Niger: Lead International Individual Consultant for private sector mapping

1. Background & Purpose:

Niger is a landlocked Sahelian country of 21.5 million people, most of whom live in rural areas (84%). The population is young, with 58% of Nigeriens being under 18, and nearly half of the population is poor, despite reductions in the poverty rate over the past decade. The country, which ranked last on the 2017 Human Development Index, sees its development constrained by several factors: high population growth, climatic conditions that hinder rural development, vulnerability due to the absence of economic diversification, gender equality issues, low levels of literacy and education, and the size and landlocked nature of the country, which obstruct the provision of essential goods and services to the population.

In addition, Niger is confronted to recurrent crises. For many years, the country has suffered from chronic food insecurity, and faced food and nutrition crises in 2010 and 2012. It also regularly experiences epidemics, including cholera, as well as floods. Moreover, instability in the Sahel region has in recent years led to insecurity and population displacement, especially in the eastern part of the country affected by the armed conflict with Boko Haram and in western and southern areas bordering with Mali and Burkina Faso.

UNICEF supports the efforts of the Government of Niger to improve the situation of women and children, focusing on the following seven sectors through its 2019-2021 programme of cooperation: health, nutrition, water, hygiene and sanitation, education, child protection, and social inclusion, and adolescent and social norms. The vision for the new country programme is to support the Government towards ensuring that all children, especially the most vulnerable, enjoy their rights; adolescents and youth are empowered; communities and systems are strengthened and resilient; and humanitarian assistance and development address the structural causes of fragility and vulnerability.

While UNICEF Niger relies on a wide range of public sector partners to support these efforts, private sector engagement has been very limited. As per the 2017-2021 UNICEF Western and Central Africa Regional Private Sector Strategy, based on both supply (presence of private sector) and demand (child need) criteria, Niger is among the countries with medium to high potential for multiple forms of engagement with the private sector. Furthermore, UNICEF Niger is in the process of developing a resource mobilization strategy for its 2019-2021 country programme. The timing is thus adequate to better understand the private sector in Niger, its impact on children and the opportunities for financial and non-financial engagement to bring results for children.

2. Objective(s) of the consultancy:

The lead consultant, assisted by a national consultant, will conduct a private sector mapping to identify the main sectors, companies, and to a lesser extent foundations and high net-worth individuals (HNWIs) present in Niger or who have interest in and/or ties with Niger, to assess how business practices in these sectors / companies affect children's rights, and to advise UNICEF on which of these actors to pursue financial and non-financial partnerships with.

3. Specific activities to be completed to achieve the objectives:

4. Specific outputs/products/results :

Deliverables

Timeframe

Percentage payable per deliverable

National consultant selected

Within 2 weeks of application deadline

5%

Workplan for conducting consultancy (in French)

Within 3 days of the national consultant's start date

5%

Report presenting mapping of sectors, companies, foundations and HNWIs including (but not limited to) the following information: sector(s) of activity, economic weight, size as employer, geographic presence / interests, level of influence (in business community, political arena and the public at large), activity or interest in corporate social responsibility initiatives, contact information (in French)

Within 1 month of the national consultancy's start date

40%

Assessment of business practices on children's rights in three to five key sectors (in French)

Within 3 weeks once UNICEF has selected the key sectors

30%

Set of prioritization criteria and initial recommendations on who to engage with for potential financial and non-financial partnerships (in French)

Within 1 week of the assessment of key sectors becoming available

20%

Any delays in the achievement of deliverables will have to be discussed and approved by UNICEF Niger.

5. Qualifications and/or specialized knowledge/experience required and desirable for undertaking the assignment:

6. Duration of the assignment:

The consultancy will be completed within a maximum period of four (4) months and will not exceed three months after the national consultant's start date.

7. Supervision:

The Reports and Knowledge Management Specialist will supervise the consultant.

8. Fees:

Candidates are asked to submit an all-inclusive fee for their services, based on the deliverables. Payments will be made upon submission of the deliverables, as per the table in section 4.

9. Travel:

While the consultancy will be home-based, travel to Niamey, Niger will be necessary. Candidates must include travel (economy class, most direct and cheapest route, as per UNICEF travel procedures) and daily subsistence allowance/per diem as part of their all-inclusive fee.

10. Duty Station and work arrangements

The consultancy will be home-based with travel to Niamey, Niger. The consultant will be responsible to provide his/her own computer and other standard IT equipment to perform his/her duty.

11. How to Apply

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.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=520846