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, results

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The aim of this consultancy is to provide technical support to Cuba CO to develop the new CPD 2026 -2030, in alignment with the formulation of new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the same period. The ultimate purpose of the assignment is to count with a CPD document ready to be submitted to the executive board in manner and time as oriented in the UNICEF CPP guidance 2022 and based on the Cuba CPD roadmap.

Scope of Work:

The consultancy aims at a) reviewing and analyzing the evidence generated by the Common Country Analysis (CCA) & Situation Analysis, the Gender Programmatic review (GRP) and other relevant documents; b) support internal and external moments of consultation, reflections to gather information and the proposed scope of the new UNICEF CPD, including during the Strategic Moment of Reflection (SMR); c) drafting, validating and finalizing the Programme Rationale in coordination with de Deputy Representative and M&E Officer and the Regional Office; d) drafting, validating and finalizing the CPD 2026 -2030 in line with the UNSDCF 2026 – 2030. The activities for each deliverable are defined below under tasks and responsibilities.

Evidence analysis based on CCA, situation analyses, GRP and other relevant documents.

This consultancy will be required to support the review and analysis of key evidence and data about children and adolescents (CCA, SITAN, Gender Programmatic review, among other sources) as well as the analysis of good practices, lessons learned, case studies and innovative approaches in furthering child rights. These analyses will contribute to improving the understanding of the status of children and adolescents’ rights to inform the new Country Office´s CPD.

The consultancy will be required to work closely with Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and review documents already prepared synthesizing the evidence, including initial bottleneck analysis conducted already by the CO programme team. The purpose of the review is to identify and prioritizes: – deprivations and child rights violations mirrored by development and humanitarian challenges; – vulnerable and marginalized rights holders.

Strategic moment of reflection Support internal reflection and document the processes.

The consultant is expected to facilitate and document outcomes of internal reflections (within the CO and with the Regional Office) and consultations in relation to designing new Programme strategies subsequently feeding into the CPD. Based on a forward-looking and long-term strategic intent/vision, the SMRs aim at assessing and reflecting on UNICEF’s strategic positioning, comparative advantages and key opportunities and risks to maximize sustained results for children and adolescents for the next 5 years. The foundation of this process are the identification of bottlenecks and deprivations that will be already developed by the CO as part of the RBM training (Sep to Dec 2024). The consultancy will be asked to prepare the concept note for the SMR based on these inputs, to document the reflection, and consolidate the key elements for building the Programme rationale.

Programme Rationale Draft, validation, and finalization of the Programme Rationale

This consultant will join key Country Office meetings and dialogues in a participatory manner, to document and organize the information emerging from discussion, for the drafting of the office-wide Programme Rationale. The programme rationale should include:

• Prioritization of Child Rights deprivations (including visual representation of the deprivation) and identification of related bottlenecks (documented in template)
• Theory of Change (ToC narrative and visual representation documented in template)
• Results Framework (including visual representation documented in template)
• A short narrative (with a max. of 2,000 words) that explains the strategic choices of the CO and describes how circumstances, assumptions and risks have influenced these choices.

Country Programme Document. Drafting, Validation and Finalization of the Cuba CO CPD 2026 -2030

This consultancy will be asked to develop the draft of Cuba CO CPD 2026 -2030, based on the deliberations with CO team, partners, and the Regional Office. To note that the CPD will be developed based on the revised guidance provided by UNICEF in 2022.

Deliverables: 

1. Product 1 Complete Evidence analysis

List of all child deprivations based on a rights perspective, mapping of overall evidence landscape and draft template on macro economic country context.  Timeline end February 2025

2. Product 2 Support strategic moment of reflection

Prioritizes deprivations and identifies underlying bottlenecks for prioritized deprivations. Prioritization of Child Rights deprivations and bottleneck analysis (including visual representation of the deprivation) based on the evidence and consultations. Timeline March 2025

3. Product 3 Draft, validation and finalization of Programme Rationale

Programme Rationale Development (programme component/outcome)

• Proposed Theory of Change (ToC narrative and visual representation)

• Proposed Results Framework (including  visual representation)

• A short narrative (with a max. of 2,000 words) that explains the strategic choices of the CO and describes how circumstances, assumptions and risks have influenced the choices. Timeline May second week 

4. Product 4 Draft, validation and finalization of Cuba Country Programme Document

First draft of CPD

• CPD Draft review with the Regional Office
• Consultative process with partners, including government, children, and adolescents
• Development of the consultation methodology

Timeline 15 August 2025

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s) in Social Sciences, Economics, Law, or similar background

Demonstrated experience, knowledge and skills required for this ToRs.

• At least 10 years of working experience in analysis of social issues, preferably on children and in an international environment (previous experience with similar countries will be an advantage)

• Working experience in UNICEF or another relevant UN-agency will be an advantage.

• Familiarity with child policy, child rights framework and strategic context globally and in Latin American countries

• Proven experience with strong analytical skills and excellent English and Spanish language writing skills

• The individual contracted for this assignment requires to have relevant experience in RBM methodology and development of CPDs for UNICEF COs.

Fluency in Spanish and English required.

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.

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.

Remarks: 

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual 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 not 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

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. 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.