International Individual Consultancy on Social Protection Fiscal Space Analysis in Moldova

Consultant Programme & Policy

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, a future

According to the PEFA assessment done in 2022, Moldova is confronted with the challenges of shrinking fiscal space, mounting contingent liabilities, and increasing social pressures, while it also seeks the resources necessary to support the recovery and increased and inclusive economic growth.

In March 2023, the Government of Moldova launched the reform of social assistance system, called “RESTART”. The reform planned for the period 2023-2026 has four medium-term results: 1) Vulnerable population has increased access to social services and benefits, 2) Vulnerable population has increased access to social services and benefits, 3) Social assistance system has sufficient and motivated human resources able to provide quality social services and benefits and 4) Social assistance system is digitalized to ensure efficiency and reduce fraud.

The implementation of the structural reform implies additional costs and requires finding reliable, sustainable and long-term sources of funding, both internal and external. Therefore, a fiscal space analysis is needed in order to find the available budgetary room that will allow the government to provide resources for the reform implementation and identification of available sources.

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MLSP), this fiscal space analysis will serve as a foundation for subsequent interventions and reforms to strengthen the social assistance system in Moldova. Through these interventions, UNICEF aims to support the MLSP enhancing the overall impact and sustainability of social assistance programs, ensuring they effectively support vulnerable individuals and households throughout the country.

How can you make a difference?

1. Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of the assignment is to support the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MLSP), other line Ministries and the Government of the Republic of Moldova, to implement the planned comprehensive Social Assistance Reform (RESTART) by identifying feasible financing options through a comprehensive fiscal space analysis.

The objective of the consultancy is to produce a fiscal space analysis report for social protection. The report shall include a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analysis of potential financing options to expand the fiscal space to finance the social assistance.

The specific objectives of the study, therefore, are:

• To conduct a fiscal space analysis to examine the national capacity to mobilize resources using different financing options, at a minimum exploring all options presented in ILO’s Handbook on Fiscal Space for Social Protection[1], to fill the financing gaps in social protection.
• To use econometric tools and models to quantify the fiscal space for social protection for each of the options analysed (as per their relevancy to Moldova).
• To produce a consolidated report based on the above analyses, systematize main findings and provide policy recommendations as a way forward

The consultant will produce an analytical report providing fiscal space analysis to serve as guidance to the government and other stakeholders on the national capacity to create fiscal space to finance an economically sustainable social protection system in the country.

The output will include estimated amounts (as a percentage of the GDP/share of the national budget) that can be mobilized from different financing options, examining both existing and potential sources of resources.

The analysis and results will follow but not limited to the framework provided by the UNICEF and ILO/UN Women publication Fiscal space for social protection: A handbook for assessing financing options

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[1] Fiscal Space for Social Protection. A Handbook for Assessing Financing Options (ilo.org)4

2. Deliverables and timelines

Tasks

Deliverables

Timeline

Develop a data collection plan specifying the sources, methods, and tools for gathering relevant data;

Draft structure and content for the report.

Annotated Report Outline

5 working days

Completed data analysis, including cost breakdowns, quantitative modelling.

Complete the economic, demographic, social and employment projection data, as needed, as well as the budgetary/financial data of the social protection schemes and programs collected during the analysis of the social protection system.

Present an international comparison of the level of resources Moldova allocated to social protection, over a period of at least 10 years, compared to the countries in the region, but also more generally to developing countries.

Review and complete, if necessary, the studies already completed to review public expenditure on social protection.

Identify, with reference to the concept of fiscal space, the conditions to be met for an increase in public resources to be collectively beneficial through social protection.

Ensure the sustainability of the fiscal space created by paying attention to dynamic macroeconomic balances, in particular tax pressure, debt stock and service, etc.

Identify funding sources or ways to generate or save funds to create more fiscal space to support Moldova’s social protection programmes.

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

20 working days

Draft fiscal space analysis report incorporating analyses and findings from the assessment on coverage gaps, costing and financing gaps estimates, and fiscal space analysis on the potential avenues.

Visual aids, charts, and tables to illustrate the analysis results.

Concrete set of recommendations for improving fiscal space in social protection.

Presentation materials for sharing the findings with stakeholders.

Draft analysis report with key findings

10 working days

Finalized fiscal space analysis report incorporating feedback and input from MLSP and stakeholders.

Presentation (PPT) of the analysis findings and recommendations to key stakeholders and decision-makers.

Final report

5 working days

3. Reporting requirements

The selected consultant will report to the UNICEF Moldova Social Policy Officer, who will regularly communicate with the selected consultant and provide feedback and guidance on his/her performance and all other necessary support so to achieve objectives of the consultancy. At each stage, the deliverable shall be sent to the Social Policy Officer and Social Policy Specialist in copy.

The consultant will produce the above-mentioned deliverables and products during the assignment implementation. All deliverables will be prepared and presented electronically to UNICEF for approval, and prior validation by MLSP. The reporting language is English. Performance indicators for evaluation of results.

4. Payment schedule

The payment will be linked to the following deliverables, upon satisfactory completion and acceptance by UNICEF:

Deliverable

(delivered according to the timeline agreed upon with UNICEF)

Proportion of payment

Annotated Report Outline and methodology

30%

Final Fiscal Space Analysis Report

70%

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered for failure to meet deadlines.

5. Work location and official travel involved

The work will be done remotely with possible visit to Chisinau (up to 7 days) 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 degree in finance and/or economics, development studies, public policy, or related disciplines.
• At least 7 years of experience in conducting economic and financial research and analyses, in a variety of development contexts. Experience in financing social protection will be considered an asset. Demonstrated experience conducting similar studies, specifically fiscal space analyses, financing strategies, focused on financing social development, social sectors, and/or social protection, including quantitative analyses.
• A good understanding of the social protection in Eastern Europe or Moldova is an advantage.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English required, knowledge of Romanian and/or Russian would be an advantage;
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate and work well with diverse people.

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 the consultancy assignment and requirements, please refer to attached Terms of reference (ToR)

2024 ToR_Indiv Consultancy Fiscal Space Analysis_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_Fiscal Space Analysis.docx

Financial Offer_Fiscal Space Analysis.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 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 4 months ago - Updated 4 months ago - Source: unicef.org