Offie of Research Innocenti Research Centre / Facsimile: +39-055-2033220
Piazza SS. Annunziata 12 /
50122 Florence, Italy /
May11, 2015
Terms of Reference
Consultancy for Production of Innocenti Report Cards
Inequality in Child Well-Being in Rich Countries
REPORT CARD 13
1August 2015 –14March2016
1.Background:
With a focus on the living conditions of children in economically advanced countries, the Innocenti Report Card series addresses an important aspect of UNICEF’s global mandate for the realization of children’s rights. The series offers original and authoritative material in a form of interest to policy makers, academics, child rights defenders and the media. It provides great support to National Committees’ domestic profile in this respect; at the same time it constitutes an important tool to address critical dimensions of child poverty in rich countries and to promote policy debate in other parts of the world.
Since 2000, the Innocenti Report Card series has published twelveissues. Feedback received suggests that the data and analyses in the reports have been taken seriously by policy makers, and in a number of instances have contributed to significant research and policy initiatives on behalf of children. The series has also had a positive impact on UNICEF’s credibility in donor countries and helped to underpin UNICEF’s fundraising capability.
Since 2005, eight new Report Cards have been released. Report Card 6 focused on child income poverty, Report Card 7 on multi-dimensional child well-being, Report Card 8 on early childhood development and care, Report Card 9 on inequality in well-being among children and Report Card 10 on child poverty. Report Card 11 updated the research done for Report Card 7 using more recent data, comparing multi-dimensional child well-being in rich countries.Report Card 12 analysed the impact of the recent global financial and economic crisis on children in developed countries.
Similarly to Report Card 9, the next comparison will focus on inequalities in three dimensions: material well-being, education, and health. Report Card 13 will thus build on the multidimensional approach to monitoring child well-being established in Report Cards 7, 9, 10 and 11. Taking forward the analysis of the impact of the economic crisis on children presented in Report Card 12, the next study will also analyse trends in child well-being before, during and after the economic crisis. However, unlike Report Card 12, which did not include children’s own voices, Report Card 13 will primarily use data from children’s surveys, mainly HBSC but also PISA.
In addition to making cross-country comparisons and analysis of inequality trends the report will also attempt to address the issues of drivers of inequality as well as the consequences of inequality, i.e. inequality as a social determinant of child outcomes in areas such as health and social relations.
The report is expected to lend itself to advocacy related to issues such as:
-Based on the League Table, trend analysis and the profiling of most disadvantaged children: How far behind are children allowed to fall in different countries? Who are these children and what are their individual and household characteristics?How have things changed over time?
-Based on the analysis of drivers of inequality: Identify background factors, including policies and institutional structures, which need to be reflected in the policy response agenda if inequality is to be addressed.
-Based on analysis of consequences of inequality: Highlighting that, beyond the concern for fairness, inequality is also in itself a social determinant that may affect outcomes for children negatively in different dimensions.
Research teams within the UNICEF Office of Research and the Health Behaviour in School Children (HBSC) network are preparing a range of background papers tackling these themes. Thus, Report Card 13 will be based on several related research projects analyzing inequality among children in the domains of income, educational attainment, health behavior and subjective well-being. The findings will be brought together in Report Card 13 as a coherent narrative. Unlike the Report Card itself, which targets non-specialist audiences, the background papers will be analytical in content, contributing to the academic debate on the impact of the crisis on children.
2.Objectives:
The overall purpose of the consultancy is to write Report Card 13.
The text will be based on the statistical analysis and the background research developed by research teams at the Office of Research and the HBSC network and on an extensive review of literature on inequality in child wellbeing in rich countries; it will present different aspects of inequality among children and adolescents in rich countries and will convey the complexity of the analysis, while proposing a methodology that is comprehensive, transparent and accessible to policy makers, academics, media and the general public.
The text will be reviewed and finalized based on comments to be provided by internal and external reviewers, and on discussion with Office of Research.The Report Card will be identified as institutionally authored by UNICEF Office of Research, Innocenti.
The Consultant will also contribute to the press materials, to briefing of National Committees for UNICEF and to the launch of Innocenti Report Card 13.
3.Specific activities to be completed to achieve the objectives:
The consultancy includes the following activities, to be carried out under the supervision of the Yekaterina Chzhen, at UNICEF Office of Research and in collaboration with the research team of the SEP unit:
a)To study the background material developed by the research team and their collaborators from the HBSC network, including literature reviews on the topic,to identify gaps that may affect a responsible presentation of the material, to participate in meetings(including phone conferences) involving the writer, researchers and senior staff from the UNICEF Office of Research, to draw up a skeleton plan for the layout and flow of contents of theReport Card, including details of the league table(s) and other proposed tables and text figures.
b)To draftthe main text of the Report Card 13 in English (approx.12,000 words) including boxes, graphs and tables.
c)To revise the text and tables to reflect comments received from the Office of Research,the RC Advisory Group, and other reviewers identified by Office of Research in producing the final RC 13 (English).
d)To copy edit and proofread all text, boxes, text figures including acknowledgements, sources and notes in consistent Report Card style (English).
e)To provide support materials for the launch: press release, summary, country notes, Q&A sheet, and briefing of National Committees and NY HQ for RC 13.
The above activities will be carried out in close consultation with technical staff of Office of Research, particularly in the Social and Economic Policies Section, and with the Communications Section, particularly in regard to editorial, production, translation and launch activities.
4.Specific outputs/products/results with specific delivery dates:
1August– 30 November 2015 / Background research carried out by the Report Card writer. Participation in reviewing the statistical analysis (carried out by the research consultants and by the Office of Research) and preparing an outline of the Report Card 13, in coordination with the research consultants, to reflect the results of the background paper(s). Participation in Advisory Group Meeting to review RC13 headlines.2November2015 / First draft of Report Card text, boxes, charts, tables, statistical appendices
2 – 16November2015 / Review process of the Report Card text (carried out by Office of Research, with inputs from the consultant)
30 November 2015 / Second draft of Report Card text, ready for final review
1 December 2015 – 1 February 2016 / Support to review process of the Report Card text and finalization of boxes and text (process carried out by the Office of Research, with inputs from the consultant)
1 March 2016 / Launch materials. Briefing to National Committees.
5.Qualifications and/or specialized knowledge/experience required and desirableforundertaking the assignment:
(1)High quality analytical and writing skills (in English) with experience of communicating research for the purpose of wider advocacy on behalf of children.
(2)Familiarity with the thematic issues, policy debates and technical content addressed in the Innocenti Report Cards.
(3)Prior experience and successful record in producing high profile publications similar to the Innocenti Report Card series.
All of these qualifications are considered vital for the Report Card series.
6.Duration of the consultancy:75days of work in the period from 1September 2015 to14March2016 including two trips to Florence, Italy for Advisory group Meeting.
7.Supervision and work arrangements
The Supervisor of the assignment is Yekaterina Chzhen, Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF Office of Research.
The focal point for communications-related aspects of the assignment is Dale Rutstein, Chief of Communications.
The Consultant will work at his/her home base, in regular electronic and telephone consultations with the Supervisors, relevant Office of Research staff, other consultants and advisers concerned with the project. Periodic updates will be provided, including in writing, upon request. Periodic consultations will be held in Florence or other locations.
8.Special Instructions:
The consultant is responsible for all aspects of the work to ensure timely delivery of the Report Card text in English. The arrangement will be carried out in close consultation with the Office of Research duly reflecting feedback on drafts, with lay-out according to agreement on branding with the Office of Research and fully proofread.The consultant will also be provided with the UNICEF Style guide.
1