National Individual Consultancy: Social Assistance to support the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection

Consultant Programme & Policy

Overview

Support social assistance to respond to the refugee crisis in Moldova

You have:

• Advanced academic degree in political science, public policy, social policy, economics, law or other relevant studies
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in the field of social assistance
• Excellent knowledge on international social assistance standards and national policy and regulatory framework, including on how these work in emergencies
• Excellent knowledge on the Moldovan national social assistance system, services and stakeholders
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills
• Fluency in Romanian and working knowledge of English is required
• Knowledge of refugee and forced displacement issues is considered an advantage

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, an advocate

In late February 2022 in the Republic of Moldova (hereinafter Moldova) an emergency response was launched following an intensive flow of refugees from Ukraine caused by the conflict. As of 17 May 2022, over 461,480 refugees arrived from Ukraine through official border crossing points with Ukraine with over 89,948 remaining in the country. Prior to the beginning of the conflict, Moldova was already facing significant challenges.

In this context, it is incumbent on humanitarian and development actors who are supporting the government-led response to poverty to meet the crisis needs driven by the Ukraine conflict, doing so in a way that contributes to the government’s objectives for improving the shock responsiveness and inclusiveness of the social protection system. This encompasses lowering legal and de facto access barriers for marginalized groups, including refugees to allow access to national programmes in line with nationals. Such an approach is expected to generate both immediate and longer-term benefits for the government social protection system.

How can you make a difference?

1. Purpose of the individual consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection to respond to the refugee crisis and to strengthen national social protection system, in line with the provisions of adopted policy documents.

2. Objectives of the consultancy

Providing MLSP assistance in strengthening the Program Ajutor Social for vulnerable Moldovans, including families with children, refugee families, and host communities. Support to other social protection schemes may be considered as needed.

Specific tasks include:

• Draft normative acts, collect and analyze relevant data and organize consultations;
• Finalize draft normative acts based on relevant proposals and opinions from MLSP sectors, the line ministries, civil society and/or other stakeholders
• Analysis of management systems and the delivery chain of the Program Ajutor Social and formulation of proposals to strengthen these to ensure improved coverage of targeted and inclusive social assistance for vulnerable people, including refugees;
• Planning activities in coordination with the MLSP, based on the analysis and in accordance with priority directions (defined in partnership between the MLSP and international partners);
• Provide recommendations for strengthening the shock-responsive capacities of MLSP, to respond to future crises (displacement or other)
• Coordinate information-sharing on activities, progress, technical materials, and other communication, including refugee-related ones, between the MLSP and UN partner agencies
• Lead the Steering Committee by coordinating all stakeholders implementing complementary activities on Social Protection (e.g. UN agencies, World Bank, IFRC, etc.)
• Assist senior stakeholders of government identify and analyze policy problems and provide - or mobilize - support and technical expertise from the Steering Committee members for the design and delivery of suitable solutions.

3. Definition of supervision arrangements

The consultant will work under the oversight of the head of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and Social Policy Specialist of UNICEF Moldova. Payments will be rendered upon successful completion of tasks, as per the monthly schedule outlined above.

4. Work location and official travel involved

Location: The consultant will work within MLPS with the team of the department of social assistance. The Individual Consultant will have to make themselves available online with their own computer with access to internet. UN partner agencies will not cover any costs incurred by the contractor for setting-up and maintaining a working space outside, in order to perform the tasks of this TOR.

PTO: The Individual Contractor will be entitled to Paid Time Off (PTO) credit at the rate of one-half days (1.5 days) for each full month of service, to be credited on the last calendar day of the month.

Travel: The work will require local travels in order to conduct in-person meetings, consultations and field-monitoring. MLSP will facilitate introductions to key stakeholders.

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

• Advanced academic degree in political science, public policy, social policy, economics, law or other relevant studies;

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in the field of social assistance

• Excellent knowledge on international social assistance standards and national policy and regulatory framework, including on how these work in emergencies;
• Excellent knowledge on the Moldovan national social assistance system, services and stakeholders;
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills;
• Fluency in Romanian and working knowledge of English is required;
• Knowledge of refugee and forced displacement issues is considered an advantage.

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 deliverables and minimum requirements, please refer to attached Terms of reference (ToR)

ToR_Nat Indiv Consultancy_Social assistance support to MLSP_VA.docx

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain two separate attachments: Technical Proposal and Financial Proposal (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_Social assistance support to MLSP.docx

Financial Offer_Social Assistance ssupport to MLSP.xlsx

Applications for this assignment must be received no later than: 2 October 2022

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion. Women, persons from vulnerable groups, such as persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, as well as persons from other underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply. Applicants from under-represented groups will be given priority in case of equal qualification. UNICEF is committed to reasonably accommodate the working environment for the persons with disabilities.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

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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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org