International Consultancy: Social Protection Financing and Programming for Cash Plus National Systems in ESAR at UNICEF

Scope of Work

• Under the supervision of the Regional Social Policy Advisor, and in collaboration with the regional nutrition team where appropriate, the consultant will provide technical support to the RO and COs in generating evidence and recommendations for nutrition responsive and shock responsive social protection financing and expansion of cash plus pilot programmes to broader systems.

Activities And Tasks

• Review the array of current social protection financing strategies being used in different contexts across the region (and outside where relevant) with a focus on different approaches being utilized, pathways and strategies to support sustainable, progressive and contextually appropriate increases in domestic spending on social assistance in ESAR.
• Identify approaches that are applicable to shifting the needle on how governments can progressively increase domestic spending on social assistance with a focus on the spending evolution, different modalities in use, and including linkages to any revenue models that are available (i.e. tax earmarking, social protection funds, tax reforms, etc.).
• Undertake a deep dive analysis into current efforts and best practices on financing approaches for shock responsive social protection, notably in response to climate shocks and related hazards, looking specifically at financing models, use of alternative and innovative financing, climate funds, etc.
• Work with the nutrition section to undertake a comprehensive mapping of cash plus interventions in the region (drawing from the recent SADC mapping of nutrition responsive social protection and UNICEF ESARO case studies) to expand understanding of best practices and opportunities for expansion of scalable cash plus to additional sectors. This includes completion of a shared spreadsheet by social protection and nutrition and other teams that maps social protection programmes and linkages with nutrition and other sectors.
• Provide targeted technical support to at least 5 Country Offices in the region to identify concrete action plans towards sustainable child focused SP programming and financing and expanding cash plus including strengthening nutrition responsive social protection systems (in alignment with global and regional guidance).

Work relationships: The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Regional Social Policy Advisor with support from the social protection specialist, public finance specialist and in close collaboration with colleagues in the regional Nutrition team. The Consultant will be expected to engage regularly with select UNICEF COs in the region, both for gathering relevant information for the assignment as well as through targeted technical assistance to strengthen capacities to implement nutrition sensitive social protection programming and financing.
Outputs/Deliverables
Specific outputs that this work will contribute to include:

• Evidence produced to strengthen financing of social protection programming, including shock responsive SP and nutrition sensitive SP, that includes review of current SP financing profile in the region, SRSP financing approaches, and a detailed report that provides different approaches and opportunities to move towards progressive increase in domestic spending on social assistance in ESAR;
• Identification of approaches to move cash plus programming from pilots/testing towards national systems including production of a brief on financing opportunities for expansion of scale of cash plus nutrition programmes, and a report that provides entry points and recommendations to systematize cash plus programming, both for nutrition and other key sectors for children; and
• Capacity of ESARO and select COs is strengthened to apply findings and recommendations identified in outputs 1 and 2, as well as the recently released global guidance on nutrition sensitive SP, to develop country level action plans for social protection financing and programming.

The table below provides a summary of tasks and deliverables expected to achieve these outputs:
Deliverables
Duration
(Estimated # of days
Timeline/Deadline

• Development of a brief on current SP financing profile of ESAR countries

20 days
By end June 2024

• Development of a brief on financing of shock responsive SP for climate shocks and other hazards in ESAR

20 days
By July 2024

• Outline and draft report on SP financing strategies applicable to ESAR countries with focus on different approaches and pathways towards increase in domestic spending on social assistance

40 days
By end August 2024

• Final report on SP financing strategies applicable to ESAR countries with focus on different approaches and pathways towards increase in domestic spending on social assistance

5 days
By September 2024

• Summary brief of mapped financing opportunities and approaches for funding nutrition sensitive social protection expansion

20 days
By October 2024

• Overview brief of mapped cash plus ongoing/developing in ESAR with a focus on opportunities to expand beyond pilots towards national system and policy reform

40 days
By January 2025

• Work with 5 country offices to develop action plans/strategies/other outputs for improved social protection financing and/or cash plus programming (UNICEF focus)

75 days
By May 2025
Total
220
Payment Schedule
Payment shall be made on satisfactory completion of the deliverables as detailed above, in seven payments.
Please note that the final remuneration rate will be negotiated by HR.
Desired Competencies, Technical Background And Experience

• Education: An advanced university degree in Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, or other relevant Social Science field is required. *A first university degree in a relevant field combined with at least ten years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Skills:

• Hands on experience with public financial management (PFM) issues, specifically government budgeting approaches, domestic resource mobilization and social sector financing strategies
• Substantial experience in the field of social assistance, cash transfer programming, social insurance (including health insurance), social services and/or labor market analysis and employment policies. Demonstrated understanding of child-sensitive social protection, disability sensitive and/or gender sensitive social protection a plus.
• Demonstrable experience working in child-focused sectors, including, but not limited to child protection, health, education, nutrition, social protection, and water, sanitation and hygiene.
• Excellent analytical skills and strong track record of producing high-quality publications.
• Demonstratable experience in cash plus design and implementation an asset.
• Understanding of public financial management reform in the Sub-Saharan Africa context is a strong advantage.
• Work experience: Minimum eight (8) years progressively responsible professional level experience in social protection systems, policy and financing. Specific experience in public financial management will be an asset.

Must exhibit the UNICEF Core Values of:

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

Competencies

• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others

English both oral and written is a must. Ability to read, analyze and interpret complex documents is required.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in
• A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of [insert years] of relevant professional experience in
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.