Title of Assignment
Section
Consultancy to Update the Situation Analysis of Children and
Women in the Kingdom of Lesotho
Cross-Sectoral
Location
Duration
Start date
Maseru, Lesotho
11 working weeks over 4 months
UNICEF Lesotho seeks an international individual as well as a national consultant with demonstrated capacities to undertake an equity focused update of the Situation Analysis of
Children and Women in the Kingdom of Lesotho (previously disseminated in 2011).
Background and Justification
To inform and guide the development of its 2013-2017 country programme, UNICEF Lesotho conducted a review of the situation of children and women in the country. The resulting 2011
Situation Analysis of Children and Women in the Kingdom of Lesotho (SitAn Report) was comprehensive in nature and utilized a millennium development goals (MDGs) framework for assessing inequities facing children and women. The SitAn Report facilitated the identification of measures for addressing these and for advancing the rights of children and women in the new country programme.
In preparation for the mid-term review of the country programme in 2015, the Lesotho Country
Office is seeking international and national consultants to conduct a strategic updating of the
SitAn Report with a focus on reflecting changes in the political and socio-economic landscape, emerging trends and data, and the inequities facing children and women across programming priorities. The updated SitAn will serve as reference for critically assessing progress in the delivery of the country programme and will facilitate dialogue with key stakeholders for its improvement.
UNICEF’s country programme is centred on four sub-programmes: Social Policy, Planning,
Monitoring and Evaluation; Health and HIV; Basic Education; and Child Protection. Due emphasis is given to mainstreaming cross-cutting principles and strategies, including but not limited to, gender equality, a human rights based approach to programming, advocacy, communication for development, and capacity development. In addition to evolving political dynamics with potential implications for the country programme and its implementation, each of the sub-programmes have experienced notable progress and shortfalls – all of which need to be assessed during the mid-term review.
UNICEF Lesotho envisages a light but strategic process for reviewing its country programme.
The process is likely to involve a dialogue with select partners and stakeholders as well as
UNICEF’s regional and HQ advisors as appropriate. UNICEF Lesotho will utilize this consultancy to ensure an evidence-based review of the situation of children and women that strengthens its efforts to direct limited resources (both technical and financial) to advance the greatest gains for the most vulnerable women and children through its country programme.
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General and Specific Objectives
The overall objective of the consultancy will be to provide an evidence-based background document that will provide UNICEF Lesotho and its partners with an updated overview of the key factors contributing to and hindering the well-being of and attainment of rights by children and women in Lesotho.
More specifically, the consultancy will:
1.
Review, offer an updated summary and prospective scenarios of the political and socio-
economic context in the country; the assessment will consider progress and shortfalls in child rights and inequities, including potential implications of evolving political dynamics, changes in national policies and the overall enabling environment.
2.
The consultant need to draw out and assess the risks and opportunities in the political
economy analysis and including fiscal space in the country
3.
Provide a strategic update for each of the sub-programmes that summarizes the latest data and trends and offers a summary of progress and remaining bottlenecks for the attainment
of women and children’s rights (see annex for reference questions and considerations); the strategic update of sub-programmes will consider bottlenecks and inequities experiences among groups in the population across key determinants such as the “enabling environment”, “supply”, “demand” and “quality of services”. The consultancy will also review the causality, role pattern and capacity gap analysis underpinning the previous
SitAn and will update these as necessary.
4.
Review key vulnerabilities from life cycle approach- the consultant will be required to assess the vulnerabilities related to various stages of life, from the conceptual stage to old age stage
5.
Review and summarize the utility of the mix of programming strategies and principles used
to underpin, promote and strengthen the sub-programmes; noting that Lesotho is a lower middle income country, the consultancy will also review the extent to which UNICEF and its partners are utilizing an appropriate and relevant mix strategies for achieving results for the most vulnerable children and women in Lesotho. This will include, but is not limited to, an assessment of the use of the human rights based approach to programming and attention to gender inequalities in the sub-programmes.
6.
Analyse the utility of existing partnerships and benefits that can accrue from such collaborations
7.
Provide recommendations for addressing the analysis and findings of the updated SitAn; the recommendations will be synthesized in consultation with the country office and relevant stakeholders and will offer key questions to be tabled during the mid-term review dialogue.
Methodology
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The consultancy and its approach will be informed by UNICEF’s Guidance on Conducting a
Situation Analysis of Children’s and Women’s Rights – Taking a rights based, equity focused
approach to Situation Analysis (updated March 2012).
The consultancy will use the organizational guidance to undertake the following, in close consultation with the Country Office:
1.
Conduct a desk review using the sources identified in Annex B (among others);
2.
Conduct informational interviews with country office staff, identified partners, and other stakeholders as advised;
3.
Conduct thorough analysis of the programming environment and sub-programmes using the desk review findings and stakeholder interviews;
4.
Summarize and synthesize recommendations of the updated analysis to the country office for validation;
5.
Finalize the Updated Report with feedback from the country office.
Work Assignments (Tasks) and Deliverables
Ref
1. Produce inception report with working methodology, informed by TOR and discussion with the CO
2.
Key Tasks
Conduct desk review based on sources listed in the annex to produce draft overview of socioeconomic and political context.
Hold preliminary interviews with country office staff on general changes in trends, data and situation in the programming environment.
Deliverables
Inception report with working methodology for consultancy
Overview chapter of the Updated
SitAn
Summary of reflections with
Timeline
1 week
10 – 14 Nov
2 weeks
17 – 28 Nov
2
3
Hold consultations with each sub-programme and review sector specific sources of information.
National consultants to undertake primary and/or secondary data collection as agreed to the inception report.
Produce first draft of each sub programme update.
Produce second drafts of introductory chapter and sub-progrmame chapters while reviewing use of programme strategies.
Produce accompanying summary PowerPoint presentation (outline of which should be included in the inception report). PPT to include summary of each programme sub-
Summary findings of primary/secondar y data collection
4 draft chapters of the updated SitAn
(one for each subprogramme)
Revised copy of the 5 chapters.
4 weeks
01– 19 Dec 2014
&
05 -09 Jan 2015
2 weeks
12 – 23 Jan 2015
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context, summary of situation for each supprogramme and summary of key recommendations and findings for mid-term review.
4 Consultation with CO to review revised drafts
PowerPoint slide deck of the updated SitAn.
5 Finalization of SitAn Report Final report
1 week
26– 30 Jan 2015
1 weeks
02– 06 Feb 2015
Required Expertise
The recruited consultants will be reporting to the Deputy Representative of the Lesotho Country
Office. The Deputy Representative will call upon Country Office staff to support the work of the consultancy as required.
Qualifications and Competencies
The following profile is expected of the international consultant and the national consultant
(institution or individual). The international consultant will lead the overall development of the updated SitAn. The consultant will ensure timely review of the materials provided and will ensure deadlines will be adhered to as outlined in this terms of reference.
The required background and experience for the international consultant is as follows:
 Advanced degree in the social science (sociology, economics, anthropology, development
Studies, etc.) or related fields relevant to the assignment;
 At least 8 years of relevant professional experience;
 Demonstrated knowledge and experience with the application of the human rights based approach to programming (HRBAP), an understanding of the CRC, CEDAW and other relevant frameworks, ability to conduct equity-focused research and analysis;
 Ability to review and synthesize trends, data and information for varying audiences;
 Demonstrated experience with research and participatory methods;
 Strong writing and analytical skills for quality report writing;
 Strong communication and presentation skills;
 Strong coordination skills and ability to adhere to deadlines;
 Prior experience with the UN and UNICEF in a similar capacity will be an asset.
The following profile is expected of the national consultant. The national consultant will be expected to undertake, review and summarize primary and secondary data collection as required by the assignment and will support the international consultant in the development of the updated SitAn.
The required background and experience for the national consultant is as follows:
 Advanced degree in the social science (sociology, economics, anthropology, development
Studies, etc.) or related fields relevant to the assignment;
 At least 5 years of relevant professional experience;
 Proven experience in writing analytical papers on children’s and gender issues;
 Excellent facilitation and coordination skills and excellent analytical skills;
 Fluency in English and Sesotho.
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The international and national consultants will be asked to provide the following:
 Previous work samples that are relevant to this assignment;
 Two professional references;
 A cover letter expressing interest in the work. The cover letter should indicate relevant experience, availability and daily rate;
 Professional resume
 Personal History (P11) form (available at www.unicef.org/employ)
Management of the Assignment
The assignment is under the office of the Deputy Representative, and will be supervised by the
M&E Specialist. For quality assurance the consultant will be required to present the progress made to the UNICEF program staff.
Working Conditions and Proposal Evaluation
The assignment will be primarily Maseru based. The consultants will be provided with office space to conduct the work.
The proposal will be evaluated against the following criteria:
Technical proposal (70%)
 Review of prior professional and relevant experience;
 Proposal summarizing ability to conduct the proposed assignment.
The financial proposal (30%)
 The financial proposal will be reviewed separately from the technical proposal and should reflect all the costs that will be incurred in order to complete the assignment.
Payment Schedule
Ref
1 Inception report
Deliverable % Payable
30%
3
4
Second draft of updated SitAn
Final copy of updated SitAn with PPT presentation
30%
40%
The deadline for submission of applications is 31 October 2014: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Applications should be sent to: UNICEF UN HOUSE 13 UN
ROAD MASERU. E-mail: lestenders @unicef.org (Please indicate ‘Lesotho SitAn’ in the
Subject of your application). Queries to be send to lestenders@unicef.org
and mkhobotle@unicef.org
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Extracts from UNICEF’s Guidance on Conducting a Situation Analysis of Children’s and Women’s
Rights – Taking a rights based, equity focused approach to Situation Analysis (updated March
2012).
Box 1: Key Questions for a Rights-based, Equity-focused SitAn
A rights-based, equity-focused SitAn supported by UNICEF should seek to respond to the following questions, either through direct consideration, or through reference to other documents in which these are adequately addressed:
1.) How do child and maternal outcomes and trends differ across population groups and regions?
2.) Which are the most deprived groups of children and women? Where are they located?
3.) What forms of deprivation and exclusion do these groups face? What are the determining factors that give rise to and perpetuate their exclusion?
4.) What are the underlying causes of gender and other inequalities across population groups and regions?
5.) What are the immediate, underlying and structural barriers and bottlenecks to child and maternal well-being and to accessing and utilizing basic social services and other critical resources?
6.) What risks (conflict, natural hazards, etc.) exist that are likely to affect the patterns of deprivation and exclusion, exacerbate or create barriers and bottlenecks?
7.) What existing social, institutional and political factors (e.g. social norms, institutional capacities at all levels of government, accountability and coordination mechanisms, policy and legal frameworks) impede or could potentially support the creation of an enabling environment for the realization of children’s rights?
8.) Have the ‘drivers’ of inequity changed over time? If so, how has that been accomplished? If not, why not? Does the policy environment proactively address disparities and deprivations through legislation, policies and budgets? What gaps are there in policy response and in implementation?
9.) What capacities exist at national, sub-national and community levels to participate in analytical processes that examine the causes and consequences of shortfalls and inequities and to what extent are disadvantaged groups involved in such efforts and with what results?
10.) What programme interventions and resource mobilization and allocation options should be considered in the future, in order to address specific dimensions of inequity and pervasive vulnerabilities?
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Box 2: Considerations for analyzing major causes of child rights shortfalls and inequities
Whatever the form or approach the Country Office decides to adopt for its SitAn, the following interrelated and mutually reinforcing tools will support a quality and adequately structured analytical effort:
1.) a causality analysis will examine the causes of shortfalls and inequities within a conceptual framework, probing beyond the immediate causes of non-realization of children’s and women’s rights to determine the underlying and structural causes of the problem; identifies the bottlenecks and barriers relevant to the critical determinants in the provision and use of essential interventions and services for children and women in order to support the establishment of a baseline for action in reducing inequities and accelerating progress towards child development goals;
2.) a role-pattern analysis delves into the roles and relationships between duty-bearers and rights holders in relation to specific rights;
3.) a capacity-gap analysis, examines the capacity of key individuals and institutions responsible for respecting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of children;
4.) An analysis of the enabling environment examines broader policy, legal, administrative and budgetary issues and social norms which influence the realization of human rights of children and women and the reduction of inequalities.
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Sources of Information for Sub-Programme Desk Reviews
1.
Health and HIV
 Levels and Trends of Child Mortality Report 2013. Estimates Developed by the UN
Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation
 Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) [Lesotho] and ICF Macro. 2010.
Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey 2009. Maseru, Lesotho: MOHSW and ICF
Macro.
 Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) [Lesotho], Bureau of Statistics (BOS)
[Lesotho], and ORC Macro.
 2005. Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey 2004. Calverton, Maryland: MOH, BOS, and ORC Macro.
 Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) [Lesotho] and ICF Macro. 2010.
Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey 2014. Maseru, Lesotho: MOHSW and ICF
Macro. (Expected)
 Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2013 Estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, the
World Bank and the United Nations Population Division
 Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Annual Joint Review Report FY 2010/11, May
2011.
 Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Annual Joint Review Report FY 2011/12, June
2012.
 Ministry of Health, Annual Joint Review Report FY 2012/13, June 2013.
 Ministry of Health, Annual Joint Review Report FY 2013/14, June 2014.
 Joint Monitoring Program by WHO and UNICEF (2013)
 Bureau of Statistics-Lesotho Demographic Survey (2011)
 Lesotho Water and Sanitation Policy, Government of Lesotho (2008 as amended)
 Lesotho Food Consumption study in Thaba Tseka, 2009
 Lesotho Vulnerable Assessment Committee Report, 2012
 Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment Committee Report, 2013
 Lucia Corno and Damien de Walque, World Bank Development Research Group,
Determinants of HIV Infection and Related Sexual Behaviours: Evidence from Lesotho,
December 2007.
 UNAIDS/MOHSW/World Bank, Lesotho HIV Prevention Response and Modes of
Transmission Analysis, 2009.
 66 NAC/MOHSW, Lesotho Global Aids Response Country Progress Report, 2012
 UNAIDS/MOHSW/World Bank, Lesotho HIV Prevention Response and Modes of
Transmission Analysis, 2009
 WHO, Global HIV and AIDS Response, Progress Report, 2011
 USAID, Lesotho Health System Assessment, 2009
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2.
Social Policy
 Impact Evaluation of Child Grant Program 2014
 World Bank Lesotho Safety Net Review 2012
 Public Spending Review 2013
 National Information System for Social Assistance (NISSA) review report 2014
 National Social Protection Strategy
 National Social Development Policy
 One- stop- shop report
 Village Assistance Committee Review report 2014
 National M&E Framework
 National Strategic Development Plan 2012/2013-2016/2017
3.
Education
 Education Statistic Year Books 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013
 MDG Report 2012/2013-2016/2017
 Out of School Children Report 2011
 National Strategic Development Plan 2012-201
 Education Sector Plan 2011-2014
 Education Country Status Report 2014
 IECCD Policy and Strategic Plan 2013
 Education Act 2010
 Curriculum and Assessment Policy
 National Performance Assessment Report 2010
 SACMEQ Report 2010
 School Feeding Evaluation 2009
4.
Children Protection
 National Strategic Plan on Vulnerable Children 2012-2017
 Child Protection and Systems Mapping and Assessment Report 2014-2019
 National Multi-Sectoral Child Protection Strategy 2014-2019
 National Multi-Sectoral Child Protection Strategy Costed Plan of Action 2014-2017
 Country Report on Convention on the Rights of Children 2014
 Periodic Report on African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child 2014
 Child Protection and Welfare Act 2011
 Project Report on Costing of the Children’s Protection and Welfare Act, 2011 of
Lesotho 2014
 USAID/PEPFAR Situational Analysis on Post-Rape Care of Children in Lesotho 2023
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