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UNICEF’s current five-year country programme of cooperation in Iran (2023-2027) is aimed at ensuring that all children and adolescents, especially the most vulnerable, benefit from an integrated social protection system, which meets their needs for health, nutrition, education, water, sanitation and overall protection and well-being of children in both development and humanitarian settings. The programme also aims to ensure that children’s participation and inclusion in their communities are fully realised, allowing them to reach their full potential.
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Iran faces low female economic participation, with only about 15% of working-age women in the workforce, hindering national development. Young women (15-24) are disproportionately affected, with unemployment (32.5%) nearly double that of young men, compounded by demographic shifts and policies increasing domestic burdens.
Female-headed households (FHHs), numbering over 3.5 million and roughly half vulnerable, face significant barriers to economic independence, increasing risks of intergenerational poverty.
To address this, UNICEF collaborates with the Iranian government on initiatives like the "Cash Plus" program. Targeting FHHs and vulnerable young girls, it combines temporary cash aid with skills training, business support, and social security access.
This program uses a Human-Centered Design (HCD) approach, ensuring interventions are tailored to women's needs, fostering community ownership, and promoting collaboration for effective, sustainable solutions.
A key feature, derived from HCD, is individualized case management by social workers. This addresses participants' complex, interconnected challenges (financial, educational, health, housing, social well-being) through personalized, holistic plans aiming for overall well-being. Learning-to-earning activities are integrated with case goals, involving close coordination with government partners like the Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare Organization, and Technical and Vocational Training Organization.
OBJECTIVE / SCOPE OF WORK
The primary objective of this consultancy is to ensure the effective implementation of the Cash Plus Project in six counties, empowering Female Heads of Households (FHHs) and vulnerable young girls through a human centered approach. This will be achieved through two major objectives:
- Conducting Needs Assessment and Labor Market Analysis to inform Learning-to-Earning Opportunities: The consultancy team will conduct a comprehensive needs assessment and labor market analysis, differentiated by gender, within the target communities. Utilizing existing data and potentially collaborating with experts, the analysis will examine care systems, economic conditions, business development opportunities, and relevant online markets/jobs, considering various education levels for both men and women. Findings will be synthesized into actionable recommendations to inform the design and implementation of tailored learning-to-earning opportunities that address identified needs and leverage local market demands.
- Implementing a Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework: The consultancy team will develop and implement a robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework to track progress, assess impact, and ensure alignment with human-centered design principles. This includes evaluating the delivery and effectiveness of the Cash Plus components (cash assistance, social protection referrals, learning-to-earning opportunities). Using methods like observations, interviews, focus groups, and surveys, the team will gather both quantitative and qualitative data. This ongoing M&E process will provide real-time insights, enabling the team to proactively manage risks, adapt to challenges, and make adjustments to ensure the project achieves its intended outcomes. Regular reporting on progress, findings, and adaptive measures will be a key deliverable.
METHODOLOGY
The consultancy team will use a mixed-methods, participatory approach, grounded in Human Centered Design (HCD) principles. The other activities also involve Needs Assessment & Labor Market Analysis: Desk review, qualitative and quantitative data collection, and analysis to identify viable opportunities, and training gap analysis; M&E Framework: Baseline data collection, regular monitoring, impact evaluation, and reporting; and Data Management: A clear plan for collection, storage, analysis, and reporting.
ACTIVITIES, DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINES, BUDGET PER DELIVERABLE
This consultancy is structured around key deliverables, each with specific activities, timelines, and payment milestones. Budgets per deliverable will be determined based on scope, resources, and market rates. Timelines are indicative and subject to adjustment.
Phase 1: Inception & Assessment
- Inception Report & Detailed Work Plan (15 days, 10% payment): Includes initial UNICEF/stakeholder consultations, desk review, development of a detailed work plan (timelines, methodologies), and report submission/approval.
- Needs Assessment & Labor Market Analysis Report (30 days, 20% payment): Involves designing data collection tools, conducting field research (interviews, focus groups, surveys), analyzing data, developing recommendations for career paths and learning-to-earning opportunities, and report submission/approval.
- Learning-to-Earning Program Design & Implementation Plan (15 days, 10% payment): Based on the assessment, this includes designing detailed programs and developing an implementation plan (roles, timelines, partnerships), followed by plan submission/approval.
Phase 2: Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
- M&E Framework and Tools (15 days, 10% payment): Focuses on developing a comprehensive M&E framework (indicators, data collection, reporting), designing tools (questionnaires, guides), and framework submission/approval.
- Progress Reports (Baseline, Two Mid-terms, Final) (Ongoing, 40% payment): Covers collecting/analyzing data against indicators, submitting regular progress reports (achievements, challenges, lessons), conducting a final project evaluation assessing impact/effectiveness, and developing/submitting the final evaluation report.
Phase 3: Project Closeout
- Final Project Report & Documentation (15 days, 10% payment): Requires compiling a comprehensive final report summarizing all activities, outputs, and outcomes; ensuring proper documentation of project materials; and handing over all deliverables to UNICEF.
QUALIFICATIONS, SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AND ADDITIONAL COMPETENCIES
- Team Composition: The consultancy team should ideally be multi-disciplinary, comprising individuals with expertise in the following areas project management, research and analysis, gender and social development, monitoring and evaluation, community engagement, and local economic development and livelihood.
- Education: Advanced degree(s) (master’s or higher) in a relevant field such as social sciences, economics, development studies, gender studies, health, or a related discipline.
- Language Skills: Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required for project manager. Knowledge of Farsi is required for all.
- Specialized Experience of all team members combined:
- Experience in Iran (or similar context): Prior experience working in Iran or a similar socio-economic and cultural context is highly desirable. Familiarity with the specific challenges and opportunities related to female economic empowerment in the region would be beneficial.
- Experience with Female-Headed Households: Demonstrated experience working with and/or researching issues related to female-headed households, including their specific needs, vulnerabilities, and coping mechanisms.
- Experience in Labor Market Analysis: Proven experience in conducting local labour market assessments, including analysing employment trends, identifying skills gaps, and developing recommendations for training and employment programs.
- Experience in Program Design and Implementation: Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and monitoring development programs, particularly those focused on economic empowerment and social protection.
- Experience with Cash Transfer Programs (Preferred): Experience with cash transfer or "Cash Plus" programs would be an advantage.
- Experience with Community-Based Approaches: Demonstrated experience in applying community-based and human-centered approaches to development projects, ensuring community participation and ownership.
- Experience with M&E: Experience in developing and implementing M&E systems, including data collection, analysis, and reporting. Experience with both quantitative and qualitative M&E methods is essential.
- Experience of working with the national social protection stakeholders required.
- Previous working experience withing the UN system is an asset.
CONDITIONS OF WORK
The consultancy work will be conducted within Iran, and the team must provide its own office space and equipment, independent of UNICEF. The work involves various methods such as desk research, focus group discussions, stakeholder engagement, interviews, and surveys, all of which the consultancy team will manage.
The consultancy team is required to obtain and maintain insurance for the entire contract duration, any extensions, and a reasonable period afterward. This insurance must cover: (a) all risks related to their property and equipment used for the contract; (b) workers' compensation or equivalent for their personnel, sufficient for injury, death, disability claims, and legal benefit requirements related to the contract; and (c) adequate liability insurance covering claims like death, bodily injury, property loss/damage, and personal injury arising from the team's performance under the contract, including actions by their personnel, agents, or subcontractors.
The Consultant is responsible for paying all required travel costs, and UNICEF will not facilitate these travels.
The team must ensure the physical and psychological safety of children, adolescents, and other stakeholders during interactions by following safeguarding guidelines. The consultancy team is responsible for any costs or claims linked to the illness, injury, death, or disability of their personnel. They must ensure all personnel involved in the contract are adequately insured for service-related illness, injury, death, or disability. UNICEF assumes no responsibility for providing such insurance coverage.
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION
The technical evaluation includes three main criteria, and each is measured based on the scores assigned to sub-criteria for each assessed institution. The three main criteria include Overall Application, Capacity, Core Capabilities, and Qualifications, and Proposed Technical Proposal (Method and Approach).
Technical Criteria:
- Overall Application = 10 Points Maximum
- Consultancy Team Capacity, Core Capabilities, and Qualifications = 30 Points Maximum
- Profile/CV
- Education
- Academic Record
- Competencies, Capabilities, and Reach (Network)
- Competitive advantage over other consultancy teams
- Track record of expertise and experience in social protection programming and implementation
- 2 reference checks required
- Results achieved or performance reports of previous projects
- Previous UN contracts and duration
- Quality assurance procedures
- Proposed technical proposal (Method and Approach) = 40 Points Maximum
- Project management, monitoring and quality assurance process for the project
- Assessment of the effectiveness of the proposed approach (content, method, approaches, network)
- Quality of data analysis and synthesis methods
- Approach informed by benchmarking best practices (in line with UNICEF’s methods, approaches, and best practices)
- Compliance with Child Rights and alignment with underlying principles in Design and Approach2
- Total Maximum Technical score 80 Points
- Total Maximum Financial score 20 Points
NOTE FOR APPLICANTS:
The Consultancy team should submit a technical proposal and a financial offer. The technical proposal must include a plan and a timeline for conducting the consultancy and an overview of the subject to demonstrate his/her knowledge. The financial proposal (currency: Iranian Rial only) should contain detailed itemized Gantt Chart with financial component for each activity.
UNICEF is seeking to recruit a team for this position. Curriculum Vitae of the team lead, and all team members are required.
Attachments as per the supporting documents required.
Two references to be introduced to provide testimony on past performance.
Sharing samples of similar successful projects delivered is a plus.
- If short-listed based on the submitted technical and financial proposal, you may be contacted for an in-person interview, to discuss further details.
Appendix 1: Principles in Design and Approach
The following principles in addition to the standard considerations should be taken into contemplation other principles and guidelines are embedded in UNICEF values and guidelines.
Equity and Inclusiveness
UNICEF has an equity focus that informs the targeting of interventions and the need to address the specific barriers affecting marginalized groups. This is particularly important for integration of the minority and refugee adolescents as well as children with disabilities. Children in street situation, children at risk, refugee children, out of school children, children with disabilities and special needs, children with low socio-economic status, etc. are to be prioritized.
Life-cycle approach
UNICEF’s mandate spans the whole life cycle of children and adolescents and can ensure coherence and continuity in programming.
Participation and Engagement
Participation is a fundamental right of every child – children of all ages, from all communities, of all abilities, and in all parts of society. The perspectives of children are essential to ensure that the policies, services and facilities they use or affect them reflect and address their concerns, ideas and priorities. Children have unique insight into their own lives, which will offer important perspectives that are likely to be missed if excluded.
Child Safeguarding and Protection
Children and adolescents should be protected before, during, and after their participation in the programme. This includes physical, mental, and other aspects of their well-being and online, digital, and other environs to which they are exposed to. UNICEF guidelines for safeguarding, child (online) protection, and privacy protection as well as the global conventions and guidelines such as the ILO Convention No. 138 are to be considered during implementation. In addition, it includes consent from the parents or legal guardians for participation in the study, if any. Ref: UNICEF’s Child Safeguarding Toolkit for Business (2018)
Gender Sensitive and Responsive
The analysis of needs and capacities should also be at least gender sensitive and responsive.
Risk-informed Development-Based Interventions
This programme should be considered as a risk-informed development intervention with the set objectives.
Leveraging Networks and partnerships
Partnership and wide network engagement are keys to a successful delivery. The emphasis here is on technical support that well-positioned partners can provide; given their comparative advantage and network reach.
Monitoring and Evaluation
A robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System should be in place with indicators. UNICEF will co-develop an M&E System with indicators for the pilot and main implementation phases.
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According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
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.
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.
