Local Consultant to conduct a situation analysis and landscaping of social protection system in Bhutan

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 Equal Access to Social Protection

Access to social protection is a fundamental right of every individual as reflected in several international instruments. Article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that every person has the right to social security (social protection). The 1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child also recognizes the rights of all children to social protection and the State Parties should ensure the realization of this right in conformity with national legislation.

How can you make a difference?

Background:

Social protection is at the forefront of the global development agenda, and is therefore, regarded as fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting social justice, and realizing the human right to social protection for all. It contributes specifically to SDG target 1.3, which calls on member states to “implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including social protection floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable”.

Access to social protection is a fundamental right of every individual as reflected in several international instruments. Article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that every person has the right to social security (social protection). The 1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child also recognizes the rights of all children to social protection and the State Parties should ensure the realization of this right in conformity with national legislation.

Social protection is also one of the priorities of the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB). Article 9 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan, Section 7 states: “The State shall endeavour to develop and execute policies to minimize inequalities of income, concentration of wealth, and promote equitable distribution of public facilities among individuals and people living in different parts of the Kingdom”. Section 22 of the Article states: “The State shall endeavour to provide security in the event of sickness and disability or lack of adequate means of livelihood for reasons beyond one’s control”.

Bhutan has established various legal frameworks and policies that provides an enabling environment for social protection. The Child Adoption Act of Bhutan 2012, the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children 2017, the National Gender Equality Policy 2020 and SOPs on Case Management for women and children in difficult circumstances, the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities and respective action plans provide the enabling environment for social protection. The National Council of Bhutan has drafted and endorsed the Civil Liability Bill and submitted it to the National Assembly for discussion in the next session. This Bill, once enacted, will enable social protection issues to be addressed, particularly with compensation for civil wrongs.

The COVID 19 pandemic revealed how important social protection is, particularly in crises. During the pandemic between April 2020 and March 2021, the Druk Gyalpo Relief Kidu granted income support to over 45,766 individuals and 15,464 children1 through the child support kidu. This clearly underscores the necessity of an inclusive shock responsive social protection system considering Bhutan is vulnerable to different kinds of shocks, including climate vulnerabilities to safeguard the vulnerable sections of our society.

At present, in lieu of any social protection system, multiple stakeholders are providing sporadic social relief services to different vulnerable groups2. The CSOs including RENEW, Tarayana, Ability Bhutan, Nazhoen Lamtoen, and Disability Person’s Organization of Bhutan provide various relief services to women, children in conflict with law, children in difficult circumstances, destitute communities, and people and children living with disabilities. Government agencies such as Royal Bhutan Police, erstwhile National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC), Bhutan Narcotics and Control Authority (BNCA), schools and monastic institutions also provide some form of social protection services.

However, it is difficult to obtain consistent and consolidated data because social protection schemes are implemented by different agencies and organizations across the country. There are currently relief measures offered by many agencies including CSOs to support vulnerable groups, however, there is a need for strengthening coordination among the key players while providing support measures. Furthermore, the existence of some services not sustainable since they are dependent on external funding.

Nonetheless, for the first time in a national development plan of Bhutan, social protection has been included as a major pillar in the 13th Five Year Plan, with the aim of developing a comprehensive social protection system in place by 2029. This is a breakthrough, and the Office of the Cabinet Affairs and Strategic Direction will lead the implementation of social protection in Bhutan.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purposes of this consultancy are:

a) To assess the social protection landscape, by mapping existing social protection programmes through desk reviews, consultations with experts and stakeholders as well as key informant interviews.

b) To identify gaps, opportunities, and recommendations towards building a comprehensive, inclusive and shock responsive social protection systems.

c) To prepare a comprehensive report, encompassing the existing social protections landscape, gaps, opportunities and recommendations.

a) Scope of Work

This consultancy shall include the following activities:

b) Desk review: Comprehensive review of existing policies, laws, and regulations related to social protection in Bhutan, including recent research studies on social protection conducted by the Government as well as development partners. The review should also cover international best practices in social protection that are appropriate and can be replicated in Bhutan.

c) Facilitation of consultations: Work with the Government and other relevant stakeholders to define scope of social protection and schemes to be included in the mapping report. d) Mapping social protection programmes in Bhutan. Detailed mapping of social protection programmes in Bhutan. This should include design features such as the legal framework, eligibility criteria, targeting mechanisms, and benefit amounts, as well as delivery systems including outreach, registration processes, benefit enrollment, payment provisions, grievances and redressal mechanisms, monitoring, evaluations, and the Management Information Systems alongside related databases and registries utilized in delivering social protection in Bhutan. Additionally, include key indicators such as coverage (number of beneficiaries) and programme expenditure.

e) Analysis of social protection systems in Bhutan throughout the life cycle. The analysis should assess the social protection programmes in terms of coverage, benefit adequacy, and government spending on those programmes as well as the degree of integration across the system.

f) Presentation of findings: Presentation of key findings, including recommendations to OCASC and relevant stakeholders in a validation workshop.

Work Assignment Overview:

Inception ReportInception Report including a methodology and work plan and data collection tool to complete the assignment.

• Organise a consultation meeting to present the inception report to UNICEF and the Office of the Cabinet Affairs and Strategic Coordination (OCASC). This will help finalise the definition, as well as the scope of the social protection framework, which will be used in the analysis.

After 10 days of signing the contractMapping matrix/reportConduct literature reviews on relevant laws, policies, strategies, guidelines, plans and institutional mechanism on social protection.

• Interview with the relevant stakeholders to collect data and information that will assist in developing the report.

• Mapping of social protection schemes. This should include design features such as legal framework, eligibility criteria, targeting mechanisms, and benefit amounts, as well as delivery systems including outreach, registration processes, benefit enrollment, payment provisions, grievances and redressal mechanisms, monitoring, evaluations, and the Management Information Systems alongside related databases and registries utilized in delivering social protection in Bhutan. Additionally, map key institutions and service providers and include key indicators such as coverage (number of beneficiaries) and programme expenditure.

4th week of July 2024Draft comprehensive report.Submit a comprehensive situation assessment report with clear commendations and approaches, including an executive summary of 2-3 pages and submit it to UNICEF Bhutan and OCASC.

• The Report shall include an overview of:

i) An overall architecture of the social protection system, a description of policy and regulatory framework, institutions (Government, CSOs, Development partners, etc.) and their mandates and coordination mechanisms;

ii) An overview of the social protection system in Bhutan, including health, education and other social protection systems/services;

iii) Specific situation of social protection coverage of different groups, including for children using the life cycle approach; iv) Institutional capacities and delivery systems based on the mapping exercise;

v) Gaps and challenges;

vi) Recommendations on the needs and opportunities for introducing comprehensive social protection systems in Bhutan and

vii) Monitoring and evaluation of the social protection schemes.

2nd week of August 2024Organize a stakeholder consultation to present the first draft report• Prepare and present the draft report to UNICEF and OCASC, including relevant Government and CSO partners.

• Seek input and feedback on the draft report.

2nd week of September 2024National-level consultation with relevant stakeholders (larger group) presentation on second draft report• Prepare and present the draft report.4th week of September 2024Final report after incorporating comments received from all relevant stakeholders• Submit the final report2nd week of October 2024Travel Local (please include travel plan)It is estimated that the consultant will be required to travel to other districts and the estimated number of travel days is 10. DSA (if applicable)If the consultant is required to travel to a few districts, UNICEF will reimburse the DSA, including transportation cost based the quoted amount.

Payment terms and conditions:

The Consultant payment terms and conditions are specified below upon certification by the focal Point of OCASC and UNICEF’s Social Policy Specialist that all deliverables have been submitted satisfactorily and based on incorporation of feedback and invoice. The payment terms and conditions are as follow:

• 20% upon submission and acceptance of the inception report detailing the research methodology, outline of the report and work plan.

• 40% upon submission of the first draft report and completion of the presentation to UNICEF and national stakeholders.

• 40% upon submission of the final comprehensive report and acceptance of the report by UNICEF and OCASC.

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

• Qualification and experiences:

  ▪ Advanced degree in economics, development studies, public policy, social sciences, or related discipline.

  ▪ At least 5 years working experiences in social protection research, preferably with a focus on Bhutan.

  ▪ Must have excellent knowledge and expertise on social protection system in Bhutan.

  ▪ Strong communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, including excellent speaking and writing skills in English.

  ▪ Drafting reports for and work experience with international organizations desirable.

• Excellent fluency in English and writing skill is required and a local language.

If you are interested please upload the following documents online

• Latest Curriculum Vitae.
• Consultant’s qualification and experience.
• Approach and methodology that will be followed in executing the assignment.
• A lump sum fee structure in local currency and estimated lumpsum DSA, including transportation charges.
• Reference to similar work (final products or links to previous work can be shared along with the proposal).

After selection, the consultant must complete three mandatory online courses in Agora (https://agora.unicef.org/index.php) and must submit the certificates before making any payments for the assignment. The three mandatory courses are:

1. Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA);

2. Prevention of Sexual harassment and Abuse of Authority (PSHAA) and

3. BSAFE.

For any technical clarification please contact Mr. Jigme Dorji, Social Policy Specialist @ [email protected].

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.