- Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund
- Country: Ghana
- City: Accra
- Office: UNICEF Accra
- Follow @UNjobs
UNICEF House | 4-8 Rangoon Close | Ward 24 | Cantonments, Accra
Closing date: Monday, 15 August 2016
Job no: 498225
Work type: Consultancy
Location: Ghana
Categories: Social and Economic Policy
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.
For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
Purpose of the Assignment
To support building of capacity of LEAP MIS team to consolidate all data collected in expansion phases, enrolment, epayment reconciliation and monitoring and immediate entry into LEAP Management Information System (MIS).
Background
The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme was introduced in 2008 and is now administered by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and managed by the Department of Social Welfare. LEAP provides financial support to the extreme poor and vulnerable families who have members that fall into at least one of the four categories: elderly (aged 65 and above), severely disabled who are unable to work, carers of orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) and pregnant women or families with infants under 12 months. As of July 2016, LEAP is reaching over 147,000 families in all 10 regions of the country.
Since its introduction, the LEAP programme has progressed through many implementation revisions and improvements, from manual processes to automated data capture, storage and payment. As a result, the programme has seen improved accountability and transparency over the years. Additionally, the programme has scaled up dramatically, seeing increasing political support and funding allocated to social protection and LEAP. Currently the Government is expanding to an additional 50,000 households while planning to target 50,000 more households by end of 2016 while continually updating operational processes such as M&E and payments.
Since the start of the programme, UNICEF has supported LEAP in
improving its operations to be able to use its resources efficiently and
effectively. In 2015/16, UNICEF's support has focused on important
pillars of LEAP's operations including Monitoring and Evaluation
(M&E), Independent Monitoring Checks (IMC), improved targeting
processes, targeting expansion, communications, data management and
Management Information System (MIS) development.
LEAP Expansion
The current expansion targeting, which began in early 2016 is nearing completion with a total of 131,500 households have been enumerated out of the target 150,000. For the first time, this large scale expansion was undertaken using computer assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) and mobile targeting units, a method adopted from positive experiences targeting LEAP 1000 households. UNICEF has provided continuous support in this process, from design of the data collection application, to monitoring and supervision of field work and hands on support to LMP to clean and analyse the data (i.e. rank the households). The Ministry will commence a second expansion phase starting in August 2016 utilizing the same technology and methodology while. UNICEF will continue to provide the necessary technical support to the LEAP team, monitoring data quality and supporting integration of data with the existing LEAP MIS and enrollment activities for this large data set. Additionally, as the Ghana National Household Registry (GNHR) begins targeting, the LMP will begin to devise a method to utilize GNHR data for identification of LEAP eligible households.
E-Payment
Beginning in May, 2016, the Ministry began enrolling all 147,000+ households onto epayment through the service provider GhIPPS (Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited). As a result of this switch from manual cash payments (using Ghana Post) to epayments, the requirements for monitoring of payments has changed. LEAP will be supported to ensure that DSWOs are able to monitor and document household payments using this new payment methodology. Additionally, the information gathered in these monitoring visits must be ably integrated into the existing LEAP MIS.
Additionally, a reconciliation function will be designed that enables data from the epayment service provider, GhIPPS, to be integrated into the payment modules of the LEAP MIS. In the past, payment reconciliation was completed after manual entry into the MIS. However, with the payment data now coming from an external data source (i.e. GhIPPS), LEAP can reconcile payments automatically if the MIS can be modified appropriately.
Direct Entry Modality for LEAP
Under a directive from the Minister of Gender, the LEAP programme is currently designing a modality to allow for direct entry onto the LEAP roster, without Proxy Means Test (PMT) ranking. This modality will be utilized for households who are highly vulnerable to falling into poverty and require social protection support, though through a different identification means than the PMT can offer (i.e. persons living in leper colonies, witch camps, etc.) as well as those affected by disaster or emergency requiring temporary support. The LEAP programme will develop a systematic methodology for identification, registration and integration of such households/persons into the LEAP MIS while maintaining transparency, accountability and the capability to monitor and verify them.
In line with UNICEF's strategic approach in moving towards greater upstream technical work to support the GoG in the strengthening of the LEAP programme and social protection system in Ghana, and to capitalize on previous investments, UNICEF will contract the short-term senior expert as part of the agreed Annual Work Plan activities for 2015-16. Given the nature of the support to be provided to the Government, the expert will be recruited for 120 working days spread over 11.5 month period to ensure the key tasks can be performed.
Objectives
The main objective of the consultancy is to continue to support UNICEF and the LEAP team in ensuring that as LEAP processes are revised and operationalized, that they are adequately integrated into the existing MIS and modus operandi of the LEAP programme.
Specifically, the senior consultancy aims at achieving the following
LEAP Expansion
Education
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 organisation.
Advertised: Aug 01 2016 GMT Standard Time
Application close: Aug 15 2016 GMT Standard Time
Work type: Consultancy
Location: Ghana
Categories: Social and Economic Policy
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.
For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
Purpose of the Assignment
To support building of capacity of LEAP MIS team to consolidate all data collected in expansion phases, enrolment, epayment reconciliation and monitoring and immediate entry into LEAP Management Information System (MIS).
Background
The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme was introduced in 2008 and is now administered by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and managed by the Department of Social Welfare. LEAP provides financial support to the extreme poor and vulnerable families who have members that fall into at least one of the four categories: elderly (aged 65 and above), severely disabled who are unable to work, carers of orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) and pregnant women or families with infants under 12 months. As of July 2016, LEAP is reaching over 147,000 families in all 10 regions of the country.
Since its introduction, the LEAP programme has progressed through many implementation revisions and improvements, from manual processes to automated data capture, storage and payment. As a result, the programme has seen improved accountability and transparency over the years. Additionally, the programme has scaled up dramatically, seeing increasing political support and funding allocated to social protection and LEAP. Currently the Government is expanding to an additional 50,000 households while planning to target 50,000 more households by end of 2016 while continually updating operational processes such as M&E and payments.
| |
LEAP Expansion
The current expansion targeting, which began in early 2016 is nearing completion with a total of 131,500 households have been enumerated out of the target 150,000. For the first time, this large scale expansion was undertaken using computer assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) and mobile targeting units, a method adopted from positive experiences targeting LEAP 1000 households. UNICEF has provided continuous support in this process, from design of the data collection application, to monitoring and supervision of field work and hands on support to LMP to clean and analyse the data (i.e. rank the households). The Ministry will commence a second expansion phase starting in August 2016 utilizing the same technology and methodology while. UNICEF will continue to provide the necessary technical support to the LEAP team, monitoring data quality and supporting integration of data with the existing LEAP MIS and enrollment activities for this large data set. Additionally, as the Ghana National Household Registry (GNHR) begins targeting, the LMP will begin to devise a method to utilize GNHR data for identification of LEAP eligible households.
E-Payment
Beginning in May, 2016, the Ministry began enrolling all 147,000+ households onto epayment through the service provider GhIPPS (Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited). As a result of this switch from manual cash payments (using Ghana Post) to epayments, the requirements for monitoring of payments has changed. LEAP will be supported to ensure that DSWOs are able to monitor and document household payments using this new payment methodology. Additionally, the information gathered in these monitoring visits must be ably integrated into the existing LEAP MIS.
Additionally, a reconciliation function will be designed that enables data from the epayment service provider, GhIPPS, to be integrated into the payment modules of the LEAP MIS. In the past, payment reconciliation was completed after manual entry into the MIS. However, with the payment data now coming from an external data source (i.e. GhIPPS), LEAP can reconcile payments automatically if the MIS can be modified appropriately.
Direct Entry Modality for LEAP
Under a directive from the Minister of Gender, the LEAP programme is currently designing a modality to allow for direct entry onto the LEAP roster, without Proxy Means Test (PMT) ranking. This modality will be utilized for households who are highly vulnerable to falling into poverty and require social protection support, though through a different identification means than the PMT can offer (i.e. persons living in leper colonies, witch camps, etc.) as well as those affected by disaster or emergency requiring temporary support. The LEAP programme will develop a systematic methodology for identification, registration and integration of such households/persons into the LEAP MIS while maintaining transparency, accountability and the capability to monitor and verify them.
In line with UNICEF's strategic approach in moving towards greater upstream technical work to support the GoG in the strengthening of the LEAP programme and social protection system in Ghana, and to capitalize on previous investments, UNICEF will contract the short-term senior expert as part of the agreed Annual Work Plan activities for 2015-16. Given the nature of the support to be provided to the Government, the expert will be recruited for 120 working days spread over 11.5 month period to ensure the key tasks can be performed.
Objectives
The main objective of the consultancy is to continue to support UNICEF and the LEAP team in ensuring that as LEAP processes are revised and operationalized, that they are adequately integrated into the existing MIS and modus operandi of the LEAP programme.
Specifically, the senior consultancy aims at achieving the following
- Data collected from LEAP expansion is accurately integrated into the LEAP MIS;
- The existing LEAP MIS is updated to allow for automatic reconciliation of payment information from GhIPPS in addition to the potential for revised monitoring information of payment;
- A robust and accountable modality is designed for direct entry onto LEAP for special vulnerable populations;
- Capacity of the LEAP MIS team is continually strengthened to perform necessary MIS functions.
LEAP Expansion
- Review targeting data for expansion phase, ensuring quality standards are met for PMT scoring and enrollment onto LEAP;
- Develop scoring modality for inclusion of urban households on LEAP;
- Develop a web based dashboard that can be linked to the LEAP website (currently under development), allowing for sharing of up to date MIS statistics;
- Develop reconciliation process for payment data from GhIPPS into MIS (epayments);
- Make necessary updates to MIS in line with improved operations of LEAP Programme processes;
- Develop data integration platform and process to enable use of Ghana National Household Registry (GNHR) data for LEAP;
- Based on consultations with the Ministry, LEAP and other stakeholders, develop a data capture structure for the MIS that enables direct entry onto LEAP (bypassing PMT ranking) while still maintaining programme accountability;
- Assist in developing a documentation requirement and verification/certification requirements for immediate entry including the necessary attachment of scanned copies of immediate entry instructions;
- Develop table of authority and necessary administrator rights to the officers in charge of immediate entry enrollment;
- Conduct quarterly capacity development trainings for MIS officers and other necessary LEAP colleagues (1 day per training workshop);
- Develop necessary Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for new MIS processes and ensure MIS team are conversant in the necessary processes;
- Provide day to day on the job training for MIS team, as needed.
- Expansion phase targeting and enrollment data adequately incorporated into LEAP MIS;
- Web based dashboard to link MIS and LEAP website;
- Guidance note on data reconciliation modality between GhIPPS payment data and LEAP MIS;
- Guidance note on direct entry modality for institutional and emergency targeting;
- Report on MIS revisions in line with LEAP operational process improvements;
- Guidance note on integration of Ghana National Household Registry data into LEAP MIS;
- Powerpoint presentations from three quarterly capacity development workshops.
Education
- Advanced degree in Computer Science, Computer Programming or related discipline
- At least 10 years of experience in the design, development and implementation of large scale Management Information Systems, computer programming and integration of complex data management systems
- Demonstrated experience working closely with government partners and systems including capacity development
- Excellent analytical and communication skills required
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team with non-standard working hours anticipated
- Demonstrated experience with national social cash transfer programmes is an asset
- Communication, Working with People, Applying Technical Expertise, Analyzing, Creating and Innovating, Adapting and Responding to Change
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 organisation.
Advertised: Aug 01 2016 GMT Standard Time
Application close: Aug 15 2016 GMT Standard Time
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