Consultant for Designing and Documenting Policy Briefs on Reforming Iran's Child-sensitive Social Cash Transfer Programs into Cash Plus Schemes

Consultant Programme & Policy

Overview

Engage a consultant to analyze and promote a Cash Plus approach in Iran.

You have:

• An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in social sciences, economics, public policy, public administration, data science, or related fields required.
• Minimum five years of professional experience in social policy, social protection, public financing, policy making, including data assessment and proven experience in designing social protection schemes required.
• Experience working on programs focused on children is a strong asset.
• Five years of experience of working with the national social protection stakeholders required.
• Ability to synthesize knowledge and effectively express ideas in writing and ability to coordinate with external partners is required.
• Strong analytical writing and communication skills, and the ability to draft text clearly and concisely in English and Persian required.
• Fluency in English (oral and written) required.
• Previous working experience within the UN system is an asset.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, prosperity

Iran is one of the very few countries that has a (quasi)-Universal Basic Income Program. This program, known as Yaraneh (i.e., subsidy) system, while partly designed to support vulnerable populations, faces significant challenges in effectively mitigating poverty and inequality. The near-universal distribution of cash transfers has proven to be fiscally unsustainable and insufficiently targeted to address the needs of the most vulnerable.

Despite the ambitious goals of Iran's Yaraneh system, the program has struggled with several critical gaps in its social protection framework. One major issue is the lack of precise targeting, which results in resources being spread too thinly across the population, rather than being concentrated on those who need them most. This inefficiency not only strains the fiscal budget but also diminishes the program's impact on poverty alleviation and inequality reduction. Additionally, the program's design does not adequately account for the diverse needs of different vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, leading to uneven support and persistent gaps in social protection.

To address these challenges, there is a pressing need for an integrated approach to social protection and social cash transfers in Iran. Such an approach would involve better targeting mechanisms to ensure that assistance reaches the most vulnerable populations, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of social cash transfers. Moreover, integrating various social protection programs can create synergies that improve overall efficiency and coverage. In this regard, combining cash transfers with other forms of social assistance, such as healthcare and education support, can provide a more comprehensive safety net for those in need. This holistic strategy, commonly known as Cash Plus, would not only optimize resource allocation but also contribute to more sustainable and equitable social development in Iran.

How can you make a difference?

This project aims to critically analyze the existing system, exploring its limitations and proposing a phased transition towards a more targeted, impactful, and sustainable "Cash+" approach. This approach will combine cash transfers with soft conditions and complementary interventions in key social policy areas, ensuring a more efficient and effective social safety net. The project will achieve this through a series of eight evidence-based policy briefs, culminating in a high-level policy workshop with government partners to promote adoption and implementation of the recommendations.

To achieve this, UNICEF Iran's Social Policy Unit seeks to engage a consultant with expertise in policy analysis, technical writing, design, and media campaigning to support the production and dissemination of eight policy briefs as follows:

• The Landscape of all social and humanitarian cash transfers in Iran: A Critical Assessment: A comprehensive review of the current system, its fiscal implications, distributional impact, and effectiveness in poverty reduction.
• Cash+ for Education: Developing a framework for linking conditional cash transfers to school enrolment, attendance, and performance, particularly for marginalized groups.
• Cash+ for Health: Exploring the use of targeted cash transfers and supplementary programs to improve access to healthcare and address specific health vulnerabilities.
• Cash+ for Nutrition: Exploring the use of targeted cash transfers and supplementary programs to enhance nutritional intake and address specific nutritional vulnerabilities.
• Cash+ for Employability and TVET: Designing a program that combines cash transfers with access to quality technical and vocational education and training (TVET), job placement services, and entrepreneurship support.
• Cash+ for Gender Equality: Proposing strategies for using cash transfers to address gender-specific challenges, promote women's economic empowerment, and improve their access to resources and opportunities.
• Humanitarian Cash Transfers in a Shock-Responsive Social Protection System: Building Resilience: Developing a framework, and possibly a toolkit, for utilizing cash transfers as a rapid and effective response mechanism during emergencies and integrating it within a broader, adaptable social protection system.
• A Roadmap for Transition: From Cash Transfers to a Targeted, Integrated Cash+ Program: Synthesizing the findings and recommendations from all briefs into a cohesive and actionable roadmap for the gradual transformation of the current system, including phasing, targeting mechanisms, monitoring, and evaluation.

Methodology

The consultant is expected to utilize a collaborative and multi-step methodology to ensure high-quality, evidence-based policy briefs and effective media dissemination. The selected consultant is expected to propose the methodology with detailed steps explained, in which required quantitative and qualitative methods in data collection and analysis are deployed. All ethical considerations and mitigation strategies should also be included in the technical proposal. Further details to be elaborated in the technical proposal by the applicant. In designing the methodology, the views of various stakeholders, i.e., governmental bodies and UN agencies working in the related areas, as well as the beneficiaries to the extent possible should be included. The methods proposed for the design and documentation should be comprehensively captured in the technical proposal. it is also expected of the consultant to fully collaborate with evaluation experts and staff introduced by UNICEF to enhance the evaluability of the design and incorporate relevant element as advised prior to delivery of contract products.

Activities, Deliverables and Timelines, Budget per Deliverable

The consultant will be responsible for managing the design, documentation, and distribution for eight multi-sectoral policy briefs. The consultant will be required to agree the final subjects of policy briefs after the initial technical consultation. UNICEF communication and visibility requirements should be considered in the media and releasing phase.

T****o qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (master’s or higher levels) in social sciences, economics, public policy, public administration, data science, or related fields required.
• Minimum five years professional experience in social policy, social protection, public financing, policy making, including data assessment and proven experience in designing social protection schemes required. Experience working on programs focused on children is a strong asset.
• Five years of experience of working with the national social protection stakeholders required.
• Ability to synthesize knowledge and effectively express ideas in writing and ability to coordinate with external partners is required. Strong analytical writing and communication skills, and the ability to draft text clearly and concisely in English and Persian required.
• Fluency in English (oral and written) required.

• Previous working experience withing the UN system is an asset.

  Conditions of work

The work will be done inside of Iran. The consultant should have office space and equipment independent of UNICEF. The nature of the work requires desk research, focus group discussions, stakeholder engagement, interviews, surveys, and other forms of engagement with the stakeholders, all of which will be accommodated by the consultant.

The consultant will report to the Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF Iran Country Office, and will work in close coordination with the relevant sectoral units (Education, Health, Child Protection, Emergency) for the technical development of the policy briefs. Any changes in the subject of the Policy Brief should be agreed with UNICEF before starting any process. The communication and visibility regulations of UNICEF should be considered in all media operation, gaining the approval by UNICEF Iran communication section beforehand.

The consultant shall take out and shall maintain for the entire term of the Contract, for any extension thereof, and for a period following any termination of the Contract reasonably adequate to deal with losses: (a) insurance against all risks in respect of its property and the equipment used for the performance of the Contract; (b) workers' compensation insurance, or its equivalent, or employer's liability insurance, or its equivalent, with respect to the consultant personnel sufficient to cover all claims for injury, death and disability, or other benefits required to be paid by law, in connection with the performance of the Contract; and, (c) liability insurance in an adequate amount to cover all claims, including claims for death and bodily injury, products and completed operations liability, loss of or damage to property, and personal injury, arising from or in connection with the consultant’s performance under the Contract, including liability arising out of or in connection with the acts or omissions of the consultant’s personnel, agents, invitees, subcontractors, or the use, during the performance of the Contract, of transportation vehicles.

The consultant must ensure the physical and psychological safety of the children and adolescents and other stakeholders when interacting by applying the safeguarding guidelines. The consultant shall be responsible for any costs or claims associated with any illness, injury, death, or disability of the consultant personnel, if any. The consultant shall ensure that all his/her personnel used to perform obligations in connection with this Contract are adequately covered by insurance for any service-related illness, injury, death, or disability. UNICEF accepts no responsibility for providing any corresponding insurance coverage.

*NOTE FOR APPLICANTS*****:

The Consultant should submit a technical proposal including a plan and a timeline for conducting the consultancy and an overview of the subject to demonstrate his/her knowledge.

Please submit a financial offer along with your proposal, which contains the following information:

Financial offer (detailed itemized Gantt Chart for 80 business days with financial component for each activity)

Curriculum Vitae of the team lead and all team members, if applicable.

Attachments as per the supporting documents required.

Two references to be introduced to provide testimony on past performance.

Sharing samples of similar successful projects delivered is a plus.

• If short-listed based on the submitted technical and financial proposal, you may be contacted for an in-person interview, to discuss further details.

  For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org