Terms of Reference
Social Protection Consultant - Operational Guidance and Policy Development
on Integrated Social Protection Systems
Contract #:
- Background
UNICEF’s work in social protection is a response to the organization’s mandate to fulfil children’s rights, including the right to access services and an adequate standard of living. At the same time, social protection contributes to an equity-focused approach to development, as it ensures equal access to services and is conducive to equitable human development outcomes for children. UNICEF has played a key role in supporting countries in the development and strengthening of social protection interventions; convening and facilitating coordination among partners, as well as supporting the development of research and analytical assessments on key social protection issues.
UNICEF has recently launched its Social Protection Strategic Framework, which lays out UNICEF’s approach to social protection and articulates the underlying key principles that guide the organizations’ work, including nationally-led integrated systems and the progressive realization of universal coverage. The recently released strategy specifically calls for the development and strengthening of integrated social protection systems, recognizing it as a promising approach to address the multiple and compounding vulnerabilities of children, families and communities. UNICEF’s approach includes two core components: a systems approach, identifying key structures and mechanisms that facilitate addressing multiple vulnerabilities in a holistic manner, and a multi-sector approach, that identifies and maximizes linkages between social protection and sector outcomes.
During the series of internal and external consultations conducted in development and roll-out of the Framework, operational and technical gaps have been identified which need to be addressed in order for the policy messages of the Strategic Framework to be effectively translated into real changes in policy practice. These consultations also increased interest across the organization to collaborate on specific policy and operational products, to strengthen social protection work in other divisions. In addition, during 2013, a number of internal processes/changes will take place which will impact the demands placed on UNICEF HQ technical capacity.
In this context, UNICEF Division of Policy and Strategy, Policy Analysis Section (DPS - PA) has identified a setof technical projects for Social Protection for 2013 for which a consultant is needed, essential to underpin the success of the UNICEF’s growing leadership in social protection and provide the necessary materials/inputs to UNICEF’s senior management,cross-divisional products, and regional and country offices. These technical and policy products are also necessary to strengthen internal and external partnerships and to contribute to emerging areas in the social protection field.
- Purpose:
Under the guidance of the Social Protection Specialist (DPP/SPEA) and in consultation with senior staff, the main objective of this consultancy is to provide policy and technical productsto ensure the effective policy/practice application of UNICEF’s Social Protection Strategic Framework. Based on the priority areas identified in the SPEA 2013 Work Plan for Social Protection, and given the need for surgecapacity in the Policy Analysis/Social Protection team to fill technical and capacity gaps, consultancy services are required to develop and deliver key products in three areas:
- Integrated Social Protection Systems: National evidence on ‘what works’ and value added of an integrated social protection systems approach
- Humanitarian Action and Social Protection
- Surge Capacity - Technical assistance and strategy development
- Integrated Social Protection Systems: National evidence on ‘what works’ and value added of an integrated social protection systems approach
In order to operationalize the policy principles set out in UNICEF’s Social Protection Strategic Framework, there is a need to develop further guidance and documentation on integrated systems, including examples/case studies on existing integrated systems and policy guidance on options for national government counterparts in the implementation of integrated systems.This consultant will be responsible for a multi-country examination of existing nationalinitiatives that strengthen integration of social protection systems.
In 2013, this project will conduct country-level research in 2-3 countries, examining the two dimensions below:
- Document good practice and learning on operational approaches that facilitate integration in different country contexts, in order to strengthen the applied knowledge base available to support countries in building integrated social protection systems.
Integration can be achieved at the policy, program, and administrative subsystems levels assessing the coordination and integration at the program and administrative level. In the case study countries, the project will investigate and document efforts to build and strengthen integrated systems at these three levels, and lessons learned. This component will include a desk review and qualitative field research.
- Research the added value of integrated systems, in terms of efficiency and/or effectiveness, in order to support the investment case for social protection systems
This component will document and analyse, in the same selected countries, the outcomes associated with a move from fragmented to harmonized systems to assess the effectiveness of an integrated systems approach. Pending data availability, this component will apply both qualitative field work and quantitative analysis.
Given the complexity of this project, the consultant will collaborate with other members of the NY social protection team and potentially external partners[1] in delivering the final products. This consultant will be responsible for collaborating on the development of the overall methodology and project implementation and leading the methodology development and data collection on (i) above. The consultant is also expected to participate in the field research in at least 1 country. This overall project is expected to contribute to 1) ongoing policy dialogue with national government counterparts and international partners on the development and implementation of integrated SP systems; and 2) development of a policy options ‘map’ and other related tools.
- Humanitarian Action and Social Protection
The increased complexity and changing nature of emergencies has underlined the need to identify potential linkages between humanitarian action and social protection. In other words, work is needed to assess the potential role of social protection contributing to strengthening households’ resilience and preparedness and risk management; supporting the accumulation of human capital and assets prior to crises in relief; secure a transition from relief to recovery; and address key elements of peace-building such as social cohesion and access to services. Although there is considerable evidence on cash-based interventions in humanitarian contexts, there is limited evidence on linkages with medium and/or long term social protection interventions.
The consultant will lead the 2ndphase of a learning project on humanitarian action and social protection. Started in 2012, this project responds to the increased interest from UNICEF country offices, and is a joint project with Emergency Operations (EMOPS) staff. Specifically, the consultant will oversee the production of two case studies, based on a methodology developed during the first phase, facilitate an internal learning process[2]based on the lessons from the case studies, and developa UNICEF framework and guidance/reference note on Humanitarian Action and SP.
- 2013 Surge Capacity - Technical assistance and strategy development
There are a number of major UNICEF processes/changes occurring in 2013, requiring SP technical assistance and strategic inputs which exceed the current capacity of the NY team:
-Planned global evaluation by the Evaluation Office of UNICEF’s social protection work
-Development of UNICEF’s next Medium-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP 2014-17), in which the role of social protection is likely to grow
-Significant increase in field and external partner (both national governments and international partners, e.g. WB) demand for technical assistance/capacity-building on Integrated SP Systems, following release of UNICEF’s SP Framework in 2012
-Significant increase in requests from UNICEF Programme Division for support on addressing demand-side barriers, including in relation to MoRES (Monitoring Results for Equity System)
Working with the Social Protection Specialist, the consultant will provide surge capacity through specific inputs,to meet the ‘excess’ demand for 2013 until the organization transitions to the new MTSP:
-Work with WB partners on facilitation of jointly run Community of Practice on cash transfers for African government staff.
-Technical review of products of HIV-Sensitive social protectionoperational research (led by the HIV team)
-SP technical inputs to country implementation and evaluation of MoRES.
-Contribute to implementation of capacity-building strategy.
- Expected Results (measurable results)
In carrying out the various tasks outlined in this TORs, the consultant will provide analytical inputs, technical assistance, and produce policy products and operational research on integrated social protection systems. The main outputs include:
- Develop methodology to document national evidence on operational approaches to integrated SP systems and plan for how this evidence will feed into policy tools.
- Conduct two country case studies on operationalizing integrated SP systems.
- Two case studies on Humanitarian Action and SP.
- UNICEF framework/reference note on Humanitarian Action and SP, based on literature review, two case studies, and internal learning process.
- Successful collaboration with the World Bank to organize African cash transfer CoP, including 6 virtual meetings and 1 face-to-face meeting.
- Duration: 11 months full-time; from April 1, 2013 to February 28, 2014. The consultant will work largely on-site, although there is some flexibility to work part of the time off-site.
- Activities, resources, deadlines:
Outputs/Deliverables / Duration (person days) / Deadline / Amount payable (US$) breakdown
- Integrated Social Protection Systems
-Selection of countries, based on agreed criteria
-Development of methodology, including questionnaire and data sources.
-Ensure consistency and integration between the components of the study (A. i. and A. ii. above).
-Lead at least 1 field visit.
-Prepare and ensure quality of data collection in 2nd country.
-Compiling main findings into multi-country summary report, or other format agreed with field colleagues / May 1
July 1
Aug 1
Ongoing
Oct 1
Nov 1
Feb 1
- Humanitarian Action and Social Protection
-Manage and guide the production of two case studies, based on a methodology developed during the first phase.
-Facilitate an internal learning process based on the lessons from the case studies.
-Develop a UNICEF framework/reference note on Humanitarian Action and SP. / June 1
Sept 1 - 1st Case Study
Dec 1 - 2nd Case Study
Ongoing;
Learning event by Feb 1, 2014
Jan 1, 2014 - Draft
Feb 28, 2014 - Final
- 2013 Surge Capacity - Technical assistance and strategy development
-Technical inputs to SP-Sensitive social protection operational research (led by the HIV team)
-SP technical inputs to country implementation and evaluation of MoRES.
-Contribute to implementation of capacity-building strategy. / Bi-monthly
Ongoing
- Key skills, technical background and experience required:
-Advanced university degree (Masters or PhD) in economics, social sciences, public policy and/or international development policy
-6-8 years of professional work experience in policy, technical assistance, capacity building related to social policy and/or social protection
-Expert knowledge on social protection policy debates and evidence required
-Previous experience in social protection policy development or programme implementation at national level is a plus
-Excellent networking and interpersonal skills required
-Previous research experience on poverty and/or development. Experience in quantitative or qualitative data collection and analysis is a plus
-Excellent written and oral communication skills in English required; skills in another UN language desirable
-Ability to work independently and respond to feedback ina timely and professional manner
-Excellent organization skills, attention to detail, and ability to contribute to a team
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and P 11 form (which can be downloaded from our website at to and with subject line “Social Protection Consultant” by 20 March 2013.Please indicate your ability, availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Submissions made without a daily rate will not be considered.
Proposed by:
Jennifer Yablonski, Social Protection Specialist, UNICEF DPS-Policy Analysis
Signature: ______Date:______
Authorized by: Jingqing Chai, Acting Associate Director, DPS-Policy Analysis
Signature: ______Date:______
1
[1] SP team is currently exploring collaboration with the World Bank on this project.
[2] This may also involve consultation with key external stakeholders.