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, a Champion!

Considering the need to UNICEF remain relevant, impactful, agile and effective in a changing policy environment, including but not limited to an accelerated process of EU accession, complex social/political/economic/policy space, new donor environment, UNICEF Albania Country Office needs to further strengthen its positioning with increased support in policy discussions and analysis, relevant evidence-building, data collection, reporting, monitoring of trends, assessing interventions and sharing experiences on child rights and child development programmes.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Albania wishes to engage high-calibre candidates to support strategic positioning, foresight, structuring high level evidence and context-based policy discussions, production of regularly analysis on policy changes and support to the flagship programs of the government and UNICEF Albania. The modality of the engagement will be a Long-Term Arrangement (LTA) to facilitate and expedite the process by which the UNICEF Office Management will engage these advisors/consultants to deliver on the below area of expertise:

1. Provide strategic advice to ongoing evidence generation and implementation activities being undertaken by UNICEF and orient these towards optimum policy formulation for children
2. Advise and guide the Senior Management Team, Section Chiefs on ways in which UNICEF can strengthen its policy influence relating to acceleration of progress towards the SDGs and EU accession.
3. Conduct and support policy analysis and create opportunities for advocacy with parliamentarians, government, academic institutions, CSO, Corporates etc. including in but not limited to the areas on Public Finance, Local Governance, Partnership with IFIs, Shock Responsive Social Protection, Cash Plus Social Protection Programmes, Education and other areas relevant to UNICEF programming.
4. Provide strategic advice and guidelines on engagement in public (and private) financing for children
5. Support the CO in planning and program design exercises.

The Advisor/consultant will also use his or her considerable analytical skills and network/membership of high-level policy bodies and think tanks to raise issues relating to children and to advocate lessons of best practice at these fora.

MAJOR TASKS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED

1. Monitor developments in technical areas, as well as political and social developments, at the national and sub-national levels.
2. Contribute to knowledge generation by trend analysis in outcome areas, capturing determinants of the trends and their implications for country programming.
3. Develop recommendations, position papers and reports on macro-environment,  including foresights for use by the Representative and Deputy Representative in the development of UNICEF policy agenda and strategy, as and when requested and required by Representative/Senior Management Team.
4. Continue to support the Human capital agenda and provide continuous inputs on how to transform the HC agenda and paper into an implementable instrument for programming and further advocacy
5. Develop partnership papers for IFIs by identifying entry points for increased cooperation, including positioning UNICEF in WB Growth Plan /Reform Agenda
6. Develop knowledge products for Program reviews of UNICEF Albania, including identify trends in recently approved CPDs (at least one learning paper based on 12 countries that are presenting new Country programs to UNICEF Executive Board understanding what is happening collectively, see the patterns, benefit from accumulated work/knowledge of CPD countries, define and learn common trend)
7. Upon request from SMT, support the convening and structuring of discussion foras with senior Government Officials and other relevant stakeholders with the purpose of advocacy, generating debate and building consensus on issues pertinent on child rights in Albania.
8. Support scoping activities and the development of “bankable” projects, programmes, or approaches, including multi-country or sub-regional initiatives with a technically sound design and a clear potential to leverage resources (public and private, including innovative finance and PPPs) to support implementation.

Responsibilities of the consultant:

1. The consultant will use their own equipment; laptops, microphones, software and other accessories that may be required for this task.
2. The consultant will not give the content/material or any part thereof, to any third party without the written permission of UNICEF. All components will be the property of UNICEF, and the consultant will not share the same with anyone else.
3. The consultant will not put their own name or logo/emblem on the content / final product. The only organization branding will be UNICEF, if required.

Responsibilities of UNICEF:

1. UNICEF will provide all details pertaining to the activity and the requirements.
2. UNICEF will orient the consultant on UNICEF’s branding guidelines.

 Main Deliverables and Deadlines

The Senior Policy Consultant(s) would be responsible for providing technical support to UNICEF in Albania. The Supervisor of the consultant that will be chosen to undertake assignment as part of the LTA will be the Deputy Representative of UNICEF Albania CO.

ESTIMATED DURATION OF the LTA 

The Long-Term Arrangements (LTA) are expected to have a duration of 3 years. This initial LTA would be for two years with an option for renewal for a subsequent year subject to satisfactory performance evaluation and continuing need for the service. The fee rates will be fixed for the first two years.

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

• Advanced university degree in International Relations, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Economics, Public Policy, Statistics, Communications, or related areas.
• Possesses expert knowledge and advanced concepts on development issues social policy, policy analysis and formulation; especially as they pertain to children, adolescents and women.
• Has 15-20 years of proven experience working with high-level government, UN, bilateral and multilateral agencies on formulation and influencing policy issues concerning children and adolescents involving core domain of UNICEF programming (survival, growth and development, protection etc.).
• Ability to apply required depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise in social and economic policy and development issues to support UNICEF Programme; with strong analytical skills and the ability to advise on high quality research including statistical analysis.
• Ability to analyse from a global perspective to offer practical policy advice on socio-economic issues based on local realities, effective working relationships with governmental, non-governmental and civil society organizations.
• Language: Excellent written and verbal English and Albanian skills required

CONTRACTS CREATED AGAINST THE LTA:

Whenever services of the expert are required, details of the requirement/deliverables including quantities and deadlines will be presented to the top-ranking LTA holder. Should this consultant not be available for this assignment, UNICEF will contact the second ranked consultant and so on.

Upon receipt of confirmation of availability and interest in the assignment, a contract will be issued with the prices/fees agreed in the LTA. The consultant must sign the contract prior to the commencement of work. Payment will be made after completion of deliverables and submission of invoices for the actual work completed, subject to satisfactory performance.

How to Apply

The application to be submitted through the online portal should contain the separate attachments as below:

• A Cover letter explaining the motivation for applying and explaining how the qualifications and skillset of the candidate are relevant for the required role.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Three Work Samples or links of your professional work
• A financial proposal indicating professional fee (daily fee in ALL inclusive of all taxes).

Please make sure to include both documents indicated above. Otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete and invalid and will not be considered further.

• Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.
• Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.
• Please note, UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the process.
• Female candidates meeting the requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds including persons living with disabilities to apply.

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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.