National Social Policy Consultant, Long term Individual Contract on need basis (for Tajik nationals only), Tajikistan

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,

UNICEF Tajikistan country office aims to build a pool of pre-qualified high-calibre candidates who will be included in a roster as ‘National Social Policy (SP) Consultants’, from which UNICEF country office can quickly select and fill a requirement through a faster hiring process as soon as a need is identified.

Candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to apply following which, a desk review of their skills and experience will be done to determine whether they qualify for the SP Roster. The process will ensure all candidates in a Roster are evaluated prior to recommendation for a specific consultancy opportunity. Successful candidates will be notified and placed in an SP Roster for a three years period. However, engagement of identified consultants for specific assignments would be as per the specific assignment and terms and conditions specified in the specific contract entered subsequently.

The Roster of SP Consultants, once in place, will allow programme colleagues to select three or more potential candidates from the roster for further appraisal and selection of one candidate, rather than going through a formal advertisement process for each consultancy assignment. Ideally, this will expedite the placement of consultants and provide the scope to be chosen from a vast pool of potential candidates with varied backgrounds and experience. In this context, should any of the currently on-board consultants with UNICEF be interested in being considered for future opportunities with UNICEF Tajikistan Country Office, they need to apply to the roster.

Defined duration will depend on the need of specific ToR (up to 40 days per assignment during 3- or 6-months period)

Background

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 fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why 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.

Social Policy at UNICEF Tajikistan aims to achieve strategies that inform more effective and efficient planning, budgeting and implementation of social service programmes for reducing inequities and gender inequalities especially for the most vulnerable and marginalised children and adolescents. The vision is, therefore, to strengthen government systems, prudent fiscal management and enhanced financing through innovative sources to facilitate reduction of child deprivations, support development and implementation of effective policies of social and economic inclusion, especially for the most marginalised and vulnerable children and adolescents. The Social Policy outcome will (1) support evidence-based planning and development of integrated social protection policies and programs informed by child, gender and shock perspective being implemented by line ministries (2) support in enhancing fiscal space and strengthening public finance systems for children, adolescents and women for governments at national and sub-national levels through efficient and equitable spending, and (3) support child friendly local governance structures and systems at national and sub-national levels to plan, implement and deliver social services for children by building capacity of local institutions both in rural and urban areas, generate awareness among communities and local government functionaries, quality data research, evaluation, support monitoring of program implementation including in both rural and urban contexts (4) support in routine measurement and analysis of multi-dimensional child deprivations and vulnerabilities at national and state levels.

The roster of national consultants will be engaged in the following thematic areas:

• Strengthening social protection programmes implemented at national and sub-national levels (both from a design, implementation and research perspective) – covering emerging needs and priorities around shock responsive social protection programmes and schemes;
• Strengthening child friendly local governance /enhance government capacity at national and sub-national levels for policy review and implementation and legislative reviews for quality of social services to improve or operationalize the basic elements of social protection systems for children; for evidence-based planning, budgeting, implementing and evaluating national policies with stronger equity focus. Support government at national and subnational levels to achieve SDGs by adopting and institutionalizing a mechanism towards localized monitoring of SDGs especially those targeted towards children and women in the priority areas including health, early childhood, nutrition, WASH, youth employment, education, child protection.
• Public financial management at national and subnational levels by supporting budget and expenditure analysis of relevant sector(-s) to influence policies to enhance fiscal space and strengthen public finance systems for children, adolescents and women at national and subnational levels, especially linking outcomes to expenditure for enhance value for money (VfM) and improved targeting of spending. Help subnational governments to innovate new mechanisms for generating additional resources and improve efficiency and utilization of spending to achieve improved results for children with a target to achieve the SDGs on time.
• Evidence generation on multi-dimensional child deprivation/vulnerabilities by using innovative methods and technologies, research, data and monitoring, admin data systems and evaluation. Identification and bridging of data gaps in order to be able to effectively plan, develop and monitor programmes with a strong feedback mechanism for better implementation. Develop a Status of Children Analysis Report to identify thematic areas and sectors that would need enhanced focus from delivery of services perspective.
• Policy dialogue and advocacy, strategic planning and knowledge management (KM) on social policy to strengthen policies, effective planning and public finance management at state and central level with government partners with cross-cutting mandates and undertake gender mainstreaming in sectoral policy frameworks.

Building a pool of highly qualified consultants/experts/ advisors who can provide technical assistance and provide strategic consultancy/advisory support including engagement with government at the highest level to develop institutional capacity of our partners at different levels which is paramount in achieving the social policy objectives.

How can you make a difference?

*Estimated duration**:* *Defined duration will depend on the need of specific ToR (up to 40 days per assignment during 3- or 6-months period)*

*Duty station**:* *Dushanbe (or alternate station) (with 50% travel to field locations)*

On-site working days: TBC at the time of contract

Off-site working days: N/A

Supervisor: Social Policy Specialist

Reporting to: Social Policy Specialist

To provide specialized technical support in the form of research and analysis, developing policy briefs, policy advocacy support and knowledge management around specific topics of UNICEF supported social protection programmes, child friendly local governance both in urban and rural context, public financial management, multi-dimensional child deprivation /vulnerabilities, implemented at national and subnational level (both from a design, implementation, monitoring and research perspective).

Specific tasks to be accomplished but not limited to the following:

1. Provide analytical support to undertake budget analyses and budget briefs, costing, financing modeling to develop policy briefs to improve efficiency and effectiveness of sector spending.
2. Develop Policy Briefs to enhance fiscal space for priority sectors through enhanced utilization and effective and efficient spending.
3. Provide technical advisory and analytical support to institutionalize a mechanism for localised monitoring of SDGs, especially those targeted towards children and women
4. Develop analytical documentation, branded policy reviews and policy briefs, case studies, investment cases, advocacy papers on social policy thematic programmes
5. Technical expertise on methodologies, data analysis, and quality assurance on monitoring, research and evaluation projects for social policy.
6. Provide technical support on strategic planning on social policy – social policy strategic planning facilitation and drafting of key social policy related planning documents

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

The successful candidate should possess the following experience and qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in Economics, Public Policy, Public Administration, other streams of Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, Statistics, Demography or other relevant disciplines.
• A minimum of three years of progressive, professional work experience and technical knowledge and relevant working experience in public policy, (local) governance including political economy, PFM, research and evaluation
• Knowledge/familiarity with the social policies and programs for children and women in the country
• Good negotiation and influencing skills supported by excellent communication and presentation skills is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment and to establish harmonious and effective working relationships with governmental, non-governmental and civil society organizations;
• Excellent writing skills in English is a must; Good knowledge of Russian and Tajik will be an added advantage
• Previous experience working with UNICEF, or UN/multilateral organizations, International Financial Institutions is a strong advantage
• Publication record is an asset.

RESERVATION

All materials developed, including raw data will remain the copyright of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to use and modify them in the future.

TERMS OF PAYMENT

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

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application/CV with all supporting documents.
2. Financial quote for the services in TJS (daily consultancy fee per assignment)
3. Two references
4. Applications without financial proposal will not be considered.

Applications must be received in the on-line system by April 26,2023 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.