International Consultancy - Categorical (Lifecycle Vulnerabilities Sensitive) Targeting Mechanism for the SCTP (Open to International Candidates Only)

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BACKGROUND

The Malawi Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) was initiated in 2006 in the pilot district of Mchinji, providing small cash grants to ultra-poor households without any able-bodied adult household members (‘labour-constrained’ households). Objectives of the programme include reducing poverty and hunger and improving health and nutrition in vulnerable households, as well as increasing child school enrolment. The SCTP is currently operational in all the 28 districts and reaches over 290,000 ultra-poor and labour-constrained households and over 1.2 million individuals. The SCTP is funded by the German Government (BMZ through KfW), the European Union, the World Bank, the Government of Ireland and the Government of Malawi, while UNICEF provides technical support to design, management and implementation of the programme.

The SCTP is fully executed by the Government of Malawi through the District Councils by Social Welfare Officers. At the national level, the management of the SCTP is directed by the Directorate of Social Welfare of the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare (MoGCDSW). The Ministry of Economic Planning and Development & Public Sector Reforms is responsible for policy oversight and programme design. The SCTP is the flagship programme of the Malawi National Social Support Programme II (MNSSP II) falling under Pillar 1 on Consumption Support whose goal is “the provision of consumption support through timely, predictable and adequate cash and/or in-kind transfers to poor and vulnerable people throughout their life cycles”. The MNSSP II recognises that the needs of poor and vulnerable people change over their life cycles. The Government of Malawi has also committed to expanding the coverage of the SCTP to 15%[1] of the Malawian population in the coming years.

JUSTIFICATION

While Malawi’s Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) is the largest direct consumption support programme in Malawi, reaching 7 per cent of households in the country. Yet with over 20% of Malawians living in ultra-poverty, many ultra-poor households are excluded from the programme, including some of the country’s most vulnerable groups. Current SCTP targeting focuses on labour-constrained households. This narrow approach to targeting means the SCTP indirectly reaches many individuals who display social, demographic and life-cycle vulnerability, but fails to capture all, including young children, persons with severe disabilities, the chronically sick, the elderly and other vulnerable groups such as pregnant women who are significantly under-represented in the SCTP, despite their heightened vulnerability. In fact, only half of all under 5s in ultra-poverty are targeted by the SCTP, with beneficiary households being typically older, containing someone with a disability, and including disproportionally more adolescents and young adults than average ultra-poor households. Malawi’s National Social Support Programme (MNSSP II) explicitly recognises the need to fully tackle social, demographic, and life-cycle vulnerabilities, including pregnancy, infancy, childhood and old age as well as disability and chronic illness.

In recent years, many low-income countries in Africa have evolved from narrowly targeted social protection programmes, such as Malawi’s, to broad-based, categorical programmes whose systems can recognize and addresses specific vulnerabilities. Examples of programmes that have adopted some form of categorical targeting include Ghana’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), Kenya’s Cash Transfer for OVC; Tanzania’s Productive Social Safety Net; and Zambia’s Harmonized Social Cash Transfer Programme. In addition, many of the cash transfer programmes in the region either explicitly target children, or include a top-up for children, especially those under the age of 5, while others include a top-up for persons with severe disabilities to cater for their specific needs.

Categorical targeting that is linked to lifecycle vulnerabilities is preferred in many cash transfer programmes in the region for several key reasons that include: 1. Through this targeting mechanism, programmes are better able to address vulnerabilities that a person faces during his/her life course; 2. Categorical targeting is more transparent, easier to communicate and to be understood by the general population as the criteria refer to observable characteristics (age, gender, disability etc.) as opposed to poverty which may be subjective; 3. Categorical targeting may be more cost-effective as related costs may be lower considering that demographic criteria are easier to establish and verify compared to poverty criteria; and 4. Inclusion and exclusion errors may also be reduced as the demographic criteria are easy to establish including by use of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS). It should also be noted, however, that categorical programmes typically still involve poverty-based targeting and may also involve geographical targeting.

The Universal Social Protection 2030 (USP2030), a global partnership that advocates for universal social protection to achieve sustainable development goals includes membership of several UN agencies, the World Bank, The European Union, the German Cooperation and the African Union among others. The first Call to Action of the USP2030 is protection throughout the lifecycle[2]. While Malawi’s SCTP is financially supported by USP2030 partners, it is, however, one of just a few cash transfer programmes that do not adopt a life-cycle approach to targeting.

To strengthen the evidence in favour of life-cycle sensitive targeting, in 2019, UNICEF supported the MoGCDSW to conduct a study on the Impact of the SCTP on Lifecycle Vulnerabilities. Key findings of the study include 1. typical SCTP recipients are elderly, with a chronic health condition or physical disability; 2. children and young people living in SCTP households are required to earn money and engage in domestic chores, which reduces their ability to attend school; 3. children under five years in SCTP households are typically not the child of the main recipient, and so do not receive direct support from the programme; 4. caregivers of children under age 5 in SCTP households are young mothers who have dropped out of school and lack financial or emotional support; 5. SCTP households with specific vulnerabilities have significantly lower food and total consumption relative to other SCTP households and thus require additional support. Findings from the study were presented and discussed extensively with the MoGCDSW and other key SCTP partners. The key strategic decision facing the MoGCDSW at the time was whether to maintain the SCTP as a narrowly targeted, small programme aiming to reach about 10 per cent of the population, or whether to transition to a broad-based social protection programme that addresses lifecycle vulnerabilities as envisioned in the MNSSP II and become the centrepiece of social protection in Malawi. The outcome of this key study was a milestone decision by MoGCDSW to explore a lifecycle approach for the SCTP. In this regard, the SCTP’s upcoming 5-Year Strategic Plan presents an excellent opportunity to set this new strategic direction by realigning the focus of the SCTP to ensure that all vulnerable groups are adequately represented in the programme as per the aspirations of the MNSSP II.

The Government of Malawi through the MoGCDSW would like therefore to test a working hypothesis through a redesign of the SCTP targeting approach based on categorical criteria to ensure better reach of vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly and persons with severe disabilities or chronically sick thereby making the programme sensitive to vulnerabilities across the lifecycle. This targeting approach will be piloted in one or two districts.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The purpose of this assignment is to technically support the Government to elaborate a working hypothesis through the design and testing of a categorical targeting mechanism for the SCTP that ensures sensitivity to lifecycle vulnerabilities with a focus on young children, the elderly, and persons with severe disabilities. The consultant will also provide expertise in piloting the new design and its review and refinement for scale-up.

[1] President Lazurus Chakwera inaugural SONA, 4 September 2020.

[2] www.usp2030.org

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SCOPE OF WORK AND OBJECTIVES

This consultancy will take the form of operational research with clear learning goals. Under this TOR, the consultant will lead the process of designing a categorical targeting mechanism for the SCTP, including facilitation of policy and technical level discussions on the new targeting mechanism, costing of the new design, strategic support to piloting and review and refinement of the design for scale-up.

The specific objectives of the consultancy are as follows:

1. Based on recommendations of the study on the Impact of the SCTP on Lifecycle Vulnerabilities and subsequent decisions on policy options by MoGCDSW, support design modifications of the current SCTP targeting mechanism towards a categorical approach that embodies lifecycle vulnerabilities through facilitation of a scoping workshop with the Government and key SCTP development partners. The design should consider, but not be limited to the following:
   1. Supporting the review of the objectives of the SCTP - are the current objectives in line with the lifecycle/life course approach to social protection? If required, support redrafting of the goal and objectives.
   2. Defining clear goals and objectives of the testing of a categorical targeting mechanism for the SCTP.
   3. Designing clear, transparent and unambiguous criteria for identification of vulnerable groups/categories (or a mix of categories) to be targeted based on a lifecycle approach. What and if other secondary targeting mechanisms should be layered to the categorical targeting (hybrid system) e.g. poverty/PMT, simplified means test, affluence testing, community-based and/or geographical targeting, universal coverage.
   4. Defining target unit (household, demographic group or individuals); level of base transfer; additional top-ups to cater for specific vulnerabilities in line with objectives; duration of support to be provided to which category of vulnerable recipients; and frequency of transfers.
   5. Defining what means of verification will be used to identify and/or categorize target beneficiaries e.g. civil registration and vital statistics (National ID and Birth Certificates for children); professional assessment on the severity of disability/chronically sick; self-reporting; village registers etc.
   6. Defining requirements for MIS and other SCTP processes adaptation.
2. Refinement of the UNICEF developed categorical targeting model and its costing (taking into consideration affordability, inflation and demographic projections of the population) to produce varying scenarios based on a number of variables including change in coverage levels (such as %population, phased coverage), transfer and top-up costs, as well as targeting and other administrative costs. This should include conducting a robust analysis of the implications of each elaborated scenario/option.
3. Facilitate a workshop with Government, UNICEF, SCTP Donors and selected key stakeholders (Technical Reference Group) to reach a consensus on:
   1. the option(s) to be tested, based on the elaborated scenarios and an analysis of implications on any of the selected option(s);
   2. the scale of the pilot (number of districts, TAs, size of the target group(s) taking into consideration, capacity; affordability and alignment with other programme processes;
   3. duration of the pilot for efficacy and effective learning;
   4. source of funding based on the costing simulation and affordability.
4. Facilitate drafting of a comprehensive and detailed implementation plan and M&E and learning framework for piloting of the selected option(s). The M&E and Learning framework should have clear indicators and targets, data collection protocols and capacities required for its operationalization.
5. Provision of in-country support at key stages of the pilot including during UBR targeting and for provision of capacity building and technical backstopping to MoGCDSW, district(s) and Technical Reference Group (COVID-19 situation allowing). In the event in-country presence is not feasible the consultant should design a methodology that will allow the provision of support remotely.
6. Facilitation of a review workshop with the Technical Reference Group and based on the Learning Framework to review and assess the successes, challenges as well as assessing the effectiveness of tested categorical targeting option(s) (inclusion and exclusion errors), cost efficiency and affordability, political buy-in, understanding and acceptance of categorical targeting at policy, implementation and community level and feasibility for scale-up.

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

Academic qualification:

• Advanced University degree (PhD) in one of the following disciplines: International Development, Social or Public Policy, Development Economics, Child studies, or other relevant social science.

Work experience:

• At least 15 years working experience in designing and costing, implementing and evaluating large scale and diverse designs, government social protection programmes at global level and in diverse settings.
• At least 15 years of proven experience in conducting social research of large scale national social protection programmes utilizing mixed research methodological approaches.
• Vast experience in developing countries and an in-depth understanding of development context and of government implemented social cash transfer programmes of southern and eastern countries in Africa.
• Experience working in Malawi in the social protection sector and particularly experience and hands-on knowledge of the Malawi Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated experience working with multilateral and bilateral development partners at strategic policy and decision making level and technical level is a requirement.
• Demonstrated experience working with governments at national and sub-national levels in low and middle-income countries is required.
• Demonstrated experience in designing or managing social registries and programme based Management Information Systems of social protection programmes is required.

Technical skills and knowledge:

• Proven expertise in cash transfer programmes scenario development (with varying permutations) and multi-year costing simulations.
• Solid knowledge of government-led, large-scale social cash transfer programmes in developing countries.
• Solid knowledge of a wide range of targeting mechanisms for social cash transfer programmes in developing countries.
• Solid knowledge of payments systems of large-scale, government implemented social cash transfer programmes in developing countries.

Competencies:

• Capacity to effectively work and mediate at policy and technical level in interinstitutional (government, donors, INGOs and CSOs) and sensitive political contexts.
• Proven experience and expertise in capacity building of donors, development partners and governments.
• Proven capacity to lead and manage multicultural teams.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills.
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills.

Languages: English is mandatory. Any other language is an added advantage.

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.

For further information about the assignment, kindly refer to the attached ToR:

ToR Design and Piloting of Categorical Targeting_SCTP.pdf

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Use this template to submit your financial proposal:

Template for Financial Proposal.xlsx

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.

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.