Consultant/Contractual Jobs at Save the Children, John Snow Health Zambia Limited and Mansa District Land Alliance

JOB DETAILS:
Invitation For Submission Of Sealed Bids For Consultancy Services To Conduct Analysis Review Of The Child Sensitivity Of The National Social Protection Policy (Nspp) In Zambia
Save the Children is the world’s leading independent non-profit organization for children. Our vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation. Our mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting changes in their lives. In Zambia, Save the Children has been implementing programs across Child Rights Governance (CRG), Health and Nutrition, Child Protection, Education, Child Poverty and Humanitarian thematic areas since 1983.
1. Background
Save the Children International (SCI) is a leading global independent organization for children and believes that every child deserves a future. Around the world, SCI work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and be protected from harm. SCI argued that public investments in, for example, healthcare, food security, and access to safe water and sanitation, play a crucial role because they define the situation of the child. Heckmans’s (2007)[1] framework explains the development of children and the effect of investments on the formation of capabilities and the processes behind it. The Heckman Curve is among the most widely referenced analytical models predicting high economic and social returns to multi-sectoral (including nutrition-centric) investments in the earliest stages of early childhood (the critical 1,000 day “window of opportunity”), especially for disadvantaged children, and how these returns reduce with the increasing age of the child. Also, Mani et al. (2013)[2] demonstrated that even relatively short spells of poverty have a significant negative impact on the cognitive abilities and executive functions performance of children. Children need inputs (investments) into their development throughout their lifecycle.
Government of the Republic of Zambia considers Social Protection as key strategy to support inclusive economic growth, contribute directly to poverty and vulnerability reduction, and promote equity and fulfilment of human rights. In 2014, the institutional framework that guides the Government’s social protection response to poverty and vulnerability underwent significant revision with the Cabinet approval of the National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) with an accompanying Implementation Plan (IP) for the period 2014-2019. The NSPP reflects a broad-based approach to social protection anchored on the transformative framework of social protection which focuses on 4 springboards that is protection, prevention, promotion, and transformation. The policy is built on 4 pillars: Social Assistance, Social Security, Livelihood & Empowerment, Protection, with cross cutting pillars of Coordination and Disability. These pillars lay a foundation for coherent and coordinated social protection services and interventions.
Currently, the Government of the Republic of Zambia is in the process of reviewing the NSPP as per Government procedure and to develop a new implementation plan since the implementation period came to an end in 2019. During this process, the government will be updating the NSPP with current and emerging issues such as the Cash Plus concept, Single Window Initiative, shock-responsive elements of social protection as well as the integrated management information system known as the Zambia integrated Social Protection Information System (ZISPIS) among others. Lastly, the process will assess how best to bring out cross-cutting themes in the new policy, such as disability, gender, HIV, etc.
2. Justification to analyse the Child Sensitivity of the National Social Protection Policy
‘Child-sensitive social protection’ refers to public policies, programmes and systems that address the specific patterns of children’s poverty and vulnerability, are rights-based in approach, and recognize the long-term developmental benefits of investing in children. Social protection has the potential to address social and economic vulnerabilities but also has the potential to contribute to other developmental challenges. These include, among others, economic growth, national poverty reduction and human capital development. Investments in social protection are associated with reductions in poverty. By raising incomes, increasing consumption and allowing for investments, social protection makes positive contributions to poverty reduction, employment and education outcomes.
Child-sensitive social protection (CSSP) is foundational to addressing many child poverty and can help prevent the intergenerational transfer of poverty. CSSP allows the most deprived and marginalized children to be reached at scale and results in sustained reductions in multidimensional child poverty. Despite its importance, the review of the NSPP by the government is silent of child sensitivity of the policy. A key step in improving child sensitivity of social protection in through undertaking a child sensitivity analysis.
3. Purpose and Objectives
Purpose: To undertake a child sensitivity analysis of the current National Social Protection Policy and its implementation plan and come up with recommendations for child sensitive inclusion in the revised policy looking at social protection from an integrated social protection approach.

Specific Objectives
• Conduct desk analysis or review of other countries’ child sensitivity of the social protection policies to benchmark the best practices for replication in Zambia using the CODI tool developed by WB, UNCIEF, etc., and Save the Children’s global approach to CSSP.
• Review the national social protection policy framework/strategy documents to map social protection schemes directly or indirectly benefiting children across age groups. The overarching question guiding this objective will be: What are the commitments, if any, that the government has made with regards to addressing child poverty or other main child deprivations in their social protection policy framework? And what are the main social protection programmes set up to achieve them? Are these social protection programs child sensitive? What can make these programs child sensitive, for example, referring to our “cash plus parenting” approach that we have piloted?
• Find out the Coverage for Children in the main programmes identified and document them as per coverage for each scheme per age groups of Pre-primary (0-3 and 3-6); Primary (6-14) and Secondary (14-18).
• Provide an analysis of how much of the Social Protection investments have been focused on children (historical budget allocation for the past five years) and evaluate if UN, AU and SADC commitments are being met.
• Provide an overview of the expenditure towards social protection for the past five years against the budget allocated especially how the budget is reaching the intended beneficiaries (in particular, children). Also to have an overview of whether the announcements and allocations are actually reaching to the intended beneficiaries in a regular and predictable manner, and what can be done to promote it. Again drawing on some of the work we are trying to promote around transparency and accountability in accessing social protection benefits and related basic services.
• Formulate Recommendations for Save the Children International and other child-focused organizations, and for the government to strengthen the child sensitivity of the new NSPP.
4. Expected Deliverables
• A detailed concept note showing understanding of the assignment and how the analysis of the NSPP will be done.
• Literature review report detailing how other countries’ social protection policies, and programmes are child sensitive, gender and inclusive social protection programmes.
• Draft Child Sensitive Social Protection analysis report
• Validation virtual meeting with SCI Country Office, Regional Office and Global Office
• Final report (consolidating contribution from Save the Children)
• Present the finding and recommendations (in-person) to all-stakeholder meeting to be organized by the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services in early November 2022.
5. Tentative timeline
To be discussed with the consultant, but the assignment needs to be finalized by October 28, 2022 pending presentation of the findings to an all-stakeholder meeting early November. Number of days for the total assignment must not exceed 14, and this can be discussed further. Pay attention to the deliverables.
6. Experience and skill set required

Minimum competencies:
• Advanced degree in Economics, Public Policy, social sciences, or a related field
• At least seven years of relevant work experience (three minimum with a Ph.D.) in research and evaluation and/or policy design and implementation in social protection
• Familiarity with desk analysis, impact evaluations and randomized trials, as well as expertise in one or more areas of child sensitive social protection, including cash transfers, safety nets, graduation and livelihood development programs
• Experience from/ in Zambia will be an added value
Mandatory Requirements
• That they are not on any Save the Children prohibited parties list or blacklisted by the government.
• Copy of the National Registration Card or copy of the passport
• Copy of Tax Clearance Certificate (TPIN)
• Certificate of incorporation for companies
• Three months bank statement

Required Expertise & Experience
The study is to be done by a consultant/firm with a team composition of 2-3 individuals with a mix of experience in the focus areas described under the objectives section.
The consultant/team must possess the following qualifications and competences in order to be eligible for this assignment:
• University degree at minimum in a relevant field (e.g. child protection, development or social sciences).
• Substantial experience (10 years+’ experience conducting baseline studies in large scale projects especially health, education and child protection) and in monitoring and evaluation, specifically in developing qualitative and quantitative methodologies and tools including child-friendly tools (preferably in the child protection sector), and in collecting and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Knowledge of child protection programming. Strong child rights programming skills (child participation skills an asset)
• Knowledge in gender equality mainstreaming
• Excellent writing skills in English, and effective presentation skills
• Good local language skills (spoken and written) in Nsenga/Chewa.
• Knowledge and skills in disability inclusion
• Previous experience of engaging community agents of change, civil society organizations, national partners and key government staff in the development and implementation of assessments/evaluations.
• Evidence of having done similar work (kindly share copies of completed assignments or links) especially in similar set ups as the project area (Rural areas) in the past 3 years.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills including experience of working within multi- cultural teams.


JOB DETAILS:
Job Title: Administrative Consultant
Department/Unit: Finance & Administration
Location: Lusaka, Zambia
Duration: 3 Months Consultancy
Reports to: Operations Consultant

Background:
The USAID Controlling HIV Epidemic for Key and Underserved Populations (CHEKUP II) Activity is a five-year project to address the needs of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and those most at risk of acquiring HIV and contribute to HIV mitigation and epidemic control, improving the health outcomes of priority populations in the highest HIV-burden provinces of Zambia. USAID CHEKUP II is implemented by John Snow Health Zambia (JSH).
Position Description:
JSH seeks to engage a dynamic and highly experienced individual as an administrative consultant to be based in Lusaka, Zambia. The Administrative consultant will provide support to the general start-up activities of the office. The Administrative consultant will report to the Operations Consultant and help in achieving the project’s goals and objectives.

Roles and Responsibilities:
• Raise, and track Administration Purchase Requests and procurement needs
• Providing Logistics/Administrative support, booking of flights and hotel venues, accommodation for International meetings and workshops, and preparing/organizing meetings and workshop materials for project staff
• Assist in raising of LPOs and tracking all invoices
• Inventory records management
• Manage office transportation needs
• Provide support to the office which includes scheduling meetings, mail, and phone call routing
• Maintain schedules and supervise security and cleaning/maintenance vendors
• Supervision of the Office Assistants and general office cleanliness
• Any other administrative work assigned by the supervisor

Qualifications:
• Higher Diploma or degree in any business-related field desirable.
• At least 5 years of role-related experience
• Experience with basic financial clerical duties.
• Confident and proficient in the use of MS office (particularly word & Excel)
• Good communication / written skills
• Ability to take initiative and work in teams.
• Experience working with an NGO preferred.
• Ability to use a four-wheel drive
• Paid member of a relevant professional body.
Supervision and Reporting:
The Administrative Consultant will work under the guidance and supervision of the Operations Consultant.


JOB DETAILS:
Terms of Reference (TORs) for the short-term consultancy work to undertake a study to establish capacity levels of f selected CSOs in Mansa and Nchelenge districts

1.0.Background
Mansa District Land Alliance in partnership with GIZ -Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit under the Enabling Access to Justice, Civil Society Participation and Transparency (EnACT), is implementing a project titled Enhanced Accountability and Transparency in Utilization of Public Resources (EATUPRP). The project seeks to capacitate six CSOs in Mansa and Nchelenge districts to provide oversight on the utilization of public resources in the education sector. The trained target CSOs will work with other stakeholders to identify and document cases of public resource mismanagement for submission to relevant authorities for timely corrective action.
The Overall objective of the project is to contribute to sustainable and inclusive development in Luapula Province through effective and transparent management of public resources. Specific Objective is ‘’To empower local CSOs, in Mansa and Nchelenge districts to document and report cases of unaccountable use of public resources in the education sector. Expected project outcomes are that; CSO have enhanced knowledge and skills to document and disseminate cases of unaccountable use of public resources and service delivery failures in the education sector in Mansa and Nchelenge districts. Secondly that Citizens have increased knowledge and opportunities to engage in participation processes to hold their government accountable for public service delivery in the education sector in Mansa and Nchelenge districts.

2.0.Context
The Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Sustainability Index Report noted that the Zambian civil societies have limited capacities, skills and knowledge of how to engage in national budget processes. Additionally, CSOs have knowledge gaps on how to effectively offer budgetary oversight, provide independent scrutiny and conduct independent budget analyses, social audits and expenditure tracking. Meaningful engagement with the budgeting process requires that CSOs and or citizens can also report any identified irregularities to relevant authorities for action. However, institutions responsible for transparency and accountability are centralized resulting in low accessibility by many citizens (Draft 8th National Development Plan, 2022). Other challenges relate to low empowerment of citizens to hold public officers accountable, inefficiencies in the delivery of public services, and ineffective grievance resolution mechanisms. These challenges are a breeding ground for corruption. The proposed project seeks to strengthen the capacity of the target CSOs to play a critical role of oversight on the utilization of public resources in the education sector. The project will enhance the capacity of the CSOs from Mansa and Nchelenge, on how to identify and document cases around public resource management for submission to relevant authorities for timely corrective action.

3.0.Objectives of the consultancy
The objective of the consultancy is to conduct a study to establish capacity levels of selected CSOs in Mansa and Nchelenge districts in financial management, proposal development, advocacy, policy engagement, social Accountability issues, and understanding of the budget process

4.0.Scope of work
The consultant (s) The consultant (s) will do the following;
• Work closely with selected CSOs at in Mansa and Nchelenge district
• Undertake literature review with reference to project documents.
• Design tools and methodology for collection of both qualitative and quantitative data
• Hold preparatory meeting with MDLA staff and beneficiary CSOs to agree on the process
• Develop a consolidated work plan with input from MDLA programme staff
• Conduct a one-day consultative meeting in each target district with CSO representatives to get their input on how they see their own capacities.
• Analyse collected data from the consultative meetings using appropriate data analysis packages
• Prepare draft report
• Conduct a validation meeting with key programme team members and selected CSO representatives
• Prepare final report

5.0 Location of assignment
The assignment base will be done in Mansa and Nchelenge district
6.0 Expected Output/Deliverables
Among the immediate outputs of this process will be the following;
• A synthesised consultation report with comprehensive list of stakeholders consulted;
• Final report of the entire process
7.0 Required Expertise
The Consultant(s) should have the following;

Qualifications:
Degree in any of the following: Governance and Development, Project Management, Public Policy, Development Studies, Management, Strategic Planning/Organizational management, or any other related field
Work experience:
• Traceable experience and knowledge of the political, social, cultural, and development context of Zambia
• Evidence of having carried out similar assignments locally/ internationally
• Full understanding of CSO operations in Zambia, sub region and international
• Experience in organisational development; capacity building for CSOs; and
• Strong interpersonal and communication (written and verbal) skills.

8.0 Services to be provided by MDLA
MDLA will provide the Consultant(s) with information regarding location and contacts of some stakeholders to be visited while a comprehensive list will be developed by the Consultant/s. MDLA will also provide relevant documents within its reach to the Consultant(s).

9.0 Reporting
During the course of this work, the Consultant(s) will be supervised by MDLA Provincial Coordinator
No subcontracting of any part of this assignment will be allowed unless expressly agreed upon by all parties.
10.0 Submission of Technical and Financial proposals
The applicant is required to submit the Technical and Financial Proposals with the following elements:

Technical proposal
This should include:
• Consultant’s understanding of the Terms of Reference (ToR)
• Proposed Approach and Methodology for conducting the exercise
• Detailed Work plan
• Key deliverables;
• Team composition and roles to be played by members if necessary

Financial proposal
This should include:
• Itemized consultant’s fees;
• Itemized field data collection expenses; and
• Itemized administration costs.