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UNICEF is looking for International Consultancy fro diagnostic study of social protection in Guinea Bissau

UNICEF is looking for International Consultancy fro diagnostic study of social protection in Guinea Bissau

Publié : 

Categories : Avis de recrutement

Domaines : Economie - Statistique - DémographieSociologie - Psychologie - Théologie - Sciences Sociales

Regions : Guinée-Bissau

UNICEF is looking for International Consultancy fro diagnostic study of social protection in Guinea Bissau

 

Job no: 515993
Work type: Consultancy
Location: Guinea-Bissau
Categories: Child Protection, Consultancy
Applications close: Greenwich Standard Time

Apply here

 

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,

Guinea Bissau is a small country in West Africa, with a real potential for wealth creation and sustainable development. However, this potential is far from being harnessed as the country has been experiencing political upheavals, which resulted in a constant situation of fragility. This context is a source of risks and vulnerability for the population, which does not access to quality social services.

The improvements observed in the health situation, particularly in terms of maternal and child health, remain fragile. The maternal mortality rate stands at 900 deaths out of 100,000 live births (MICS, 2014) while 89 children out of 1000 are not reaching their fifth anniversary. When people access health services, they have to contribute to the cost of these services – for example users have to support over 50% of the total health expenditure.

Chronic poverty, which characterizes a large segment of the population (33% in 2010), is likely to have expanded in the absence of effective poverty reduction policies. The weakness of the education system, with a net attendance rate of 62% (in 2014) and a large number of children out of school, further exacerbates the intergenerational cycle of poverty. Poorest families experience more out-of-school children: in more than 50% of poor households, there is at least one out-of-school child. Children leaving in households headed by illiterate parents are also more likely to be out-of-school and to be trapped in poverty.

Another important factor of vulnerability is food insecurity. Data collected by WFP revealed that in October 2017, 20% of households in Guinea Bissau faced food insecurity while 64% were in high risk of falling into food insecurity as they were not able to allocate part of their income for non-food expenditures. The vulnerability of households in rural areas was also highlighted by the significant share (61% in average) spent on foods. In addition, according to the same survey, 1,7% of children under five were suffering from acute malnutrition.

The overlapping of these various factors of risks and vulnerability that exacerbate each other require an adequate policy response. The Government of Guinea Bissau has acknowledged this by emphasizing the need to establish a social protection system in the national development plan known as ‘Terra Ranka’.

Social protection constitutes a set of measures that a Government designs and implements to reduce economic and social vulnerabilities to poverty. This set of measures should help mitigate the risk for an individual to fall into a trap of extreme poverty. It should also help endow the poorest with minimum asset that enable them to benefit from economic opportunities.

During the past years, technical and financial partners (TFPs) have been supporting the Government in various initiatives including support to education, health and nutrition services, setting up school meals, providing cash transfers to vulnerable population such as persons living with HIV, providing free medicines for diseases. Various analytical works were also undertaken including the assessment of public pension fund and the assessment of social safety nets.

However so far there has been little progress in terms of establishing a comprehensive social protection system or a social protection floor, which could be a cornerstone for the country to transit from fragility to sustained development.

It is in this context that a national forum was organized in October 2017 to provide a platform for developing a roadmap towards the formulation of a national social protection policy. A step in this roadmap is to extend the existing studies to develop a comprehensive diagnostic study of the social protection system in Guinea Bissau.

 

Objective

The overall objective of the consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive diagnostic study of social protection initiatives in the country. Specifically, the study will:

  • Provide an updated analysis of vulnerability and risks;
  • Provide an overview of the social protection institutions, systems and programs currently implementing social protection interventions and their impact on vulnerable population with special interest on women and children;
  • Assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of social protection interventions;
  • Identify gaps in terms of social protection coverage for vulnerable groups;

Identify key strategic options to orient the formulation of the social protection policy

 

Scope

The diagnostic study should focus on non-contributive schemes, but also integrate some selective contributive aspects as deemed appropriate. It should also include aspects related to specific social protection needs of children and consider issues related to fragility, climate change and gender and adolescents.

 

Methodology

At the beginning of the assignment, the consultant will develop an inception report that includes a satisfactory methodology to conduct the study and achieve expected outcomes. The methodology should include review of existing studies, relevant data collection and consultations including children with the view to provide the most recent picture.

The consultant should integrate elements of assessment tools such as the Core Diagnostic Instrument (CODI) to provide a comprehensive view of the social protection situation in Guinea Bissau.

The consultant should also rely on a collaborative approach that facilitates transfer of knowledge and skills to national stakeholders and ensure national ownership of the study process and results. In this sense the international consultant will work with a local technical team and interact with the National Steering Committee on social protection throughout the study.

 

Activities and tasks

The consultant should undertake the following tasks:

  • Develop an inception report
  • Review the World Bank studies on social safety nets and pension funds and other documents to identify the gaps that need to be covered for a comprehensive diagnostic analysis of social protection;
  • Undertake complementary analysis to cover the identified gaps, including causality analysis and SWOT analysis;
  • Undertake consultations with stakeholders and facilitate diagnostic workshop;
  • Elaborate on strategic options that could be considered for defining a national social protection policy.
  • Prepare a comprehensive diagnostic report.

 

Expected results

  • The coverage of social protection including risk and vulnerability is comprehensively assessed;
  • The existing government and non-governmental social protection programs are assessed;
  • An inclusive diagnostic workshop is organized
  • The diagnostic of the social protection system is undertaken
  • A comprehensive diagnostic report is developed

 

Deliverable, timeframe and payment

The consultant will work collaboratively with Ministry in charge of social protection and UNICEF. Deliverables deadlines are proposed in the table below.

Deliverables  Number of working daysDeadlinePayment
1. Inception report with methodology and in-country work plan presented and agreed with CO (Home-based).2September 2018

2. Synthesis of Gap analysis (Bissau)8October 2018

30%

4. Diagnostic workshop facilitated

5.Draft diagnostic study through consultations and complementary analysis (Bissau)

10

 

October 2018

40%

6. Final Report (Home-based)5October 2018

30%

Total:25

The consultant will be supervised by the Chief, SPPM&E of UNICEF.

 

Key competencies, technical background, and experience required:

Education

  • An Advanced university degree (at least a Master) in social protection, economics, social sciences or related areas.

Experience

  • At least 8 years of strong technical skills in social protection policy and programs.
  • Good knowledge of social protection assessment tools.
  • Demonstrated experience in strategic planning and using evidences to inform public policies

Language skills:

  • Fluency in English or French is required. Working knowledge of Portuguese is highly desirable. Otherwise, knowledge of Spanish would be an asset

Other skills

  • Strong analytical skills in social protection
  • Experience working in West Africa is an asset
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong interpersonal and presentation skills.

Conditions of work 

  • The total duration of the consultancy is of 25 days, during the months of September-October 2018. Detailed calendar and timeframe to be agreed upon;
  • The consultancy, on a SSA type contract at the P4/P5 level;
  • As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant shall follow the best value for money principle (achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee). Therefore, the consultants are required to indicate their fees for services to be provided;
  • The consultant will work in UNICEF Guinea-Bissau office;
  • The consultant will work with own IT equipment;
  • UNICEF Guinea-Bissau will provide office space and other secretarial support;
  • UNICEF Guinea-Bissau will provide transport to and from the airport, and any work-related transport in country, if needed.

The consultant should present technical and financial proposals, including the working methodology at the time of application

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The technical competencies required for this post are….

View our competency framework here

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.

 

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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

Apply here