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2 national consultants on providing support to the Division on De-Institutionalization and Child Protection at MoE in conducting a cost analysis of state child care services and their transformation to alternative child care services

Terms of Reference: 2 national consultants on providing support to the Division on De-Institutionalization and Child Protection at MoE in conducting a cost analysis of state child care services and their transformation to alternative child care services

1. Program information:

Program (No. & Name) : Social System Strengthening
Project (No. & Name) : 0039 YI205-10, CP: Child Care Reform
Activity Reference : 0039 YI205-10-001, Technical assistance in implementation of the National Master Plan for Transformation of selected child care institutions

2. Background and Context: (Attach background documents, if necessary)

According to the UNICEF Azerbaijan Country Program for 2005-2009, which is based on the UNDAF for Azerbaijan (United Nations Development Assistance Framework) the child protection reform is one of the priority areas. Additionally, UNICEF Azerbaijan signed the Annual Work Plan for 2010 with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, in which all parties agreed to work jointly towards the implementation of the child care reform to enhance the implementation of the Presidential State Program on De-Institutionalization and Alternative Care.

In March 2006 the President of the Azerbaijani Republic endorsed the State Program on De-Institutionalization and Alternative Care for 2006-2015 aimed at reintegration of children residing currently in various state institutions (de-institutionalization) with biological or foster families and at creation of alternative care services to support the de-institutionalization process . Division on De-institutionalization and Child Protection was established in 2009 in order to strengthen and coordinate the implementation of the State Program. According to the databank on profiles of institutionalized children established by the Division on De-institutionalization and Child Protection as of 2009 there were 10,054 children staying in the state care system, including 6,094 children who stay there permanently. 40% of those children have both biological parents, 45% have one parent and only 28% of them are permanently staying in the institutions overnight.

Since 2007 UNICEF has been providing technical assistance first to the De-I Division later reformed to the Division on De-institutionalization and Child Protection through local and international experts. As of now there has been two major consultancies in view of the support to the De- institutionalization process in the country. The first one, provided by international expert Ms. Irina Malanciuc, was related to the development of the Master Plan of Transformation of residential institutions and encompassed general reccommnedations as well as action plan for transformation of residential institutions in Khazar and Surakhani districts. Its implementation in 2008-2009 resulted in transformation of 9 residential institutions. Another consultancy implemented in parallel and support of the first one by Mr. David Larter was on the comparative cost analysis of state child care services vs. alternative ones. The study proved that the costs of most alternative services in the country are lower than those of residential care. The study justified the need for further budget analysis of concrete institutions planned to be transformed along with the cost of transformation to provide the evidence on cost-effectiveness of alternative child care services and to advocate for adequate allocations in State Budget.

3. Purpose of the assignment

Provide technical assistance to the Division on De-institutionalization and Child Protection within the MoE on conducing a cost analysis of current child care services versus alternative ones planned in the course of transformation with the goals to:

1. Develop detailed financial transformation projection for five child care institutions.

2 Increase the capacities of the De-I Division staff in conducting cost analysis in social/child protection sector.

4. Duty station: Baku, Azerbaijan (in and outside of the country)

5. Supervisor: The work will be supervised by UNICEF Child Protection Officer with the general guidance of UNICEF Deputy Representative. The consultancy report will be submitted to the Minister of Education and UNICEF Representative.

6. Major tasks to be accomplished:

The consultant will be responsible for:

• Analyze the budget of state child care services provided in 3 institutions (boarding schools and children’s institutions) of Khazar district and 2 institutions of Surakhani districts including the following:
 expenses aimed directly at children
 maintenance costs
 education costs
 division of costs by day-care and overnight services
• Analyze and identify savings and additional costs required for transformation
• Identification of additional and abolished positions required for the transformation into day-care services
• Analyze and identify savings, additional costs, as well as additional and abolished positions required for the transformation of sanatorium type boarding schools into lyceums and gymnasiums
• Study existing experience of NGOs providing family and community based services
• Consider costs for additional services, such as sheltering, foster care and either day-care or rehabilitation.
• Providing technical assistance and capacity building to the Division on De-institutionalization and Child Protection on bud getting issues and child care costing analysis.
• Developing of a draft cost analysis and executive summary in an UNICEF format for the current and transformation cost of child care services. It should include a rough estimate of possible changes in financial allocations in the government budget which would provide a more balanced relationship between budgetary allocations for family- and child support services.
• In the framework of the report provide detailed budget projection as possible (within the limitations of time and data availability) on the cost of alternative services for the year 2011-2012.
• De-briefing meetings with UNICEF Representative and Child Protection Section;
• Developing of an interim and final implementation reports to the MoE and UNICEF

7. Deliverables:
1. Interim reports on each institution to be submitted upon the completion of the overall cost benefit analysis
2. On-job training for the Division on De-institutionalization and Child Protection staff in conducting cost analysis in social/child protection sector - provision of a brief report on capacity building and recommended follow up actions
3. Final report in e- version including the analysis of national and local budgetary sources for each of the five institutions versus projected costs required after the transformation. The final report should not exceed 40 pages
4. Presentation of the outcomes of the analysis for the Government and civil society

8. Time-Frame:

The selected consultants will work full-time for the period of 6 months (June-December 2010). The exact schedule of the activities will be agreed with the consultant based on the consultancy implementation progress. The deadline for submission of final deliverables to UNICEF is 15 December 2010.

Phase 1: Khazar district, Baku. 25 working days: Gathering data in the 1st child care institution in Khazar. Submission of the draft outcomes (mid June-mid July)

Phase 2: Khazar district, Baku. 25 working days: Gathering data in the 2nd child care institution in Khazar. Submission of the draft outcomes (mid July – mid August)

Phase 3: Khazar district, Baku. 25 working days: Gathering data in the 3rd child care institution in Khazar. Submission of the draft outcomes (mid August – mid September)

Phase 4: Surakhani district, Baku. 25 working days: Gathering data in the 1st child care institution in Surakhani. Submission of the draft outcomes (mid September – mid October)

Phase 5: Surakhani district, Baku. 25 working days: Gathering data in the 2nd child care institution in Surakhani. Submission of the draft outcomes (mid October – mid November)

Phase 6: Baku. 20 days: Development of final report, collection of missing data. Internal presentation of the draft report and discussion with stakeholders, including Government, UNICEF and civil society. On-job capacity building for the staff of the Division on De-institutionalization and Child Protection ( 10 December)

Phase 7: Baku. 5 working days. Presentation of the final draft report to the Government and civil society. Agreement on the follow up actions (15 December)

9. Qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience required:

• Advanced university degree and/or academic background in economics, finance, accountancy, bookkeeping;
• Minimum 5 years work experience in dealing with accountancy of child care institutions
• Proven very good communication skills with government and community members;
• Analytical and conceptual skills and ability;
• Fluent in Azerbaijani (written and spoken); knowledge of English would be an asset;
• Good knowledge of computer applications;
• Ability to work with international and multicultural environment.

10. Procedures and logistics:

All additional costs, if applicable, will be covered based on UNICEF standards. UNICEF does not provide or arrange health insurance coverage for consultants.

11. Application:
Interested individual should send:
a) a cover letter;
b) individual resume;
c) reference of previous relevant work (if applicable);
in a sealed envelop/email to:
Head of Section
__________________________
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
24 S.Dadashev St., AZ1073
Baku, Azerbaijan
or send the documents mentioned above electronically to baku@unicef.org
All applications will be treated with strict confidentiality. UNICEF is an equal opportunity employer.

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

Deadline: June 09, 2010

For further information please contact: Munir Mammadzade , Child Protection Officer,
mmammadzade@unicef.org 99412 4923013 (ext 102)

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