Uganda: Urbanization and child welfare: Evidence from Uganda - 2015

Organization: UN Children’s Fund

Country: Uganda

Closing date: 12 Dec 2014

Level: P4

Location: Kampala, Uganda

Duration: 30 Days

Background and Justification

With over 56 percent of the population below 18 years of age, and over 78 percent below the age of 35 years, Uganda’s vision to become a middle income country by 2040 remains highly contingent on Government’s ability to safeguard its children’s right to contribute to national development. Investing in its young population will enable Uganda to reap an unprecedented demographic dividend. Put differently, over the next 30 years, today’s children gradually transitioning into the labour force hold the potential to transform Uganda’s economy, and remodel the socio-economic future of the nation.

Notwithstanding Uganda’s remarkable record curbing income poverty from 56.4% to 19.7% of the population between 1992 and 2012, child poverty¹ remains high and widespread across the country. With over 50% of children under five living in poverty, and 1 in 5 living in extreme poverty, children’s experience of poverty and deprivation in Uganda varies widely by region, geographic location and socioeconomic status.Poverty and deprivation in childhood represent potentially irreversible violations of children’s basic rights and could severely jeopardise Uganda’s ability to reap the full benefits from the much-anticipated demographic dividend.

Although Uganda is predominantly a rural nation, with approximately 16% of the population living in urban areas, the rate of urbanization is among the world’s highest (4.5%).² Furthermore, approximately 60% of residents in Kampala live in informal settlements, where housing, sanitation and access to basic services are lacking. The projected rise in the number of urban dwellers will place an enormous challenge on local government that are already at capacity with regards to service provision.

The Child Poverty Report (2014) highlighted the urban-rural disparities in Uganda: rural children are more deprived than urban children in all six dimensions and the largest gaps for extreme deprivation occur in terms of sanitation (13.2% vs. 2.4%), water (12.8% vs. 2.1%) and health (17.3% vs. 3.4%). However, this ‘urban advantage’ is not shared by all city dwellers and official statistics that only depict averages tend to mask the actual living conditions of poor urban dwellers. Poor children in urban areas are therefore at risk of remaining invisible to policymakers unless disaggregated information and a more nuanced assessment of spatial disparities are disseminated widely.

Purpose of the Assignment and the Scope of Work

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development (MGLSD) and UNICEF Uganda, the consultant will analyze existing data (Child Poverty Report, National Household Survey, Demographic and Health Survey, etc.) with a view to provide a deepened understanding of the multidimensional nature of child poverty and wellbeing in urban settings.

This assignment aims to yield a careful assessment of the effects of urbanization on child welfare and access to basic services in Uganda. In doing so, this analysis is expected to provide clear and actionable policy recommendations to alleviate the burden of urbanization on children and vulnerable households, whilst identifying opportunities to strengthen social protection services for children in urban areas.

Objectives

1) Assess the effects of urbanization on children;

2) Building on the existing analysis in the Child Poverty Report, understand and quantify the depth of child poverty in urban areas, and its implications for child welfare and access to basic services;

3) Analyze and juxtapose the determinants of child poverty and deprivation in urban vs. rural areas, and construct poverty profiles for households with children living in deprivation in urban vs. rural areas;

4) Provide clear and actionable policy recommendations to make cities more livable for children and adolescents by alleviating the burden of urban poverty on children and vulnerable households.

Activities, Deliverables and Timeframe

NoActivities Deliverables Duration**1. Draft and finalize inception report demonstrating the understanding of the task, proposed methodology and proposed outline of final report Inception Report 3 days 2. Desk review, analysis and consultative meetings with relevant stakeholders Draft analysis of secondary data relating to urbanization and child welfare 18 days 3. Draft final report and present during validation meeting chaired by the MGLSD and UNICEF for discussion and inputs Draft Final Report 6 days 4. Incorporate comments/feedback from validation meeting into final report, summary and PowerPoint presentation Final Report, summary and PowerPoint presentation 3 days**Total Number of days 30 days****15 of which shall be in Kampala*

Expected Budget of the consultancy and terms of payment

Payment to the consultant is dependent on the completion and submission of deliverables of acceptable quality. The cost of the consultancy will be based on the award by UNICEF’s contract Committee. Other payments due to the consultant e.g. DSA will be negotiated with the consultant and in any case not higher than UNICEF official rates. The consultant will not be paid during days off and while on sick leave. Weekends are not calculated as part of working days. DSA will be payable only for the days when the consultant will be in Uganda as agreed between the two parties. UNICEF will meet costs for air ticket to Uganda for activities that require such travel. UNICEF will arrange transportation for the consultant when on mission to meet various stakeholders concerning data collection project.

• The Consultant will be paid 30% of total costs after commencement of assignment and on presentation of the final inception report.


• The second installment of 40% will be made upon submission of the final draft report


• The last instalment of 30% will be paid after the inclusion of comments from the presentation on key findings to key stakeholders

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is (are) incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. Performance indicators against which the satisfactory conclusion of this contract will be assessed include: timeliness/quality of submission and responsiveness to UNICEF and counterpart feedback.

DSA will be paid for the days when the consultant’s agent(s) is / are in Uganda.

Payments will be done by direct transfer into the bank account provided by the consultant.

Responsibilities

UNICEF Responsibilities

• Ensure the objectives for the consultancy are accurately articulated to all relevant stakeholders.


• Avail all relevant background documentation to the consultant.


• Pay the consultant fees and other related costs that relate to communication.

MGLSD Responsibilities

• Ensure the objectives for the consultancy are accurately articulated to all relevant stakeholders.


• Facilitate the process gathering relevant information/data, and organization of key informant interviews

Consultant’s Responsibilities

• Report to the Assistant Commissioner for Children and Youth (MGLSD) and Chief of Social Policy and Evaluation (UNICEF).


• Conduct all activities of the consultancy and submit quality and agreed deliverables in a timely manner.


• Provide invoices for completed work to enable UNICEF process payments.

Reporting requirements

· Inception report with clear methodology

· Draft analysis of secondary data relating to urbanization and child welfare

· Draft final report

· Final report

· Summary

· Presentation material

Required Education/Experience

· Qualifications: Advanced university degree in social sciences is required with proven experience of at least 10 years in social and economic research

· Extensive experience analyzing National Census data, Demographic and Health Surveys and/or National Household Surveys

· Knowledge of Uganda’s data sources, institutional set-up and child rights situation

· Good understanding on the effects of urbanization on child welfare

· Good analytical, communication, advocacy and report writing skills

· Computer literacy, especially with excel, is required

Conditions

v No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor.

v For international consultants outside the duty station, signed contracts must be sent by fax or email. Signed contract copy or written agreement must be received by the office before Travel Authorisation is issued.

v Payment to the consultant is dependent on the completion and submission of deliverables of acceptable quality.

v The cost of the consultancy will be based on the award by UNICEF’s contract Committee. Other payments due to the consultant e.g. DSA will be negotiated with the consultant and in any case not higher than UNICEF official rates.

v The consultant will not be paid during days off and while on sick leave. Weekends are not calculated as part of working days.

v Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.

v DSA will be payable only for the days when the consultant will be in Uganda as agreed between the two parties.

v Payments will be done by direct transfer into the bank account provided by the consultant.

v UNICEF will meet costs for air ticket to Uganda for activities that require such travel

v UNICEF will arrange transportation for the consultant when on mission to meet various stakeholders concerning data collection project.

v Air travel is by economical fare and reimbursement AS PER UNICEF POLICY;

Consultant to complete Waiver for Non-Staff issued with travel authorization in accordance with UNICEF Financial and Administrative Policy 5, Supplement 4 (B.2):

Consultant must complete basic security and advanced security in the field prior to travel.

The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF general terms and conditions for individual contracts.

Non-UNICEF staff (including individual consultants) issued with UNICEF Travel Authorization are not covered by the insurance which automatically applies to UNICEF staff, and are fully responsible for arranging their own insurance cover.

v Applicable UN DSA rates for subsistence and accommodation.

v Consultant will be required to sign the Health statement for consultants/Individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation.

v UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is (are) incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. Performance indicators against which the satisfactory conclusion of this contract will be assessed include: timeliness/quality of submission and responsiveness to UNICEF and counterpart feedback

As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary. The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.

Supervision and Administrative issue

Supervision will be provided by the Assistant Commissioner for Children and Youth (MGLSD) and the Chief of Social Policy and Evaluation (UNICEF).

While in Kampala, the consultant may work from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development or SPE/UNICEF office if this is convenient to him/her.

How to apply:

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested and eligible candidates / institutions should forward (1) a cover letter (the cover should indicate relevant experience, availability and daily rate), (2) Resume, (3) Personal History (P11) form, (4) two samples of previous similar work and (5) three references.

All applications should be sent in soft copy form to Ms. Allen Nakalo – anakalo@unicef.org and copied to Ms. Hildigunnur Engilbertsdottir – hengilbertsdottir@unicef.org not later than 12 December 2014.

All complete applications will be reviewed by a joint panel from MGLSD andSPE/UNICEF.

Note: Applications which do not meet the specified minimum requirements or are received after the closing date will not be considered. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Qualified women are particularly encouraged to apply.

UNICEF IS A NON-SMOKING WORKING ENVIRONMENT.

UNICEF IS COMMITTED TO GENDER BALANCE AND DIVERSITY WITHOUT DISTINCTION AS TO RACE, SEX OR RELIGION, AND WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.