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Terms of Reference :
Title Consultancy to support mapping of management information system (MIS) for social protection in South Sudan
Type of Contract Individual Contractor (SSA)
Supervision Social Policy Specialist and second reporting, Chief, Social Policy, Planning, M&E (SPPME) section
Level Senior level, International
Location Home based, with potentially 1 onsite mission for 1 week to deliver workshop in 2021.
Duration 55 days over 6 months
Start Date 15 November 2020 – 31 May 2021
Background/Rationale for the Assignment :
The National Social Protection Policy Framework (NSPPF), approved in 2015, envisages a national social protection system with strong coordination and a range of social protection programs for the most vulnerable. Social protection – which is defined in South Sudan as the set of private and public mechanisms that protect and prevent individuals and households from suffering the adverse effects of shocks and stresses – is overseen by the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare (MGCSW). The National Social Protection Working Group (NSPWG) is the primary body for government and non-government stakeholders to discuss technical and policy aspects of social protection; build consensus on policy and programmatic issues; and coordinate to avoid duplication of efforts. Line Ministries, in particular the Ministry of General Education and Instruction and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, are mandated to mainstream social protection into existing programs and budgets, in addition to the design and implementation of social protection programs for their respective sector.
To support the MGCSW’s efforts to coordinate, design, implement, monitor and evaluate social protection activities, a comprehensive mapping was undertaken in 2019, with UNICEF support. In June-July 2020, this mapping was further updated through the SPACE (DFID-GIZ) Social Protection Technical Facility for COVID19, based on the request of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare (MGCSW) to UNICEF and DFID. The 2020 mapping documented programming changes, including those in response to COVID-19. Key informant interviewees for the 2020 mapping suggested the South Sudanese social protection response to COVID-19 should seek to strengthen the nexus between social protection and humanitarian action by focusing on the various Management Information Systems (MISs) used in social protection and humanitarian response. The 2020 mapping examined the following six non-contributory programs
- The South Sudan Safety Nets Project (SSSNP), funded by the World Bank, consisting of conditional cash transfers (public works) and unconditional transfers for households without able bodied individuals ;
- The Building Resilience through Asset Creation Phase II (BRACE II) funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), a public works program implemented by a World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) partnership and a consortium led by World Vision ;
- Food for Assets (FFA), a public works / asset creation program implemented by WFP ;
- The Urban Safety Nets (USN) program, a cash-for-training program implemented by WFP ;
- The Girls Education South Sudan II (GESS II) program, funded by DFID, which includes annual cash transfers to school-age girls to help offset the costs of education; and
- The School Feeding Program (SFP), implemented by WFP.
Through the validation process for the 2020 mapping, stakeholders indicated their support for: (i) a mapping of MISs for social protection and related sectors in South Sudan; (ii) a literature review to synthesise lessons on information management of social protection from similar contexts; (iii) co-creation by stakeholders of a vision and series of high-level goals for management of social protection information in South Sudan; and (iv) expert technical guidance and recommendations on how the vision and goals can be achieved. The ToR produced by SPACE for the suggested assignment was reviewed by stakeholders including MoGCSW, World Bank, WFP, UNOPS, DFID and UNICEF. It was further reviewed and endorsed by the National Social Protection Working Group (NSPWG) chaired by the Under-Secretary of MoGCSW on 17 September 2020.
Rationale :
A significant proportion of information for these social protection programs is managed by three different program-specific Management Information Systems (MIS). Currently, the MISs are not able to communicate with another through exchange of data (information is collected via large scale data collection processes, not through data exchange with other information systems). These MISs serve several delivery chain functions for respective programs, including: (i) registration and enrolment of beneficiaries; (ii) compliance monitoring (where applicable); (iii) management of payments; (iv) support for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) processes; and (v) support for on-going management and planning. The MGCSW acknowledges that MISs – and the set-up of broader information systems serving the social protection sector – are intensely complex and bring risks in conflict-affected and humanitarian contexts such as South Sudan. This is highlighted most recently in DFID-supported research which notes the challenges in linking MISs involved in humanitarian response and social protection, including the need to consider protection issues and other important trade-offs.
That said, there are a number of potential advantages to improved information management in social protection in South Sudan.
These include :
- Increasing the responsiveness of social protection to large crises (e.g. natural disaster, conflict) or individual lifecycle shocks and stressors (e.g. job loss, disability, childbearing or old age) ;
- Strengthening coordination and linkages by supporting the planning and implementation of comprehensive social protection systems ;
- Addressing inequity by supporting investment – based on objective, comprehensive and comparable information – to address the uneven and unequal provision of social protection across social groups and administrative jurisdictions ;
- Improving efficiency and effectiveness by decreasing the burden on people, staff and government systems (eg. less paperwork) ;
- Enabling evidence-informed decision-making and management by increasing access to relevant data at all levels of implementation ;
- Reducing gaps and duplication across programmes and along the delivery chain ;
- Supporting improved processes for identification, verification, validation, processing and analysis to better manage and prevent error and fraud ;
- Enhancing accountability and citizen empowerment, through more transparency; providing oversight of multiple schemes and reporting; strengthened citizen engagement; and improved understanding of poverty and vulnerability.
Purpose/task & Expected Results :
The purpose of the consultancy is to support the MGCSW in understanding whether there are opportunities to improve the way social protection information is managed in South Sudan, and whether there is scope to strengthen the nexus between social protection and humanitarian action with reference to the various MISs currently used. A parallel and complementary process is underway to develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the NSPPF by MoGCSW with UNICEF support, including the identification of common indicators across various social protection programs.
The expected outputs from the consultancy is as follows :
- A mapping of MISs for social protection and related sectors in South Sudan ;
- A literature review to synthesise lessons on information management of social protection from similar contexts ;
- Technical guidance and recommendations on how the vision and goals can be achieved in the by MoGCSW and social protection development partners in the next 3 to 5 years.
The scope of this assignment does not extend to a capacity assessment of government with regard to information management. It is acknowledged that there is currently limited government capacity in the MGCSW regarding the management and administration of programme level MIS. However, there is a strong desire by stakeholders for the Ministry to strengthen its capacity such that it can oversee and administer an MIS in the near future – whether programme specific or integrated. The World Bank is currently exploring options for a capacity assessment with a view to the government taking over the SSSNP MIS when SSSNP concludes in 2022.
Qualifications and Competencies :
- Advanced university degree in public policies, economics, social policies or related field ;
- Over 10 years of experience related to social protection national data systems, preferably including fragile and conflict affected humanitarian settings, particularly in Africa ;
- Research experience on how delivery systems can facilitate responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness ;
- Strong skills in research, analysis, synthesis and report writing ;
- Facilitation skills and experience ;
- Excellent written and oral skills in English ;
- Ability to work effectively with people of different national, cultural and religious backgrounds.
Deliverables :
- Inception Report and workplan endorsed by Steering Committee (based on remote consultations and desk review) 5 days 31 November 2020 ;
- Literature review (between 10-15 pages, excluding annexes) of international approaches taken to management of social protection information with applicability to the South Sudan context. 10 days 31 December 2020 ;
- Completion and validation of a mapping report of the five MISs, with a focus on the categories outlined in Annex 1; a summary powerpoint 10 days 31 January 2021 ;
- Delivery of a workshop (onsite or virtual) for stakeholders to co-create a vision and series of high-level goals for management of social protection information in South Sudan; including development of presentation materials (powerpoints and summary report etc.) 10 days 28 February 2021 (TBC) ;
- Draft Report (no more than 20 pages, excluding annexes) with recommendations and guidance on the steps required over the coming three to five years towards achievement of the vision and high-level goals; a summary powerpoint. 10 days 15 March 2021 ;
- Final presentation of the key recommendations to stakeholders (virtual) 5 days 15 April 2021 ;
- Final report and materials, including Annexes based on feedback from stakeholders 5 days 31 May 2021 ;
- Total 55
ALL applicants should Accompanied Detailed technical and Financial proposal with a cover letter and pervious similar assignment : Home based, with potentially 1 onsite mission for 1 week to deliver workshop in 2021.
Payment Schedule : Payment is made on satisfactory completion of deliverables duly authorized by the Supervisor of contract. Note that it is expected that each deliverable be submitted to and reviewed by the Supervisor of the contract prior to proceeding to the next stage of the contract. All comments and inputs are expected to be addressed by the consultants, either through revision or justification
UNICEF Supervisor : Social Policy Specialist and second reporting, Chief, Social Policy, Planning, M&E (SPPME) section
Travel Clause :
- All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants/ Individual Contractors apply ;
- All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF ;
- The eligible maximum amount for travel is specified in the contract ;
- The consultant is responsible for his/her for travel arrangements. The most economic and direct route is authorized ;
- Travel costs will be reimbursed after the completion of mission. UNICEF will pay the applicable DSA rate and other travel related expenses upon submission of the invoice together with the supporting documentation.
Nature of Penalty Clause in Contract : If the final reports and documents are not submitted according to the deliverables stated in this TOR, the payments will be withheld. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines (fees reduced due to late submission: 20 days – 10%; 1 month -20%; 2 months -30%; more 2 months – payment withhold). All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.
Annex 1: Overview of Categories
The assignment is to map the relevant MISs and address the following categories and questions :
Category Description :
- Policy and institutional context • Operating principles for implementing agency that enable or impede the sharing of information from an MIS, or broader considerations related to data protection and humanitarian principles ;
- Targeting approach • Overarching approach adopted for targeting: who is being targeted, why and how (e.g. community-based targeting, means testing, PMT, geographical targeting, etc – or combinations), informing all other elements below. Should include description of approach adopted to determine eligibility (e.g. variables used for PMT) ;
- Registration • Process used for initial registration of potentially eligible households (household survey, community level selection, on demand, mobile desks – time and capacity involved, etc.)
• Variables collected at registration stage
• Approach to identification (if any – e.g. ID card, biometrics).
- Enrolment • Process used for enrolment of households that have been deemed eligible, i.e. beneficiaries (household visit, community selection, referrals, on demand, mobile desks – time and capacity involved, etc.)
• Additional variables collected at enrolment stage (vulnerability criteria)
• Approach to identification (if any – e.g. ID card, biometrics).
- Data verification & validation • Approach to deduplication (if any) :
• Internal consistency checks (if any)
• Approach to quality assurance, e.g. supervisions, spot checks, etc. (if any)
• Validation/cross-check against other databases (if any)
• Ensuring standardisation of content/formats, etc.(if any).
- Updating • Approach to maintaining data up to date to the extent possible (will depend on overarching approach to targeting, registration and enrolment) ;
- Coverage of the resulting database • Number of individuals and households registered and/or enrolled
• Geographic coverage of database
• Potential for scaling up of database.
- Data management, including data security/protection • How data is stored and managed (including details on database properties, software used, etc.)
• What data is stored and managed (what variables are retained beyond their initial use)
• Approach to guaranteeing data security and data protection (including assessment of adequacy vis-à-vis global standards).
- Data processing and analysis • Approach to data reporting/M&E (if any) and key insights from M&E ;
- Interoperability and data sharing • Access rights for different categories of users (UN/NGO/government, including decentralised units)
• Approach to data sharing (e.g. how is data shared in practice, if it is)
• Approach to interoperability (if any)
• Potential limitations to data sharing and interoperability in the future.
- Functionality for supporting programme operations • Beyond targeting, how the database and information system support programme operations (e.g. payments/delivery and case management).
a. Delivery of payments
b. Authentication of payments
c. Reconciliation of payments
d. Monitoring
e. Grievance Redress Mechanism
f. Other uses.
- Type/value/ frequency transfer or delivery • Type of transfer (cash, in kind etc.), value (monetary) per relevant unit (e.g. individual, household) and frequency of delivery – including a basic understanding of how delivery process is structured (e.g. in house or through private contractor)
Further categories may emerge as relevant during the assignment and can be integrated accordingly, in consultation with the Reference Group.
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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
Remarks :
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.