International Consultancy: Comprehensive Analysis on the Financing Needs for Malawi Social Transfer Programme (MSCTP) Reforms (Open to Non-Malawian Nationals only)

Contract

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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, Care...

Social protection programmes in Malawi operates under the Malawi National Social Support Programme (MNSSP) II framework. MNSSP II succeeded MNSSP I which faced challenges in its implementation including (i) fragmented implementation due to ineffective national and district coordination structures, which led to reduced information sharing among and between sectors and programmes, and duplication and inconsistencies in interventions; (ii) the low level of funding for social protection coupled with fragmented and uncoordinated financing arrangements by different donors. To reduce sector fragmentation, the Government in collaboration with development partners intends to establish the pooled fund for all social support programmes. The fund will be a pooled funding mechanism for Government and donors to jointly fund all social support programmes in the country including the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP). In addition to this reform, Government, through the SCTP Strategic Plan is planning to put measures to ensure that financing for SCTP is more predictable and institutionalize mechanisms for adjusting SCTP transfer levels.

The introduction of the above reforms is expected to change the financing needs for social protection programmes especially the SCTP. SCTP is co-financed by various international development institutions including the World Bank, European Union, Germany via KfW and the Irish Embassy. These institutions have their own financing mechanisms of SCTP which exerts high administrative burden on Government. The establishment of the pooled fund will address this challenge. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive analysis on the financing needs for the SCTP taking into account the reforms outlined in the MNSSP II and SCTP Strategic Plan.

How can you make a difference?

The consultant will be required to:

1. Review the SCTP costing model refining it as needed based on international best practices. The model should simulate cost for the regular programme and the predictable emergency response related to the annual lean season.
2. Analyze cost efficiency gains (losses) from operationalizing the reforms outlined in the SCTP strategic plan and produce recommendations in the light of international experience, especially in the region regarding management of reforms and sequencing.
3. Together with the local consultant, establish the cost of integration and linkages to social services; exit packages and service packages (e.g. light touch add-ons).
4. Review an interactive costing/budgeting tool for SCTP both at National and Local Level.
5. Provide technical backstopping in the costing of the SCTP Strategy, support related consultations and ensure all products are edited at publishable standard.

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

Academic qualification:

• Advanced University degree in Economics, Development Studies, Public Policy or other related fields.

Work experience:

• 5 or more years of demonstrable experience in socio-economic analysis and research is required.
• Proven experience in costing social protection plans, policies, strategies and programmes is an asset.
• Proven experience in economic modelling and costing exercises is required.
• Proven experience and understanding of public financial management.
• Experience in assignments related to the social protection financing and costing of social support interventions would be an asset.

Technical skills and knowledge:

• Strong writing and professional verbal communications skills, with demonstrable evidence producing high quality products is required.
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of social protection is required.
• Proven ability to work in collaboration with Government institutions is an asset.

Competencies:

• Highly organized with ability to multi-task and prioritize.
• Ability to work remotely and with minimum supervision.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Versatile and flexible team player.
• Adherence to timeframes provided.

Languages: Fluency in English – both written and verbal skills are required.

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference Terms of Reference_Social Policy Financing Needs.pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.

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 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.

HOW TO APPLY...

Interested Individual Consultant should provide the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Academic certificates
3. Application letter
4. Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the Individual Consultant's understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment
5. Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, stationery, communication, and other miscellaneous costs). Financial Proposal for Consultancy.xlsx Complete the attached form.
6. References details

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.