Social Protection consultant, Brasilia (remote), Brazil

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, respect

Climate change has been causing increasingly frequent and extreme natural disasters in Brazil and worldwide. Vulnerable children and adolescents, along with their families, have fewer resources to relocate or adapt to climate change. Often, this group lives in geographically exposed areas to disasters and experiences the first and most intense impacts of socio-environmental shocks and their secondary economic consequences.

Brazil has a robust intergovernmental social protection system that aims to support vulnerable families in guaranteeing their rights and overcoming inequalities and poverty, including during socio and environmental shocks. Despite its robustness, the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed challenges in adapting social protection services and benefits to ensure an effective and timely response to large-scale shocks, particularly at the state and municipal levels of SUAS. In addition, climate change and the high risk of new socio and environmental shocks in various regions make it essential for the system to advance in the preparation and response to socio-assistance emergencies.

Considering the expertise in public policies at the municipal level along with the technical knowledge accumulated through the development of guidelines and implementation of initiatives at the municipal level to strengthen the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS) in emergency contexts, UNICEF has partnered up with the Social Assistance National Department (SNAS) of the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Poverty to address some of the main challenges of SUAS in socio-assistance emergencies. To achieve this, UNICEF will support the development and dissemination of technical guidance materials on SUAS in situations of public calamities and emergencies.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Brazil, in partnership with the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family, and Fight Against Hunger, is looking for a social protection consultant who will support the development of technical guidance documents on SUAS in emergencies. Under the supervision of the Chief of Social Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation and South-South cooperation, the consultant will work directly with the Social Assistance National Department (SNAS) technical team.

Expected results: (measurable results)

The expected results are:

1. Mapping and systematization of existing foundational documents and technical guidance on SUAS in emergencies.
2. Development of a technical guidance booklet on the Preparedness of SUAS for emergencies.
3. Development of two technical guidance booklets on the Response of SUAS in emergencies.

deliverables

Deliverable 1: Work plan, including a travel plan proposal if applicable, with a detailed timeline for all three expected results.

The work plan should be developed according to the expected results mentioned in this Terms of Reference and alignment with the Social Assistance National Department (SNAS) and UNICEF.

Deadline: 10 days from the beginning of the contract

Payment: 0% of the contract fee

Deliverable 2: Mapping and systematization of foundational documents for the development of technical guidance documents on SUAS in emergencies.

This deliverable should include a summary of foundational documents for the development of technical guidance, a brief analysis of the main gaps found in existing documents, and recommendations for the development of new technical guidance.

Deadline: 1 month from the beginning of the contract

Payment: 20% of the contract fee

Deliverable 3: Technical guidance booklet on the Preparedness of SUAS for emergencies.

This deliverable should include guidelines for preparedness arrangements considering Social Assistance Policy at the local level and elaboration of contingency plans.

Deadline: 3 months from the beginning of the contract

Payment: 30% of the contract fee

Deliverable 4: technical guidance booklet on the Response of SUAS in emergencies – booklet I

This deliverable should include the stages of (i) declaring an emergency and (ii) registering affected families and individuals in sheltering with families and friends or in SUAS shelters.

Deadline: 5 months from the beginning of the contract

Payment: 25% of the contract fee

Deliverable 5: Technical guidance booklet on the Response of SUAS in emergencies - booklet II

This deliverable should include intersectoral coordination during the emergency response, including the development of workflows and protocols with health, education, the justice system, housing, and civil society.

Deadline: 8 months from the beginning of the contract

Payment: 25% of the contract fee

DURATION OF CONTRACT

Eight [8] months

KEY COMPETENCIES, TECHNICAL BACKGROUND, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Social Sciences, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.
• Master's degree in Social Work, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Political Science, or another relevant technical field will be considered an asset.
• Minimum of five years of professional experience with social assistance public policies.
• Advanced knowledge of the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS).
• Proven experience in developing technical guidance materials will be considered an asset.
• Knowledge of SUAS in emergencies will be considered an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN agency will be considered an asset.
• Fluency in Portuguese.

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 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.

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• The consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationery. UNICEF and the Social Assistance National Department (SNAS) will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.
• Expenses related to travels (if any) will be covered by UNICEF and paid to the contractor as per UNICEF travel rules and regulations.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or individual Contractor
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.

Financial Proposal

• Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.
• A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.
• The payment will be based on the submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Insurance and health coverage

• The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.
• The contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

Restrictions

Consultants may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF. Notwithstanding, consultants and individual contracts must complete the applicable mandatory trainings.

• In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​, or unless on leave without pay.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.