Individual Consultant to support the shifting on social assistance by linking to social services and developing operational guidelines to GRM, in line with a recent Social Assistance Reform

Consultant Programme & Policy

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, equality

Location: Home based — with some travel to BVI required

Duration: 100 days over a period of 12 months

Start Date: 3 July 2023 (est.)

End Date: 30 June 2024 (est.)

Supervisor: Social Policy Specialist

Reference full ToR for additional details

Background

The social protection system in the British Virgin Islands comprises a range of benefits delivered to various groups of the population, mainly through social insurance and social assistance programming. A number of issues have hindered efficient and effective use of these resources in protecting poor and vulnerable households and increasing economic security for the people of the Virgin Islands. In the area of social assistance, the key issues include: (i) poor targeting of benefits; (ii) fragmentation of benefits; (iii) low benefit levels due to insufficient resources; (iv) weak capacity for data-driven decision-making; and (v) unnecessary discretionary powers.

Many of these challenges and other systemic deficiencies were highlighted in a Commission of Inquiry Report published in April 2022, namely the fragmentation of benefits and its delivery through multiple agencies, including House of Assembly Members’ Assistance Grants and Government Ministries’ Assistance Grants. The COI recommended that the social assistance grants are being transitioned from other Government ministries, and the House of Assembly, to the Social Development Department (SDD) with effect from 1st July 2022.

The Government of the Virgin Islands recognizes the need to reform the social protection system. The Ministry of Health and Social Development drafted a Social Protection Policy in 2021 with technical assistance from UNICEF, and work is ongoing to strengthen administrative capacity and shock-responsiveness of the Public Assistance Programme administered by the Social Development Department, with technical support from the World Food Programme (WFP). This work includes modernizing the administration of social assistance benefits using a computerized management information system (MIS). In late 2022, a proposition to enroll all grant recipients under SDD was submitted to Cabinet which represented a first step towards general improvement of social assistance programmes.

UNICEF contracted the Social Policy Research Institute (SPRI) to review the social protection assistance and produce a series of recommendations, including legislative instructions for reform. One of the main findings of the review was the importance of reducing the gap of provision for other social protection services that could either decrease the need for social assistance or improve the results of these when combined. In addition, the review also pointed to strengthening feedback mechanisms to improve targeting. In another report commissioned by UNICEF around Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) for shock responsive social protection, found different areas for improvement under GRM for social assistance in both regular social protection and shock responsive. Tying these findings together, there is a need to continue shifting social protection programmes towards a system that can more efficiently support households through their life cycle and in regular and emergency times.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Goal and Objective: UNICEF is contracting an individual consultant to look into the kinds of social services existent, as well as on the GRM, advise on their design in complement to the Public Assistance Programme (PAP), develop Standard Operational Procedures for their activation as well as recommend their digitalization in accordance with the Social Assistance Reform and the activities under the Social Protection Act.

1. Activities and Tasks: The consultant will perform the work in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Development (MoHSD) at the national and decentralized levels, as well as with technical support from UNICEF, and in coordination with other agencies under the UN Joint Programme’s framework. The method would include but not be limited to:
   1. Desk/literature review: To develop a repository of existing documents and tools that are used for implementation, mapping key tools and processes along the programme cycle.
   2. Attending and documenting key operational tasks (distribution, trainings, targeting etc.) and conducting Key Informant Interviews with key stakeholders (implementers, beneficiaries etc.) to map out/ verify/ develop/ update key processes and tools.
   3. Participatory sessions with implementers to map out processes and identification of tools: this is to map out processes where there is no standardized written approach to agree on processes going forward.
   4. Endorsement sessions with government representatives: Since SOPs require clarification of roles, it is really important to consult with government as the documents evolve.
   5. Focus Group Discussions (FGD): Focus group discussions (FGDs) with beneficiaries of the different programmes or services to ensure a human-centered operational approach.
   6. Development of new SOPs, including updating and/or developing accompanying tools and materials for implementers. Each SOPs would aim to:
   7. Clarify key design features along the programme cycle (objectives/planning, targeting, registration, distribution, monitoring, grievances/case management, communication etc.), including with a small section on considerations in times of emergencies (i.e. how the processes could be tweaked in order to respond to covariate shocks), in line with efforts to promote shock responsive social protection and ensuring a child-sensitive approach where possible.
   8. Outline the processes, roles and responsibilities, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for each phase.
   9. Provide clarity on how the different programmes relate to each other (i.e. mutually exclusive/ cash plus approaches etc.)
   10. Suggestions for additional changes for future improvements in the design and delivery of social services and the GRM, based on opportunities that have been identified throughout the work and as a complement to social assistance.

WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

The contractor will report directly to the Social Policy Specialist within UNICEF. Within Government, the focal point will be the Chief of the Social Development Department (SDD). In addition, an Advisory Group will be formed which will be comprised of representatives from SDD, MoHSD, UNICEF, and other relevant stakeholders as required. This group will provide support to the consultant which will include, but will not be limited to, the following:

• Advice on the context and necessary supporting data required for the development of the SOPs;
• Assistance with the development of internal/external communication, logistics, etc. and strategies required to support the data collection; and
• Feedback on procedures and reports developed by the consultant.

The consultant will be required to meet with the advisory team at (to be agreed) specified points, at a time that is convenient to all people involved.

DELIVERABLES

There will be fifteen deliverables in total:

• Deliverable 1 – Inception report
• Deliverable 2 - A mapping of Social Services
• Deliverable 3 – Recommendations for program design review
• Deliverable 4 - SOPs for current ways of working for Social Services, highlighting limitations/challenges/weaknesses
• Deliverable 5 - SOPs for current ways of working for GRM, highlighting limitations/challenges/weaknesses
• Deliverable 6 – A first draft of revised SOPs for Social Services, addressing the limitations observed
• Deliverable 7 – A first draft of revised SOPs for GRM, addressing the limitations observed
• Deliverable 8 – Final draft of revised SOPs for Social Services
• Deliverable 9 – Final draft of revised SOPs for GRM
• Deliverable 10 – Technical Assistance to Govt and training of revised SOPs
• Deliverable 11 – Data-collection tools and skeleton of database for Social Services: to develop, pilot/test with the team, adapt and launch, in line with existing MIS
• Deliverable 12 – Data-collection tools and skeleton of database for GRM: to develop, pilot/test with the team, adapt and launch, in line with existing MIS
• Deliverable 13 – User-Guide for the digitalised system for Social Services
• Deliverable 14 – User-Guide for the digitalised system for GRM

• Deliverable 15 - Provision of technical assistance for trouble shooting once both are implemented

  TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

This assignment is home- based but will require travel to ECA, to the British Virgin Islands. We estimate that 2 trips of one week will be necessary.

The consultant is responsible for arranging his/her own travel, including bearing the costs visas and travel insurance. Accommodation, meals and incidentals costs must not exceed the UN daily subsistence allowance rates. The costs for approved travels will be reimbursed by the UNICEF ECA upon submission of receipts and based on applicable UN DSA rates. All approved travels to be conducted in accordance with UNICEF travel rules and regulations.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables which receive satisfactory quality review and will be paid as follows:

Id

Deliverable

Payment

1

Contract signing and inception report

5%

2/3

A mapping of Social Services & Mapping

5%

4/5

First version SOPs

10%

8

Final version SOPs GRM

20%

9

Final version SOPs Social Services

20%

10

Technical Assistance for SOPs

10%

13

User-Guide for the digitalised system for Social Services

10%

14

User-Guide for the digitalised system for GRM

10%

15

Final technical assistance

10%

16

Travel

Upon reimbursement

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Social Science, International Development Studies or any related technical field.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in humanitarian and/ or social transfer programming.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
  • Knowledge and/or experience working in the Caribbean context
  • Social Policy and social protection expert
  • Excellent knowledge of the fundamentals of humanitarian cash transfers
  • Emergency response experience
  • Good interviewing and facilitation skills
  • Excellent analytical skills

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

This assignment is a remote assignment (based in consultant’s home location). The Consultant is expected to work with his/her laptop, mobile phone and email account. There will be planned visits to BVI to be discussed and agreed with the Advisory team.

The Consultant will report to the Social Policy Specialist and he/she will work closely with the Advisory team which will include UNICEF staff and members of the implementing partner's team.

The Consultant will be expected to report regularly on progress being made on the contract to the Advisory team. Periodic discussions will also be carried out during the consultancy period to monitor progress and constraints, support required and proposed solutions.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

Before commencing work, a consultant shall submit a statement of good health and take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement, including confirmation that he or she has been informed of the inoculations required for the country or countries to which travel is authorized. Consultants shall assume all costs that may occur in relation to the statement of good health. Consultants are required to certify that they are covered by medical/health insurance.

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.

RECOURSE

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. Performance indicators against which the satisfactory conclusion of this contract will be assessed include: timeliness/quality of submission and responsiveness to UNICEF and counterpart feedback.

TITLE RIGHTS

All materials created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract and any intellectual property rights thereof, including but not limited to patents, copyright and trademarks, shall be jointly owned by UNICEF and the Contractor. At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights. Any third-party usage shall require written permission from both parties.

TRAININGS

Consultants, even those working from home, must complete the following online courses prior to signature of contract. All certificates should be presented as part of the contract:

• Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF
• Prevention of Sexual Harassment & Abuse of Authority
• Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA)

Consultants must complete the following course before commencement of any travel on behalf of UNICEF.

• BSAFE Security Training

HOW TO APPLY

Prospective consultants should apply through UNICEF jobs website no later than June 14th,2023. The application package should include the following:

1. A cover letter;
2. Detailed Curriculum Vitae.
3. A proposal stipulating all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

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.

Remarks

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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