Consultancy to document how governments in Europe and Central Asia have responded to disasters and crises through subnational social protection systems - 60 working days, Home-based

Consultant Programme & Policy Finance & Economy

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UNICEF ECARO is seeking a consultant to document how governments in Europe and Central Asia have responded to disasters and crises through subnational social protection systems.

Background

As COVID-19 led to economic contraction, business slowdowns, skyrocketing unemployment, and deepening poverty across the world over the past year and a half, governments have responded by significantly expanding the coverage of social protection programmes, even if temporarily, to dampen the impacts on households and communities. As of May 2021, there were an estimated 3,333 social protection measures planned or implemented across 222 countries or territories, provided largely in the form of social assistance.[1] Key elements of these responses – timeliness, coverage, design features, financing, gaps – have been captured in various global analyses and compendiums, providing an important source of data to inform future investments in social protection systems’ preparedness to address shocks.

Though COVID-19 has cast further light on the critical role of social protection as a response mechanism for crises, shocks in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) are not a new phenomenon. National and subnational governments and their development partners have and will continue to respond to a high risk of natural and climate related disasters (including earthquakes, floods, and droughts), man-made disasters and displacements, and economic crises. The additional urgency provided by COVID-19 has created momentum for understanding the circumstances and preparatory actions which enable governments to most effectively respond to shocks and crises.

In recognition of the critical role of subnational governments in providing cash and non-cash social protection support in ECA, this assignment seeks to contribute to the growing knowledge base by examining disaster responses through social protection led by subnational authorities. In particular, it will review and assess selected subnational government’s response to disasters through social protection in ECA, identify the features, effectiveness, and financing of selected subnational government disaster responses through social protection, examine how they align with or differ from national government responses, and identify lessons learned to enable more effective, child-sensitive, and rapid response to future crises through subnational social protection. The review will focus primarily on COVID-19 responses, but with reference and comparison to subnational government social protection responses to other crises where possible and useful.

Objectives and Main Tasks

Building on existing compilations and assessments of government-led social protection responses to COVID-19 in ECA, with reference to both previous shocks in ECA and similar work in other regions where relevant, and in consultation with social policy leads in UNICEF ECA regional and country offices, the objective of this assignment is to conduct an assessment of the design, financing, and operational features of subnational government responses to shocks and disasters, including COVID-19, through social protection in Europe and Central Asia; document lessons learned; and make recommendations on the way forward to further develop the preparedness and shock response capacities of subnational governments to crises of varying types via social protection systems and mechanisms. This will involve:

1. Rapidly mapping subnational social protection responses in ECA, building on existing compilations conducted by UNICEF and partners.[2]
2. Compiling, summarizing, and analysing the relevant legal and policy frameworks that govern subnational provision of disaster response and preparedness mechanisms[3], including through social protection, in the ECA region.

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[1] Gentilini, Ugo et al. 2021. Social Protection and Jobs Responses to COVID-19: A Real-Time Review of Country Measures (May 14, 2021) (English). COVID-19 Living Paper Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/281531621024684216/Social-Protection-and-Jobs-Responses-to-COVID-19-A-Real-Time-Review-of-Country-Measures-May-14-2021

[2] Primary research is not foreseen for this task; the consultant should rely on existing sources, including e.g. World Bank-UNICEF Living Papers, ILO mappings, IMF Policy Tracker.

[3] Including e.g. preparedness plans, risk assessments, contingency financing mechanisms

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the ECARO Social Policy section, the consultant’s key responsibilities are to:

1. Conduct an inception meeting to identify and finalize selection of case studies, methodologies, and final timeline. Develop an inception report includes, among other areas, further details on expected interviews and topic guides and related interview protocols (e.g., procedures for informed consent), research methods and data sources, as well as planned outlines of key products.
2. Conduct a rapid mapping of subnational social protection responses to COVID-19 in ECA, building on existing compilations produced by other partners (e.g., World Bank, ILO, IMF, IPC-IG). This mapping should be included as an annex to the final summary report.
3. Compile, summarize, and analyse in a report of no more than 10 pages the key features and provisions of the relevant legal and policy frameworks that govern subnational provision of multi-hazard disaster response and preparedness mechanisms, including through social protection, in the ECA region. This analysis should inter alia identify common features and provisions, financing arrangements (including provisions for revenue generation and contingency financing), the key roles that are assigned to subnational governments (e.g., needs assessments, beneficiary identification, delivery of services), and coordination and participation structures.
4. Undertake a review (through desk research and remote interviews with key officials from government, civil society, and other development partners) of 3-5 countries that have delivered subnational COVID-19 or other disaster response through social protection responses, including at least two cases in which the response has been designed and led by these governments (with or without the support of development partners).[5] Among other areas, these reviews should consider the extent to which disaster response through subnational systems allowed for effective response to the economic and social needs of children and their families.

Produce country specific case studies (~5 pages) with recommendations; a summary document presenting key findings, lessons, and recommendations stemming from tasks 2-4 (~20 pages); and a PPT presentation summarizing key findings. Recommendations should include, in particular, guidance related to partnerships, coordination, and financing for shock-responsive social protection at the subnational level.

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[4] Case studies should reflect the diversity of contents in the region and might include e.g. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tajikistan, and Ukraine.

[5] Cases might include, for example, circumstances where subnational governments have cooperated with development partners to use some elements of local response mechanisms (e.g., needs assessments) or cases where governments designed all elements of the response.

Deliverables and Payments:

Description

Approximate Duration

Deadline

Payments

Inception report

5 days

Within 2 weeks of the start of the contract

Payment 1

Review of legal and policy frameworks

10 days

Within 1 month of the start of the contract

Payment 2

Draft case studies

20 days

Within 2 months of the start of the contract

Payment 3

Draft summary document and PPT[6]

15 days

Within 3 months of the start of the contract

Payment 4

Final set of deliverables (summary document with annex, review of legal and policy frameworks, case studies, PPT)

10 days

Within 4 months of the start of the contract

Payment 5

Total number of days

60

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[6] The PPT presentation will be delivered to the UNICEF ECA regional and country social policy teams as part of a review of the review process.

Reporting requirements

The consultant will report to and coordinate with the UNICEF ECARO Regional Advisor Social Policy, based in Geneva. For country case studies, the consultant will work closely with UNICEF country office staff to identify the appropriate officials for further interviews. All deliverables will be submitted in English in electronic format (power point presentations, Word documents, video materials, etc.).

Location and Duration

The consultant will work from their place of residence; no travel is foreseen. All activities should be completed within 4 months from the start of the contract.

Conditions of work

• The assignment is home-based with no travel envisaged. The consultant will work directly with UNICEF staff through remote means. No work or travel may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant.
• All products produced under this contact shall be the property of UNICEF and should be used only upon approval from UNICEF. All materials and experiences shared in the development of these materials should be treated as confidential and cannot be shared or used for other activities without prior written consent.
• The consultant shall use their own facilities to manage the work, but, where circumstances demand otherwise, shall be allowed to make use of available UNICEF office space, computer and internet facilities with prior notification and arrangement with the supervisor and UNICEF Admin/ICT. The provision of these facilities by UNICEF shall be subject to their availability.
• The estimated cost of the consultancy is up to 60 working days. The Consultant/s shall indicate their daily fees in their application.
• UNICEF will issue a consultant contract in USD. The payment will be made in USD by bank transfer and in instalments upon deliverables as per contractual agreement.
• Reservations: UNICEF reserves the right to terminate the contract without a prior notice and/or withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if the rules and the regulations regarding confidentiality, ethics and procedures of UNICEF are not followed, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.
• The candidate will be selected based on “best value of money” and will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s “General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.”

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• First University degree in public policy, social policy, or related field;
• Substantial (at least 7 years) prior experience in social protection systems assessments, social protection capacity building, and/or shock responsive social protection, with a focus on subnational government provision an added advantage.
• Demonstrable experience developing high-impact case studies and policy documents.
• Demonstable knowledge of social protection systems in ECA countries is a strong advantage.
• Fluency in English required. Fluency in languages of relevance in the ECA region is a strong asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

To apply:

Interested candidates should submit the following document through the vacancy announcement;

• A financial offer, with a single comprehensive daily rate in USD. Applications submitted without this rate will not be considered.

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.

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Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org