International consultancy to support development of Plan of Actions to Social Protection Strategy and Assessment of the Social Protection System in Tajikistan, 50 w/d, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

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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,

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy, and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. Therefore, the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Tajikistan is in the process of endorsing Strategy on Development of Social Protection of Population for the period of up to 2040 (hereafter Strategy).

The Strategy is a framework document that reflects comprehensive vision of Tajikistan’s prospects for the social protection sector and its development priorities. It focuses on required institutional reforms, need for sustainable social development, necessity for ensuring social security for people throughout life-cycle, as well as fosters enhancements of social justice.

To implement the Strategy Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population (MoHSP) is intended to develop series of 5-year Plan of Actions, with the first for the 2023-2027. With this objective Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population has formed an inter-ministerial Task Force (Ref. No. 205 from 18.08.2022) to develop 5-year Plan of Actions to the Strategy. The Task Force is composed of all line ministries, development partners and is chaired by the MoHSP.

MoHSP has requested UNICEF to support the process and providing recommendations/directions for the Coordination and development of the new five-year Plan of Actions of Strategy on Development of Social Protection of Population for the period of up to 2040, based on national consultative process and in line with the relevant international standards. The process is meant to be consultative and participatory with engagement of main stakeholders.

The Strategy draws attention to pressing challenges and problems and is aimed at developing and implementing specific measures for the most priority directions in the medium- and long-term perspectives. Priority directions based on three stages of life: a) pregnancy, childhood and adolescence, b) working age and c) old age.

Strategic areas identified for the period up to 2040 are:

· System strengthening and innovative practices

· Improvement of technical, human and financial resources

· Reform of pension system

· Introduction of voluntary social insurance schemes

· Ensure access to social care services, income generating initiatives and food security

· Growth of productive employment

· Enhancing social assistance schemes

· Review and analysis of legislation and by-laws

· Costing of work and staff ration

How can you make a difference?

The primary objective of the assignment is to provide high quality technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population in Coordinating the process of preparation and drafting of the five-year Plan of Actions with clear monitoring and evaluation framework as well as facilitating validation workshop with national and county level stakeholders.

The secondary objective of the assignment is to support national discussion and agreement around necessary alignments, joining efforts and resource mobilization to implement 5-year Plan of Actions.

The third objective is to support Government of Tajikistan carry out an interagency Social Protection Assessment as the evidence base to strengthen the national social protection system and support identification of a set of entry level policy reform options, taking into account local conditions, and impact of regional challenges

The Consultant will work in a team with a Costing and Local Experts to develop 5-year Plan of Action and carry out interagency Social Protection Assessment who will be hired by UNICEF separately.

Estimated duration******: 50 days (starting on December 2022 – ending on December 2023)

Duty station: Dushanbe, Tajikistan

On-site working days: 15 days

Off-site working days: 35 days

Supervisor: Child Protection Specialist

Reporting to: Chief, Protective Environment and Deputy Representative

To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the selected consultant, in close consultation with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and under the guidance of UNICEF will:

Specific objectives include:

Development of Plan of Actions of the Social Protection Strategy

• Facilitate a validation workshop with national and county level stakeholders to finalise draft Plan of Action.
• Conduct multi-sectoral consultations with key Ministries, stakeholders, UN agencies, and civil society, to inform the drafting of the 5-year Plan of Action to the Strategy.
• Co-draft the comprehensive Plan of Action for the Strategy and facilitate presentation of the draft Plan of Action among stakeholders.

Coordination of the Task Force

• Support the working group meetings of the Task Force - shape and draft the main elements of the Action Plan, present and discuss its parts, including Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, as well as reflect recommendations of the Task Force.

• Communicate and work directly with respective officials in the Government and the members of the Task Force for the development of the Plan of Action.

• Coordinate work of technical Task Force for input and contribution towards the Plan of Actions of the Strategy.

Resource Mobilization

• Develop detailed resource mobilization plan, indicating role, responsibilities and commitment of development partners and donor community based on bilateral meetings and agreements.

Interagency Social Protection Assessment (CODI)

• Coordinate work of the interagency Task Force lead by Office of Prime-Minister to carry out diagnostic of the Social Protection System in Tajikistan.
• Guide team of local experts to i) assess the social protection programmes and policies; ii) analyze different types of social protection programs and schemes; iii) conduct in-depth analysis of different implementation of social care services.
• Develop detailed recommendation on how to strengthen Social Protection System in Tajikistan.

KEY DELIVERABLES/TIMEFRAME/PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

#

Tasks/Milestone

Deliverables/ Outputs

Number of days

Timeline

Payment schedule

1

Develop questions to guide the process of developing 5-year Plan of Actions, with special focus on bringing the gender perspective, person-centered approach, with consideration of shock preparedness and responsiveness Conduct multi-sectoral consultations with key Ministries, stakeholders, UN agencies, and civil society, to inform the drafting of the 5-year Plan of Action to the Strategy

Coordinate work of technical Task Force for input and contribution towards the Plan of Actions of the Strategy

Co-draft the comprehensive Plan of Action for the Strategy and facilitate presentation of the draft Plan of Action among stakeholders

First draft of the Plan of Action

5 days

December 2022 – January 2023

10%

2

Facilitate conduction of series of workshops with national and county level stakeholders to finalize draft Plan of Action- Presenting of the Plan of Actions & Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

Final draft of the Plan of Action for the Social Protection Strategy

5 days

January - March 2023

10%

3

Develop detailed resource mobilization plan, indicating role, responsibilities and commitment of development partners and donor community

Resource mobilization plan for Social Protection

5 days

March – May 2023

10%

4

Coordinate an interagency Task Force lead by Office of Prime-Minister to carry out diagnostic of the Social Protection System in Tajikistan

Lead teams of experts to conduct assessment of the social protection system and compile outcomes of the assessment

First draft of the Assessment of the Social Protection System (CODI)

20 days

December 2022 – October 2023

40%

5

Present initial outcomes to the broader stakeholders

Develop detailed report on outcomes of the assessment and recommendation on how to strengthen Social Protection System in Tajikistan

Final draft of the Assessment of the Social Protection Assessment

15 days

November – December 2023

30%

Total

50 days

December 2022 - December 2023

100%

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results:

The evaluation of the results will be based on:

1. Technical and professional competence (quality of the products delivered to UNICEF);
2. Scope of work (e.g. No. of meetings with the stakeholders);
3. Quality of work (quality of methodology, draft, and final report);
4. Quantity of work (completing the tasks indicated in the table above within the set timeframe)

In addition, such indicators as work relations, responsibility, drive for results, and communication will be taken into account during the evaluation of the Consultant’s work.

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

1) Education

• Advanced university degree in social sciences/social policy, public administration, or a related field

2) Work experience

• At least 10 years of experience and expertise in the area of social protection and/or related areas
• Work experience in developing countries and/or CEE/CIS will be an asset. Familiarity with the local context in Tajikistan is a distinct advantage
• Experience in working with the Government of Tajikistan and/or UNICEF or other UN Agencies will be an asset
• Experience of influencing and negotiating with senior government officials and staff of international aid agencies will be an asset

3) Competencies

• Good knowledge of social protection floor framework
• Demonstrated international experience in facilitating participatory processes and consensus building with diverse stakeholders
• Understanding values, perspectives, and sustainable outcomes with the realities of current challenges across stakeholders
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment

4) Language

• Excellent written and verbal communication in English. Knowledge of Russian and/or Tajik an asset

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application/CV
2. A technical proposal with the proposed methodology/approach to managing the project, showing understanding of tasks
3. Financial quote for the consultancy in USD per deliverable, stating also the timeframe for completion of deliverable and/or daily rate (as well as travel and subsistence costs, as applicable)
4. Examples of previous, relevant work related to the deliverables
5. At least two references
6. Applications without a financial proposal will not be considered.

Queries can be sent to dushanbe@unicef.org with the subject line “Support development of Plan of Actions to Social Protection Strategy and Assessment of the Social Protection System in Tajikistan”.

Applications must be received in the system by 15 November 2022 on our website.

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.

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