UNICEF Uganda Terms of Reference (ToR) PROJECT/ASSIGNMENT TITLE: Integration of child poverty analysis in national statistics WORK PLAN CODE NUMBER: Specific Intervention Code: 4.1.5 / 4.1.6 Activity: Child poverty / National statistics Objective While there is little dispute that, over the past two decades, Uganda experienced remarkable economic growth, falling income poverty, and relative political stability, Ugandan children, women and men s experience of poverty remains closely correlated to their surrounding environment. Like development, poverty is multidimensional. This important recognition makes it particularly important to broaden the common perception and measure of poverty beyond traditional household income- or consumption-based approaches. Multidimensional approaches complement monetary measures of poverty by enriching information from one approach with that from the other, and merging the findings from these two approaches holds great potential to yield a more coherent set of policy recommendations. Put differently, this enhanced approach to poverty analysis enriches the discussion of poverty trends by drawing attention to aspects of poverty and well-being neglected by the simple construction of consumption expenditure based poverty indicators. In the interest of integrating child poverty measures in national statistics, in close collaboration with UNICEF and the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBoS) successfully piloted the inclusion of child poverty in the Uganda National Panel Survey (UNPS) through the careful design and effective integration of a consensual deprivation module in the last wave of data collection. On the basis of this experience, and with a view to fully integrate child poverty analysis in national statistics, UBoS, EPRC and UNICEF are seeking the services of an experienced institution to provide technical support to administer and analyse both quantitative and qualitative aspects of the consensual deprivation approach in the imminent Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) 2016/17. Scope of work Child poverty hampers child development, educational outcomes, job prospects, health, and behavior, oftentimes resulting into the chronic intergenerational transmission of poverty. In this respect, with close to 57% 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. A healthy, educated and empowered young population will enable Uganda to reap an unprecedented demographic dividend. Over the next 30 years, today s children gradually transitioning into an already dynamic labour force hold the potential to transform Uganda s economy, and remodel the socio-economic future of the nation. The global transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reaffirms a stark commitment to tackling poverty, and in particular to addressing child poverty. Children can experience poverty even when household income is above the poverty line. Whereas income poverty provides a vital measure of child poverty and vulnerability, it does not sufficiently capture the extent and depth of deprivations suffered by children.
A better understanding of child poverty in Uganda requires conscious efforts to deepen the scope of traditional poverty measures by augmenting Uganda s rich UNHS with a more deprivation-centered analytical tool. The consensual deprivation approach aims to identify key areas of deprivation suffered by children, whilst democratizing the definition and measurement of national poverty indicators. Key Deliverables Under the overall supervision and guidance of UNICEF Uganda, the aim of this initiative is to support and build the capacity of the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBoS) and the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) to integrate child poverty in national statistics. Key deliverables include: (i) Data collection Nested within the UNHS 2016/17, through the careful administration of the consensual deprivation approach, this initiative is expected to generate a wide range of quantitative and qualitative data in support of Government s efforts to broaden the scope of poverty analysis. In close collaboration with UBoS, EPRC and UNICEF Uganda, the supporting institution will be required to assist UBoS during the collection of quantitative data, and take a leading role in all qualitative aspects of the data collection process (e.g. UBoS enumerator training, data gathering and management), whilst ensuring that the data originating from the consensual deprivation survey tools is of the highest quality. This may involve timely and rigorous training of local counterparts on relevant data collection and analysis techniques pertinent to the consensual deprivation methodology. (ii) Data analysis Upon data collection, in partnership with UBoS, EPRC and UNICEF Uganda the supporting institution will be required to lead data analysis in a collaborative and consultative manner and ultimately be responsible for the production of a national poverty report with a focus on children (0-17 years of age). Whereas the report structure will be agreed among all involved parties upon the results of the analysis, at a minimum the final document shall include the following elements of analysis: 1. Executive Summary 2. Introduction 3. Methodology (guiding principles), data 4. National Poverty Profile i. Situation of non-monetary poverty ii. Situation of monetary poverty iii. Overlap between the two iv. Some profiling (e.g. sub-national) 5. Child Poverty i. Situation of non-monetary poverty for all children (0-17) ii. Situation of monetary poverty for all children (0-17) iii. Overlap between the two iv. Equity mapping / lifecycle / geographic / socio-economic status: Indicators, deprivation per dimension, full distribution of deprivation, proportion with 2+ v. Inequality profiling - who are the most deprived? 6. Policy recommendations N.B. In order to gain access to the UNHS 2016/17 data prior to its launch, in view of this partnership agreement, the supporting institution will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with UBoS, EPRC and UNICEF Uganda aimed at safeguarding any release of data prior to its official launch.
(iii) Dissemination and advocacy With a view to translate the results of the analysis into real and actionable policy actions to alleviate the burden of poverty on children and other vulnerable groups in Uganda, the supporting institution will support UNICEF, UBoS and EPRC develop a concise summary of the final report along with a comprehensive set of policy briefs to guide the dissemination / advocacy strategy. (iv) Capacity building The process of collecting and analyzing the data emerging from the consensual deprivation approach is as important as the final report. To this end, the supporting institution ought to invest time and effort in transferring technical expertise by building the capacity of UBoS and EPRC in qualitative data collection, data processing, and quality control. In country trainings and targeted analytical sessions are expected to transfer the required technical skills to local institutions with a view to broaden the scope of poverty analysis and integrate child poverty analysis in national statistics. In addition to in-country trainings organized in partnership with UNICEF, UBoS and EPRC, the supporting institution will be required to organize a training for trainers workshop and host within the institution select members of UNICEF, UBoS, EPRC and UNICEF Uganda with a view to equip local researchers and development practitioners with the skillset required to deepen child poverty analysis by further utilizing the consensual deprivation approach to its full potential. Responsibilities UNICEF Responsibilities Ensure the objectives for the consultancy are accurately articulated to all relevant stakeholders. Avail relevant background documentation to the consultant. Review of draft documents from the consultancy and provide feedback to the consultant. Pay the consultant fees and other related costs that relate to communication. Consultant s Responsibilities Conduct all key deliverables of the consultancy and submit quality and agreed deliverables on a timely manner, and lead dissemination / advocacy strategy in partnership with UBoS, EPRC and UNICEF Uganda. Provide invoices for completed work to enable UNICEF process payments. UBoS and EPRC Responsibilities Ensure national ownership. Support the consultant to participate in the UNHS data collection, participate in in-country and off-site trainings, and contribute to data analysis and report writing. Timing: 1 st November 2016 to 31 st December 2017 Timing of key deliverables tied to the UNHS 2016/17 data collection / processing process. Qualification Requirements Experience required:
Substantial international experience of the consensual deprivation approach conceptual framework and its application to child poverty analysis; In depth knowledge of Uganda s rich history of poverty analysis, as well as the national institutional set-up at the heart of this growingly sophisticated tradition; Insight on the status of child poverty in Uganda, especially with regards to Government s efforts to integrate child poverty in national statistics; In-country exposure, and substantial experience conducting rigorous data collection for large surveys, producing timely and high quality analytical reports, coaching and capacity building. Expected Budget for the Consultancy and Terms of Payment Payment to the institution 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 consulting team e.g. DSA will be negotiated with the consultant and in any case not higher than UNICEF official rates. The consulting team 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 consulting team 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 consulting team when on mission to meet various stakeholders concerning data collection project. The institution will be paid 30% of total costs after commencement of assignment and on presentation of the final inception report. The second and last installment of 70% will be made upon submission of all deliverables. 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. Payments will be done by direct transfer into the bank account provided by the institution. Timing/Duration of Contract: This contract will begin on 1 st November 2016 and end on 31 st December 2017. For avoidance of doubt, the specific dates for delivery of outputs will be closely tied to the UNHS 2016/17 data collection / processing process. Duty Station: The consulting team will work from their office but will travel to Kampala on agreed dates to carry out agreed activities and conduct consultations with stakeholders. Administrative issue While in Kampala, the consulting team may work from the UNICEF office if this is convenient to him/her. Conditions See Annexes 1: Policy that the consultant should be aware of Application Instructions All applications including (i) organizational profile, (ii) proven experience of similar work including names of organizations and period, (iii) details of the consultancy team and their CVs, and (iv) a detailed work-plan inclusive of a financial proposal should be dropped in the bid box located at the UNICEF Kampala reception (Plot 9, George Street, Kampala) or sent by email to ugdebid@unicef.org not later than 11 October 2016.
Annex 1: Policy that the consultant should be aware of (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii) (ix) Consultants are not paid for weekends or public holidays. Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement. No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor. 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. No consultant may travel without a signed travel authorization prior to the commencement of the journey to the duty station. Unless authorized, UNICEF will buy the tickets of the consultant. In exceptional cases, the consultant may be authorized to buy their travel tickets and shall be reimbursed at the most economical and direct route but this must be agreed to beforehand. Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget. 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. The Form 'Designation, change or revocation of beneficiary' must be completed by the consultant upon arrival, at the HR Section.