UN Children's Fund recrute: International Consultant Specialized on Engagement with Private Sector

Description de l'offre : Côte d’Ivoire’s political and civil strife that followed the 2010 elections has generally reduced living standards of the population and increased poverty. The country’s UN Human Development Index dropped from 154th in 1999 to 163rd in 2009 to 168th in 2012 (out of 186 countries). This is a stark contrast with the country’s economy that grew close to 10% in 2012 according to the IMF. Poverty is felt particularly in rural environment more than in urban environment. The regional disparities in terms of social and economic development are also strong with the bulk of the economic growth being felt mainly in Abidjan. According to the 2012 Demographic Health Survey, access to health, education, water and social protection has seen little to no progress over the past few years. The government is very supportive of foreign investments and the private sector has played a crucial role in the economic revitalization since 2011. Côte d’Ivoire is on the right track to revive its economy and become an emerging country by 2020. The government has recently adopted a new mining code and the UN lift of export of diamond is likely to stimulate more private sector investments. Corporate Social Responsibility is at an early stage in Côte d’Ivoire and widely understood as quality management, often combined with elements of philanthropy. However, it is slowly starting to change thanks in part to the launch of a CSR-Network in March 2012 and to the first international CSR forum that took place in October 2012 to gather different stakeholders and raise awareness on the importance of CSR among private sector. Thus, although there is little general awareness of CSR in Côte d’Ivoire, foreign businesses, particularly in mining and the cocoa industries do often provide social infrastructures, including schools and health clinics in communities where they operate. However, mainly international corporations develop CSR activities while those activities are largely absent for local companies that do not have the same pressure from international shareholders and customers on their reputation. Furthermore, if companies do have a CSR agenda, the Children Right’s agenda is often missing. It is often more associated with ad-hoc philanthropic activities rather than well planned activities based on a set of principles. Quality of support provided, as well as monitoring and evaluation of impact and linking it to national efforts for social development are very poor. Côte d’Ivoire has a comparatively strong legal and normative framework related to protecting children from violence, exploitation and abuse, in line with international standards. However, the lack of enforcement of the existing legal framework, as well as the absence of a functional monitoring system of the existing laws and norms remain a major concern. Other challenges include poor rule of law and justice for children as a way of addressing child labor. From March to May 2014, the UNICEF CSR Unit (PFP) and the Cote d’Ivoire country office conducted interviews with a number of stakeholders to have a better understanding of the CSR environment in Cote d’Ivoire. For the purpose of this analysis, UNICEF focused mainly on agriculture and extractive industry, the two main sectors that drive the country’s economy. Globally, international corporations face an increasing need to prove that social investment delivers long-term strategic value to their respective organizations. They are also faced with an upsurge in stakeholder demands for transparency and return on investment. Thus, corporate involvement in social development is witnessing a shift from ‘passive’ philanthropic donations to active contributions of products and expertise of employees as well as policy change. As the business landscape is evolving in Cote d’Ivoire, CSR is still at an early stage and represents mainly the concern of large international companies which continue to “react” to pressure from shareholder and customers, based often on sensitivity to their international image and reputation. The UNICEF Executive Board approved in 2009 the “Strategic Framework for Partnerships and Collaborative Relationships” to promote the role of the private sector in achieving results for children and women. Moreover in 2012 UNICEF, Save the Children and the Global Compact launched the Child Rights and Business Principles to establish a normative framework to contextualize the relationship between business and children. These Principles outline the full range of actions the business can take to respect and support children’s rights in the workplace, in the communities and the environment. The UNICEF country office in Cote d’Ivoire wants to seize the opportunity to mobilize the private sector in Côte d’Ivoire around the child rights agenda in support of the organization’s role and mandate in the country. The concept of CSR and other forms of engagement with the private sector is a new area and the UNICEF country office wishes to make it a core strategy to achieve results and leverage resources for children and women in the context of its next country programme 2016-2020. The organization recognizes that partnerships with the private sector are needed in order to realize children’s rights, and business can play a strong role in helping to advance child rights through CSR as an element of its corporate engagement. Programme Outcome: 6 - Cross-Sectoral Costs Output: Advocacy and Communication Activity: 6.3c – Strengthening partnership with private sector WBS: 2250/A0/05/013/002/039 Objective and Scope of Work The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical expertise to the country office in order to strengthen engagement with the private sector and to spearhead the development and implementation of a strategy of engagement with the private sector that covers the current country programme (2014-2015) and the next cycle (2016-2020). Tasks · Support the country office for the development and implementation of a strategy for corporate engagement in line with UNICEF’s global approach and key initiatives related to that sector. The strategy should focus on analyzing the role of the government on issues related to corporate social responsibility, develop strategic partnership with the agriculture and mining sector to ensure that the child rights agenda are reflected in corporate social responsibility strategies · In close collaboration with the Programme Coordination Team, identify key programmatic linkage and advocacy opportunities to include corporate engagement as a core strategy to achieve better results for children and women. · In close collaboration with the Planning team, timely provide technical input on corporate engagement in the planning process for the 2016-2020 country programme. · Provide technical advice in the development and dissemination of guidance material on CSR and child rights to strengthen capacity of private sector stakeholders. · Build capacity of UNICEF staff and partners through information sessions and training on corporate social responsibility and other forms of engagement with the private sector. · Make the necessary preparations and arrangements to launch the Child Rights and Business Principles in Cote d’Ivoire as a strategy to mobilize private sector stakeholders around the child rights agenda. · Document the process of developing a corporate engagement strategy in Cote d’Ivoire to share the best practices and lessons learned to share with other country offices in the region, with the regional office and headquarters. Methodology The consultant will have to provide a technical offer that will describe the methodology to be used in this assignment Results and Expected Output and Timetable · A corporate engagement strategy for the country office is developed · Key programmatic linkage and advocacy opportunities are included in the programmatic Annual Worplans to strengthen corporate engagement as a core strategy to achieve better results for children and women. · Timely inputs are provided in the 2016-2020 country programme planning process · Material is developed and disseminated, and a strategic dialogue is established with private sector stakeholders to strengthen capacity of child focused corporate social responsibility · The CRBP are launched in Cote d’Ivoire and the private sector is mobilized around the child rights agenda · The process is documented and shared with relevant COs, ROs and HQ. 1st Month: - Liaise with programme section and develop the first draft of the strategy Identify key programmatic linkage and propose corporate sector engagement activities 2nd Month: - Liaise with the Planning team to provide technical input in the planning phase of the 2016-2020 country programme Finalize the private sector engagement strategy Develop a plan for the launch of the CRBP in Cote d’Ivoire in collaboration with Save the Children and other stakeholders 3rd Month: - Develop and disseminate material for key private sectors stakeholders Plan and conduct activities to enhance capacity of staff 4th Month: - Wrap up launched initiatives with regards to the CRBP, implementation of the corporate sector engagement strategy and country programme input Document the process. The work plan or time table for completion of the assigned results and outputs proposed by the consultant will be approved by his supervisor Supervision The Consultant will be under the direct supervision of the Representative and work in close collaboration with the Head of Communication and External Relations, Deputy Representative and chiefs of programme sections. Duty Station Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (with possible travel inside Cote d’Ivoire) Costs · UNICEF will cover travel expenses for the Consultant from his/her city of residence to Abidjan by air in Economy Class (lowest available fare). · UNICEF will reimburse expenses incurred by the Consultant to obtain his/her entry visa to Cote d’Ivoire. · The Consultant is entitled to Daily Subsistence Allowances for the duration of his/her assignment in Cote d’Ivoire at the applicable rate and as per UN rules and regulations. Timeline From 20 October 2014 to 20 February 2015 (4 months) Budget The consultant will submit a financial offer for his fees for this assignment Qualifications and Experience · Advanced university degree or equivalent background in Business Administration, Management, Marketing, Public Relations, Communication, or other related fields. · A minimum of eight years of proven track record of private sector engagement for social sector programmes and brand-based non-profit business at the national and international level, management of partnerships and corporate social responsibility. · Proven experience in developing and writing strategy documents in the field of corporate social responsibility · Familiarity with key private sector stakeholders at the local and international levels · Familiarity with UNICEF policy/strategy in the field of private sector engagement and corporate social responsibility · Proven skills in communication, networking, advocacy and negotiation. · Working experience in the private sector is an asset. · Very good knowledge of English AND French is required. Work Conditions · UNICEF will provide an office space in its office premises in Abidjan for the whole duration of the assignment · The Consultant will be responsible to provide his/her own computer and other standard IT equipment to perform his/her duty. · The Consultant will have to comply with all applicable UN security rules and regulations. Payment Terms The Consultant will be paid on a monthly basis upon certification of his/her report by the Head of Communication and External Relations and completion of expected results and deliverables as per agreed time table. The final payment will be effected upon submission of final assignment report and satisfactory completion of all assigned tasks. Funding Source Non Grant GC Other Administrative Formalities · The Consultant will need to provide an updated P11 form dully completed, a Health Statement, Medical Certificate of good health, Designation of Beneficiaries and Bank Account Information for payment · The Consultant should provide evidence of medical insurance for the whole duration of his/her assignment. · The Consultant should provide copies of his Basic Security in the Field Training How to apply: Interested qualified candidates should send their application (Letter of motivation, CV and P11 form) to ivcrecruitment@unicef.org by September 16, 2014 Cob.

Date d'expiration : 2014-09-16