Roster of consultants: Child-sensitive Social Protection (local candidates only)

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, opportunity

UNICEF’s current Country Programme Document for Serbia (2021-2025) is contributing to national efforts to progressively fulfil the rights of all children in Serbia, especially the most disadvantaged and excluded, and enable them to develop to their full potential in an inclusive and protective society respectful of their voices. The Country Programme is focused on: (a) young child health and wellbeing; (b) quality and inclusive pre-university education, including early childhood education and care (ECEC); (c) child protection; (d) young people and (e) social policy, public financing, and child rights monitoring.

UNICEF Serbia is increasingly engaged in providing analytical and technical support in social protection, public financial management, child poverty analysis, and support to local governance to support more equitable and more sustainable results for children. To support its work in these areas, UNICEF Serbia Country Office is establishing a local roster of experts to facilitate the swift engagement of social and economic policy expertise where and when required.

How can you make a difference?

The consultants will deliver advisory services, access to knowledge, and technical expertise to UNICEF’s social policy portfolio in the area of Child-sensitive Social Protection. The range of tasks may include research and assessments, diagnostics, provision of strategic and operational guidance, training and capacity building, development of policy papers, monitoring and evaluation, and others as may be required. Precise tasks, outputs, reporting and working relationships will be specified in a separate ToR at the time of contracting for the given assignment. The roster will serve as human resources repository from which the Country Office can draw pre-vetted, well qualified experts quickly and efficiently for assignments.

Work Assignment Overview:

The concrete assignment will be specified in a separate ToR at the time of contracting for the given assignment and will include some of the following types of tasks:

− Research and assessments of relevant materials and data in the area of Child-sensitive Social Protection,

− Diagnostics of situation regarding the children in Social Protection using all available information,

− Provision of strategic and operational guidance as required,

− Training and capacity building for relevant stakeholders and partners,

− Development of specific policy papers, assessments, reports and similar documents in the area of Child-sensitive Social Protection,

− Monitoring and evaluation using standard M&E techniques, in a manner and in specific areas that will be explained in a separate ToR at the time of contracting for the given assignment.

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

• University degree in public policies, economics, social policies or a related field;
• Minimum 9 years’ experience for senior experts; Minimum 5 years’ experience for medium level experts; Minimum 3 years’ experience for junior experts;
• Experience in political economy analysis and policy reforms in developing countries;
• Demonstrated understanding of child-sensitive social protection, disability sensitive and/or gender-sensitive social protection a plus;

• Proven track record in all / some of the following areas:

• Research and evaluation (analysis of financial sustainability and fiscal space for social protection, poverty analysis, risk and vulnerability assessments, cost-benefit and benefit incidence analyses, social protection systems mapping and functional reviews, programmes and systems evaluations, qualitative research methods, Meta-analysis/synthesis);

• Systems and programmes (design of protocols and tools for outreach, targeting, referrals, coordination, etc., design and management of beneficiary ID and administrative data systems/management information systems/social registries, assessment, design and/or piloting of shock responsive social protection, analysis, and development of legal, regulatory and/or policy frameworks);

• High level policy analysis and advice (development of national strategies, policies, and plans, development of regulations and by-laws, development of monitoring and evaluation frameworks for national social protection policies);

• Building investment cases for social protection through various methods e.g. cost of inaction, benefit-cost ratios, cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness analysis, microsimulation modelling of returns to investment;

• Information dissemination and communication (knowledge sharing and advocacy);

• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex topics on social protection;

• Analytical thinking and strategic planning skills, ability to facilitate, consult and negotiate with a broad range of government and non-government partners;
• Familiarity with UN & EU agenda;
• Good interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills – publication record on areas related to social protection is a plus;
• Full working knowledge of English, including excellent report writing and presentation skills in English.
• Fluency in Serbian language.

How to apply:

The application must include a financial proposal in RSD as a separate document, providing the following information:

1. Daily rate (all costs included, e.g. usage of mobile phone).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS).

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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.