Country: Kyrgyzstan
Closing date: 23 Mar 2018
Background:
Enabling children and youth to participate on issues that matter to them and making sure that their voices are heard and acted upon are among UNICEF’s strategies in promoting their rights. The Programme models various instruments and strategies in promoting such child and youth engagement. They vary from social entrepreneurship, formalized self-governances and youth-centered work to innovative arts, sports, technology and digital engagement. Current consultancy will help strengthening M-report, text and SMS-based instrument through drawing from global digital opportunities as well as through linking to the national policy frameworks.
M-report, a user-centered social monitoring tool implemented in partnership with National Institute for Strategic Studies under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (NISS). The tool is run through simple and free text and SMS-based surveys among young people and children. They are directly questioned through SMS polls on issues regarding them and their future. Web platforms http://mreport.kg and http://mnenie.kg, are part of the M-report infrastructure, which accommodates information, data and analysis resulting from the polls and shares the results with the community. It is meant to facilitate government’s and civil society’s awareness on possible gaps and opportunities in youth’s and children’s wellbeing and livelihood. This innovation is designed to strengthen youth-led development and enhance engagement in planning and decision-making processes.Â
The process of M-Report involves 1) creating awareness among relevant stakeholders on unresolved, priority areas to fill knowledge gaps and assist in reporting; 2) Providing proper resources and infrastructure for advocacy and lobbying; 3) Policy review and change.
Within two years, the subscriber base has reached 5,300, with approximately 1,000 respondents participating in a poll on average. The consultancy under this ToR will help identifying and implementing a sustainability strategy which include increasing response rate, change in policies as a result of the polls, low cost of SMS, improved feedback exchange with users. The consultant will propose steps to improve the image of M-Report, by moving from the custom programming based M-Report platform to the widely successful Rapid Pro based platform. This would not only increase the potential of the project to secure additional funding, but also increase the versatility of the tool. Among the new capabilities most importantly it would add the user feedback mechanism. Helping to explore the links of the instrument to newly emerging reform-oriented endeavors such as Taza Koom, Open Government and Open Data is another area for current consultancy.
Objective/purpose of the consultancy/services
To explore and implement transition of the M-report to the international platform of Rapid Pro and facilitate its integration to the national strategies of digitalized social accountability.
Scope of work and key tasks:
Under the guidance of the UNICEF Adolescent Development Officer fulfill the following tasks:
Expected outcomes/Deliverables and Work Plan
The Consultant is expected to complete following deliverables to meet the above-mentioned tasks:
No
Tasks
Deliverables
Timeline and
Payment
1.
Explore M-report transition to Rapid Pro platform
May 4th
20% of the amount
2.
Identify and implement Strategies for expansion of respondent base and increasing the retention rate
June 8th
15% of the amount
3.
Piloted M-report as a community monitoring mechanism for social services at the municipality level, as well as those pertaining to national digitalized governance initiatives
July 9th
30% of the amount
4.
Integrated M-report to local digitalized social accountability frameworks
August 24th
35% of the amount
Duty station and official travel involved
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan with possible overall three trips to Chui (up to 2 days), Osh (up to 3 days) and Jalalabad (up to 3 days) provinces. Other trips may be planned if needed.
Payment Terms
As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor shall follow the best value for money principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.
The consultant / individual contractors are required to indicate their all-inclusive fees (including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable) for the services to be provided.
If UNICEF determines that the Consultant needs to travel in order to perform his or her assignment that travel shall be specified in the contract. In cases where travel costs have not been set out in the individual contract, the consultant is expected to submit, within ten days of completion of a specific travel, a voucher for reimbursement of travel expenses to the appropriate Operations / Human Resources manager.
Reimbursements shall only be processed if travel was duly authorized in the individual contract or by an authorized manager of the contracting division or office, in writing and prior to the travel. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance.
Daily subsistence allowance costs for field visits shall not exceed the DSA rates as per Interoffice memo on harmonized inter oblast DSA rates recommended for project personnel, local consultants, experts and national implementing partners.
Consultants and individual contractors traveling on behalf of UNICEF must meet the standard trip prerequisites, including but not limited to Medical Clearance, Security Clearance through the Travel Request Information Process (TRIP) system, the Basic and Advanced Security in the Field Trainings, Travel Visa, and liability waiver (see Annex 1). Trip prerequisites will be met at the expense of the consultant.
The Consultant will be paid upon submission of progress reports reflecting successful completion of the above deliverables.
Duration: From 9 April 2018 through 24 August 2018
Reporting and supervision: The Consultant reports directly to UNICEF Adolescent Development Officer
Selection/Qualification requirements
Master degree in Economics, Business Administration, Social Sciences or other related field
Previous experience with highly customized mobile services with web-based dashboards
At least two-year work experience with large-scale data collection, managing complex workflows, and automating data analysis
Fluency in oral and written English, Russian and Kyrgyz languages
Experience working with UN or in multi-sectoral and multi-cultural environment
Performance indicators
How to apply:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=511540