspondent sector ministries to assess quantity and quality of national and
sub-national public spending, as well as engage in the budget cycle at large to
ensure enhanced investments in children, in both Mainland and Zanzibar.
Research and Evaluation: SPRME section spearheads a dynamic programme of
research and analysis on child poverty and emerging issues such as
urbanization. At the same time, the section is also supporting the
strengthening of the Country Office research and evaluation capacity. Key
priorities will include arranging internal training for UNICEF staff on how to
better manage research and evaluation as well as hands-on coaching, supporting
and quality assuring specific researches and evaluations. Furthermore, in line
with the Regional Research Strategy and Agenda for UNICEF in Eastern and Southern
Africa 2015-2017 Action Plan, the office will need assistance to set up
innovative systems for monitoring the use and uptake of its research findings.
Evaluation and the SDGs: in order to achieve the ambitious SDG agenda, it is
essential to ensure a strong national evaluation culture for evidence
generation. UNICEF will in this context continue collaborating with the
Tanzania Evaluation Association (TanEA) to enhance strategic planning for
evaluation under the SDG agenda and strengthening the national evaluation
capacity.
It is against this
background that UNICEF Tanzania Country Office is seeking a dynamic and
experienced Social Policy Consultant (International) to support the SPRME
Section to provide support in the above mentioned areas.
Specific Tasks
Under the supervision of the OIC SPRME Chief at UNICEF Tanzania, the consultant
will support planning and timely delivery of the following activities:
1. Public Finance for Children (PF4C) in both Mainland and Zanzibar:
Ø Establishing (planning and implementing) a government-led mechanism to
measure, track and report on child-focused budget provisions and expenditure.
Specifically, the consultant will be leading and coordinating country piloting
of a context-specific measurement of child-focused public expenditure.
Ø Support UNICEF programme sections to plan and engage (or strengthen) public
finance work, including (but not limited to) further strengthening capacity
building on planning and budgeting for child protection, nutrition and social
protection at national and sub-national levels (building on the existing
partnership and collaboration with MoF/Budget Department to include the above
in their regular training curriculum); supporting UNICEF nutrition team in the
preparation of an updated Public Expenditure Review; produce updated budget
briefs.
2. Research and Evaluation:
Ø Provide technical support for the implementation of key deliverables and
actions under the Regional Research Strategy and Agenda for UNICEF in Eastern
and Southern Africa 2015-2017 Action Plan, including (but not limited to)
setting up systems for monitoring the use and uptake of research findings,
mapping of in-country research/evaluation capacity and developing formats for
research briefs.
Ø Provide technical support for the country office research and evaluation
work, including conducting staff training on research and evaluation
management, and reviewing and quality assuring programme sections’ research and
evaluation activities.
Ø Technical support for strengthening the national evaluation culture,
including (but not limited to) supporting TanEA revision of strategic plan for
strengthening evaluation in the SDG agenda.
Expected Deliverables
UNICEF SPRME’s work
on public finance for children and research/ evaluation boosted as a result of
technical support to planning, delivery, management and coordination of
activities, in both Mainland and Zanzibar. Specifically:
§ Context-specific measurement of child-focused public expenditure defined
through a government-owned process.
§ PER Nutrition planning phase and preparation completed.
§ Enhanced capacity of programme sections on PF4C through internal staff
training and mapping of strategic entry points by sector.
§ Strengthened capacity of government staff at national and sub-national level
in planning and budgeting for child protection, nutrition, social protection
and other priority areas through collaboration with MoFP / Budget Department
and PO-RALG to enhance relevant training modules.
§ Sector ministries supported in annual budget submissions.
§ Updated Budget Briefs for all social sectors.
§ Operational research and pilots around innovative social protection
approaches conducted.
§ Strengthened capacity of country office staff to manage research and
evaluations through training and coaching.
§ Technical support and quality assurance provided to country office research
and evaluation activities.
§ Innovative system for monitoring use of research findings developed and
implemented.
§ Key actions and deliverables under the Regional Research Strategy and Agenda
for UNICEF in Eastern and Southern Africa 2015-2017 Action Plan effectively
supported and implemented.
§ Technical support provided to strategic plan for national evaluation system
strengthening and related activities.
Expected Qualification
and Experience
§ Advanced university degree in Economics, preferably PhD.
§ At least eight (8) years progressively responsible professional work
experience at the national and international levels in public financial
management, research and evaluation. Experience working with government is a
must.
§ Dynamism and excellent coordination, problem-solving and partnership building
skills are required.
§ Good communication, facilitation and negotiation skills including running
training and facilitating workshops are required.
§ Strong analytical and writing skills requested.
§ Knowledge of Kiswahili is an asset.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applications should be directed to: hr.tanzania@unicef.org by 11 July 2016
