Consultancy Opportunity
Title: Assessment of CRVS Systems and Development of Costed CRVS Strategic Plan (2026–2030)
Type: National / International Consultancy
Location: Maseru, Lesotho
Duration: 6.5 Months
Scope of Work
Under the general supervision of the Chief of Section and the day-to-day guidance of the Child Protection Specialist, the consultant will work under the overall guidance of UNICEF and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police, with engagement from relevant stakeholders.
The consultant will lead the analytical and consultative processes required for the development of the new, fully costed CRVS Strategic Plan 2026–2030, ensuring it is evidence-based, context-appropriate, and aligned with national priorities.
In addition, the consultant will be responsible for:
- Strengthening national and district-level coordination mechanisms involving relevant government ministries and partners
- Overseeing implementation of SOPs on CRVS business processes
- Ensuring universal coverage and improving completeness of registration through regular meetings, agreed work plans, and clearly defined roles and responsibilities
The consultant will also support the TICAD-funded project (SM260061) on integrated digital identity and system linkages, which requires sustained inter-ministerial engagement across:
- Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA)
- Ministry of Health (MoH)
- Ministry of Education (MoE)
- Ministry of Social Development (MoSD)
The role includes:
- Facilitating regular coordination between participating ministries
- Ensuring alignment and resolving cross-ministerial dependencies during implementation
The consultant will also conduct capacity-building for at least 50 government staff across key ministries on:
- System use
- Data governance
- Routine maintenance
This is aimed at ensuring the technical and operational sustainability of the system.
Minimum Requirements
Education
- Advanced university degree (at least Master’s degree) in Social Science, particularly in:
- Strategic Planning
- Public Policy
- Human Rights
- Public Administration
- Or related field
Work Experience
- At least two completed assignments involving assessment or strategic planning for:
- Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems
- Identity management
- Comparable national-scale registration systems in developing country contexts
- At least ten (10) years of professional experience in:
- Strategic Planning
- Development
- Change Management
Skills and Competencies
- Good understanding of public sector planning and funding cycles and development partners
- Good understanding of the Child Protection sector and Sustainable Development Goals, especially those focused on socio-economic upliftment of vulnerable groups
- Strong expertise in Civil Registration and Vital Statistics systems
- Demonstrated experience in digital system assessments, including:
- IT architecture review
- Interoperability analysis
- E-government system evaluation
- Experience preferably within CRVS, health information, or civil registration domains
Language Requirements
- Excellent writing skills in English
Values
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin all activities.
Applicants are encouraged to familiarise themselves with UNICEF’s Values Charter.
Deadline: 24 May 2026 South Africa Standard Time