Justification
Based in the UNICEF Nairobi Office, the proposed position will support Outcome 6 of the country programme, specifically Output 2 which deals with strengthening linkages between social protection interventions and child centred outcomes, together with elements of county coordination and capacity building under Output 3.
Kenya is currently undertaking a significant scale up and expansion of social protection programming in response to the National Social Protection Policy, approved in 2012. Over the next three years Government plans to expand and harmonize existing social cash transfers from current coverage of around 500,000 households to over one million households. At the same time, management, targeting, payments, complaints, and monitoring and evaluation will be harmonized from the current five main transfers into a unified system, and a mechanism for scaleability in response to shocks and crises will be developed.
In January 2015 UNICEF supported the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Services to convene the first Kenya Social Protection Conference Week. The outcome of this event was a Joint Call to Action including commitments towards the development of an integrated social protection system, including enhancing links between social cash transfers and other complementary social services for the most vulnerable including children. International evidence shows that integrated services significantly enhance the impact of social protection programming, making them more effective in improving children’s life chances and addressing children’s economic and social rights. UNICEF’s rolling workplan includes the development of four models:
• A model linking cash transfer payments to improved use of antenatal, maternity, newborn and infant health services in Kakamega county (Oparanya Care)
• A model linking cash transfer payments with nutrition services to improve nutritional outcomes in Kitui county
• A model of enhanced case management and referral of vulnerable children with a range of services including protection, health and education, potentially in Turkana county
• A model supporting graduation of vulnerable adolescents from cash transfers into employment through life skills and empowerment interventions in Kisumu county
The position will continue support to Kakamega County, District, Facility, and community levels for the programme response in ‘Setting the Foundation in the First 1000 Days of Life – Accelerating Maternal and Child Survival in Kakamega County’. This support will particularly guide the expansion / roll out of the programme, documentation and learning, and the baseline and panel survey of beneficiaries for evidence gathering.
Design for the Kitui nutrition model has commenced and the position will be responsible for development and management of the implementing partnership including establishing a PCA, stakeholder liaison, PCA monitoring and HACT.
As part of the protective environment UNICEF Outcome teams on Social protection and Child protection and HIV will work together to support development of a model for enhanced social protection case management for the most vulnerable children in Turkana county. The position will be responsible for contributing to the design process for this model, including supporting stakeholder consultations and partnership management.
UNICEF will also support the development of enhanced integrated mechanisms to assist vulnerable young people as they exit from the Orphans and Vulnerable Children cash transfer in Kisumu and potentially other counties. The position will be responsible for contributing to the design process, establishing implementing partnerships and monitoring progress of implementation.
A further systemic issue as the social protection system expands is Kenya’s ongoing devolution process. Although social protection is designated as a national government function, there is already significant social protection activity at county level (both the national government programmes and nongovernment programmes), as well as social protection programmes initiated by some county governments. Government has identified a need for enhanced co-ordination at county level and through the development of guidelines for county governments and a mechanism for delegation. As part of the UNDAF programming framework for Outcome 2.4, UNICEF is supporting government in reviewing the current status of co-ordination, assessing capacity building requirements for management and coordination of social protection in counties, developing appropriate guidance on co-ordination mechanisms and instruments, and supporting capacity development in a select number of counties.
Scope of Work
Under the guidance of the Social Policy (Social Protection) Specialist, and in full collaboration with the Protective Environment, Communication for Development, and Nutrition Outcome teams, the heads of the UNICEF Zonal offices in Kisumu and Turkana, and with focal staff from the respective county governments, the support through this contract will:
Kakamega
• Oversee the baseline study and panel cohort study (dependent on timeframe), and dissemination of results
• Support co-ordination and harmonization of social protection initiatives at county level and coordination between county and national government initiatives as required
• Input to workplans, technical committee reports and reviews as required
Kitui
• Support the progress of the agreed design to implementation including call for proposals, assessment and development of PCA
• Act as county focal point for social protection for UNICEF in Kitui county
• Provide ongoing management and monitoring of PCA implementation, field monitoring and HACT management
Turkana
• Coordinate the county level design phase of the model, including planning, stakeholder engagement, field programmes, and oversight of design missions in county
• Act as county focal point for social protection for UNICEF
• Support the progress of designs to implementation including call for proposals, assessment and development of PCA
Kisumu
• Coordinate the county level design phase of the model, including planning, stakeholder engagement, field programmes, and oversight of design missions in county
• Act as county focal point for social protection for UNICEF
• Support the progress of designs to implementation including call for proposals, assessment and development of PCA
Support to social protection co-ordination at county levels
• Oversee the implementation of a study to assess the programmes operating and the level of co-ordination of social protection programming in all counties in Kenya
• Oversee the presentation of results of the study in national, county and UNDAF fora
• Oversee the development of guidance on county level co-ordination and on county guidelines for social protection programming, and a training programme / capacity building module for county level social protection actors
• Participate in Joint Social protection review missions
RWP areas covered
Outcome 6: By 2018, social protection mechanisms and systems forvulnerable children and adolescents are integrated, adequately resourced, coordinated and sustainablein regular and emergency situations
Output 2: Improved linkages between social protection and services to address child vulnerabilities modelled and evidence generated
Activities
• Modelling of social protection links with maternal and child health (Kakamega)
• Modelling of social protection links with young child nutrition (Kitui);
• Modelling of social protection links with child protection / case management (Turkana);
• Modelling of social protection links with youth empowerment / graduation (Kisumu)
Output 3: Capacity of national and county governments developed for co-ordination, harmonization, and emergency response of social assistance linked to child vulnerability
Activities
• Technical assistance to county co-ordination mechanisms in select counties based on modelling
Expected Deliverables
Monthly progress report highlighting results against workplan outputs 12 – Narrative
Workplan for the design process for Turkana and Kisumu models 2 Excel sheet with activities, responsibilities and input requirements
Monitoring reports of Panel survey progress (Kakamega) 1 Narrative / trip report
Call for proposals, proposal assessment and PCA documentation for submission to PCARC for Kitui, Turkana and Kisumu models 3 Approved formats as per PCA guidance and KCO SoPs;
Field monitoring reports from Kakamega, Kitui, Kisumu and Turkana (per site) 2 Office approved format; Validation and dissemination of study on programme coverage and co-ordination mechanisms for 47 counties; and county co-ordination guidelines 2 Reports of validation meetings;
PCA management documentation: regular monitoring reports, liquidations on file As detailed in PCAs As detailed in PCAS, maintained on file;
Inputs to Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual review processes As required As required
Desired background and experience
Education
• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, or other relevant disciplines and background in social policy, planning and evaluation.
Work Experience
• Five years of relevant professional work experience with related areas social transfers, evaluation and research for vulnerable populations of children, pregnant/lactating women.
• Field work experience
• Background/familiarity with Emergency.
Language Proficiency
• Fluency in English and another UN language. Knowledge of the local working language of the duty station an asset.
**. Competecies:**
i) Core Values (Required)
• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity
ii) Core Competencies (Required)
• Communication [ II ]
• Working with People [ II ]
• Drive for Results [ II ]
iii) Functional Competencies (Required)
• Leading and Supervising [ II ]
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts [ II ]
• Analyzing [ III]
• Relating and Networking [ II ]
• Persuading and Influencing [ II ]
• Planning and Organizing [ III ]
Other Skills:
Knowledge of the agencies and mandates of the UN system. Ability to work in an international or multicultural environment.
Experience with data collection and analysis. Fully proficient computer skills including use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, internal databases, Internet navigation etc.
Conditions (Important)
The contract will be a Temporary Appointment. Salaries and benefits will follow UNICEF regulations for NOC level positions
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested and suitable candidates should ensure they forward their applications along with their curriculum vitae, P-11 form (visit : http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc) – (Internal candidates should attach copies of their last two Performance Evaluation Reports), to:
The Human Resources Manager
UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Email address: kenhrvacanciesB@unicef.org
Please indicate Reference No. “KCO/SP/2015-020” in the email subject.