Individual International Consultancy for comparative analysis of national practices and standards in light of the European Pillar of Social Rights

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, a chance

Moldova has made significant progress in reducing poverty and promoting inclusive growth since the early 2000s. Moldovan political commitments have deepened the path toward European integration and in 2022 Moldova received a candidate status for integration with European Union, but many reforms have yet to be further developed and implemented to support accession to the European Union. In the context of these changes, there is a need to identify the gaps and develop recommendations on aligning with EU standards and good practices on social policy.

With the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Moldova must set out concrete initiatives to deliver on the European Pillar of Social Rights. The delivery on the Pillar is a joint effort by government institutions, national, regional and local authorities, social partners and civil society. The key principles and standards are framed around 3 chapters:

• Equal opportunities and access to the labour market (4 principles)
• Fair working conditions (6 principles)
• Social Protection and inclusion (10 principles)

How can you make a difference?

1. Purpose of the Analysis

UNICEF is partnering with ILO to conduct a brief analysis to generate evidence to i) define critical gaps between national policies and practices and the European Pillar of Social Rights and ii) inform the ongoing reform of social assistance and design policy scenarios on developing national social policy system.

2. Objectives of the Analysis

The brief analysis will bring preliminary light on discrepancies between the national standards of Moldova and EU standards in 10 areas of social protection and inclusion. The primary objectives of the analysis are as follows:

• Childcare and support to children – Children have access to affordable and quality early childhood education and care, as well as protection from poverty.
• Social security for working age population - Workers and their families have access to adequate social security benefits, including sickness, employment injury, unemployment, maternity, survivorship.
• Unemployment benefits - Unemployed persons have access to adequate activation support from public employment services to (re)integrate in the labour market and adequate unemployment benefits.
• Old age income and pensions – Persons in old-age have access to adequate pensions.
• Health care - Everyone has the right to timely access to affordable, preventive and curative health care of good quality.
• Inclusion of people with disabilities - People with disabilities have the right to income support that ensures living in dignity, services that enable them to participate in the labour market and in society, and a work environment adapted to their needs.
• Long-term care – Everyone in need have access to affordable and quality long-term care services, in particular home-care and community-based services.
• Social assistance/Minimum income - Everyone lacking sufficient resources has access to adequate minimum income, goods and services, as well as support to become self-supporting with their capabilities.
• Housing and assistance for the homeless - Access to social housing or housing assistance of good quality shall be provided for those in need. Vulnerable people have the right to appropriate assistance and protection against forced eviction. Adequate shelter and services shall be provided to the homeless in order to promote their social inclusion.
• Access to essential services - Everyone has the right to access essential services of good quality, including water, sanitation, energy, transport, financial services, and digital communications. Support for access to such services shall be available for those in need.

3. Details of how the work should be delivered

The analysis will be conducted through a desk review. Details on the sample and the methodology to be followed will be developed by the consultant, in cooperation with UNICEF and ILO.

4. Deliverables and delivery dates

Tasks

Deliverables

Timeline*

Tentative timeframe

• Desk study review
• Develop a methodology approach, scope of the study
• Develop a plan for data collection and analysis
• Draft content outline of the brief report

Inception report with methodology (3-4 pages)

5 working days

By 15 November

• Apply analytical methodology and tools; provide initial analysis
• Data collection and main findings
• First draft prepared for consultation and resource mobilization

Key findings report (to be incorporated into draft assessment report)

10 working days

By 30 November

• Provide more detailed draft (including an executive summary)
• Make adjustments to study as per comments from UNICEF, ILO, and other relevant stakeholders; supplement findings with additional analyses where necessary
• Provide recommendations
• Make a presentation with the main findings

Draft assessment report with key findings

10 working days

By 5 December

• Integrate final comments received from UNICEF, ILO and MLSP, other relevant stakeholders

Final report

5 working days

By 15 December

* Exact deadlines will be mutually agreed upon contract signature.

Additionally, the consultant may propose a national expert for data collection and analysis within a budget of 20 days.

The final policy brief should not exceed 30 pages, and should include the following:

1. Executive summary (1-2 pages)
2. Description of the methodology implemented (1 page)
3. Description of the findings (20 pages)
4. Tables and graphs with the results (2-3 pages)
5. Key findings and recommendations (3-4 pages)

5. Definition of supervisory arrangements

The specialist will work under the oversight of Social Policy Specialist of UNICEF Moldova. Payments will be rendered upon successful completion of each task, as per the schedule outlined above.

6. Work location and official travel involved

The work will be done remotely and does not require a mission to Chisinau to meet with the national stakeholders. If needed, meetings will be organized online, and the UNICEF office will facilitate introductions to key informants.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• Advanced university degree (Masters, or PhD) in law, social sciences, public policy or international development policy.
• Eight years of professional experience in research, policy or technical assistance related to social policy and inclusion.
• Experience in qualitative data analysis.
• Strong knowledge of EU standards and practices on social policy.
• Demonstrated ability to produce clear, succinct policy materials.
• Previous experience in EU government institutions on social policy is an strong asset.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English required, knowledge of Romanian would be advantage.

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.

For more details on deliverables and minimum requirements, please refer to attached Terms of reference (ToR)

2023_TOR_EU Social Rights Pillar_VA.docx

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain the Technical Offer and Financial Offer (templates below). Please secure the Financial Proposal *.pdf document with a password on document view; the password will be requested only from technically qualified candidates.

Technical Offer.docx

Financial Offer.xlsx

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/individual contractors 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.

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 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.