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BACKGROUND:
According to the Vulnerability Assessment conducted by Disaster management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) there is evidence that drought conditions are so severe coupled with extremely high temperatures affecting most of the Southern half of Zambia during the 2018/19 rainy season. Due to a prolonged reduced rainfall in Southern, Western and some parts of Central, Eastern and Lusaka provinces, there are significant food shortages and hunger in several districts. Southern Province remains the worst affected followed by Western Province with reduction in overall maize production estimated to be between 50% and 60% in the two provinces. Information on the ground indicates that the impact of the drought is very concerning with severe crop failure, erosion of rural livelihoods, malnutrition and hunger with spinoff effects on general household welfare and rural economy. This year’s production is the lowest in the last nine production seasons. Reduced production has led to increased commodity of price ranging between 6.6% and 17.9% for different categories of processed maize meal. The situation is likely to be exacerbated by unpredictability of the Government Social Cash Transfer (SCT) that would have cushioned food shortage gaps.
The Zambia Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC) recommends resilience strengthening livelihood activities, livestock restocking, disease control, provision of safe water and sanitation, emergency cash transfers and community sales of maize by FRA, traditional food distribution in areas where markets are not be functional (e.g. extreme valley areas). However, experience from previousdroughtresponse shows that government’s main response is food distribution from the FRA which may take time, is costly and not adequate given the level of need. Cash transfers to existing SCT households in the worst affected districts is therefore being implemented by UNICEF, WFP, government and donor partners.
The ToR below details the roles and responsibilities of the consultant to be responsible for supporting the coordination, implementation and reporting of the emergency cash transfer programme.
JUSTIFICATION:
As we are support the drought response through emergency cash transfers, extra capacity is required, on a temporary basis, to support the government to deliver the drought response quickly before the emergency spills over into a disaster, and even possibly, famine. The current government capacity to respond effectively and efficiently to the emergency situation is extremely limited, and the amount of man hours required is significant given the worsening drought situation in the country.
OBJECTIVES/TARGET:
The major role of the Emergency Cash Transfer Consultant will be to support all coordination, communication capacity building and any other issues related to the implementation of the Emergency Cash Transfer programme.
SCOPE OF WORK:
The main scope of work is to support all activities for the implementation of the emergency cash transfer project; including coordination, communication, monitoring and evaluation, technical backstopping, ECT grievance mechanism development and support to payment processes and reconciliation of beneficiary payments with payment service providers.
TASKS, DELIVERABLES AND TIME FRAME:
Tasks for this position are the following:
- Support to validation of Beneficiary lists for emergency CT by districts and MCDSS HQ;
- Support to payment processes to beneficiaries;
- Support to reconciliation of payments made to beneficiaries with payment service providers;
- Support to establishment of a communications and grievance mechanism for ECT districts;
- Coordinate and support the overall management and implementation of the ECT;
- Coordinate inception visits to ECT districts;
- Liaise with partners on market facilitation;
- Coordinate M &E activities of ECT implementation;
- Support to external evaluation of ECTs.
Deliverables
Task
Deliverables
Timeframe
(Tentative)
Payment Schedule
1.
Coordinate inception visits to ECT districts
30.10.2019
10%
2.
Support the baseline assessment of ECTs
24.11.2019
10%
3.
-Support to validation of beneficiaries lists
-Support to establishment of a communications and grievance mechanism for ECT districts
24.12.2019
12%
4.
Support to payment processes to beneficiaries (first tranche)
24.01.2020
12%
5.
Support reconciliation of payments to beneficiaries with PSPs (first tranche)
24.02.2020
12%
6.
Coordinate M &E activities of ECT implementation
24.03.2020
10%
7.
Support to payment processes to beneficiaries (second tranche)
24.04.2020
12%
8.
Support reconciliation of payments to beneficiaries with PSPs (second tranche)
24.05.2020
12%
9.
-Support initial groundwork for external evaluation of ECT
-Support to validation of evaluation findings and arrange dissemination meeting
-Arrange lesson learning workshop with emergency response stakeholders providing cash transfers.
15.06.2020
10%
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
The Emergency Cash Transfer Consultant will report to the Chief of Social Policy in UNICEF.
As for deliverables, the format of the report for each of the deliverables identified above will be as follows:
- Executive Summary (1/2 page)
- Introduction (1/2-1 page)
- Report on activities relevant to the deliverable (studies, workshops, consultations, implementation, others as have been undertaken/managed as part of the consultancy and contributed to the deliverable in question) (1 page)
- Findings (length as required)
- Analysis (length as required)
- Recommendations (length as required)
- New or Updated Draft or Final materials in Annex, when appropriate (annexed in full)
- List of stakeholders consulted, missions undertaken, data collection tools used, when appropriate (annexed in full)
PROJECTManagement
- The consultancy will be managed by the Social Policy and Research section (Chief Social Policy)
- The Consultant will be based at UNICEF on a full-time basis
LOCATION AND DURATION
The consultant is required for a period of 9 months and will be based in Lusaka at UNICEF with regular travel to select districts nationwide. UNICEF will bear Consultant travel cost – DSA.
Paymentschedule
See “Expected Deliverables” Section above.
In the case of unsatisfactory quality of reports, payments will be withheld until quality has been assured.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
Qualifications
- A Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Economics or related field
- A minimum of three years of relevant professional work experience with either government or Non-Governmental Organizations;
- Experience in drought responses and/or cash transfer implementation is desirable;
- Experience working with payments systems at community level;
- Familiarity with the background and rationale of Social Cash Transfer scheme is desirable.
- Ability to coordinate payment service providers, Govt staff and community;
- Ability to effectively collaborate with counterparts with different technical and sectoral backgrounds;
- Experience in providing training and capacity building, including technology tools for policy use;
- Previous experience in project management, preferably in a public-sector environment;
- Good communication and interpersonal skills; and
ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES
- UNICEF will provide equipment and office space and will make provisions for travel and other expenses that will assist the Consultant perform her/his role.
- Payments will be made on a monthly basis.
- This contract is for a period of 9 months, with a possible extension, depending on the need and the continued existence of the emergency.
- The consultant will receive ZMW 200 communication allowance per month.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
View our competency framework at
http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
