International Consultant for Social Protection

UNDP works in more than 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We support countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results. We promote an integrated approach to achieve sustainable development that tackles the interconnected issues of multidimensional poverty, inequality and sustainability, while enhancing knowledge, skills and technologies to reduce risks and sustain development gains for both people and the planet. We help countries build their capacity to integrate environmental considerations into development, ensuring that natural wealth is used to improve people’s lives; promoting shared prosperity and universal social protection, thus supporting the achievement of 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.

Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) is UNDP’s main knowledge and advisory hub for the Europe and CIS Region (ECIS). It aims to connect the region to a global network of development experts, to build knowledge and capacity, and to forge partnerships to meet the development challenges of a large and diverse region. IRH also aims to capture and spread development successes and best practices in the region and to improve the impact of UNDP’s work through effective communications and advocacy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has provoked a collective, global impact driven by rising deaths, accelerating unemployment, inequality, political instability, stalled economies, and widespread suffering. However, the death toll attributable to the virus could prove to be less significant relative to cascading effects on public health arising from social and economic deprivation. Some dimensions of human development are equivalent to levels of deprivation last seen in the mid-1980s.

UNDP’s COVID-19 crisis response is designed to help decision-makers look beyond recovery and manage complex and uncertain choices focused on Agenda 2030, in four main areas: governance, social protection, green economy, and digital disruption. It encompasses our role as technical lead of the UN’s socio-economic response. The following ToR is concerned with supporting the efforts of countries located in Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States to design, promote and implement a new architecture of public policies and programmes that can support agile recovery of economies and protection of the vulnerable to future risks.

The international position is established under Sustainable Development Cluster of the Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH).  The consultant is expected to closely collaborate with the team members and report to the SD Team Leader.

The objective of the assignment is to support the Sustainable Development Team in providing:

1. Effective advisory support to 17  countries in ECIS region by supporting research, analysis and knowledge management in the area of financing and effective management of gender and shock-responsive social protection systems;
2. Timely and relevant advisory support to ECIS countries in developing innovative public policy solutions and programmes for social protection coverage of informal and non-standard workers, contributing family workers and low skilled workers;
3. Advice for UNDP’s vision for just transition by development of innovative social protection instruments and adaptation strategies, which protect the most vulnerable population affected by the green transition

Key Results/Deliverables Expected:

The consultant is expected to deliver the following results:

Deliverables:

Deliverable 1:  A stock-taking report providing critical observations regarding the resilience and shock- responsiveness of social protection systems and programmes in ECIS region

Deliverable 2: Technical report, providing policy recommendations for improved coverage, adequacy, models of financing and governance of social protection systems in a selected number of ECIS countries.

Deliverable 3: Technical report providing policy options and innovative solutions for a selected number of ECIS countries in expanding social protection coverage for informal and non-standard workers;

Deliverable 4: Technical report on possible digital solutions for expanded access to social services for structurally excluded groups.

Deliverable 5:  A position paper analyzing the vulnerabilities and risks arising from the “green transition” in a selected number of ECIS countries as well as providing policy recommendation, innovative mitigation measures and instruments for protection of the most vulnerable.

Payment schedule will be 20% payment upon submission of each deliverable.

Corporate Competencies:

•     Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;

•     Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;

•     Treats all people fairly without favoritism;

•     Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

•     Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

•     Strong interpersonal and communication skills;

•     Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;

•     Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;

•     Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;

•     Extensive knowledge of UN System and UNDP mandate;

•     Comprehensive knowledge of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);

•     Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;

•     Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.

•     Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;

•     Positive, constructive attitude to work;

•             Ability to work with, and analyze data, using relevant tools/computer programs (Excel, online survey tools) to present findings;

Education:

•     Master’s degree in economics, social sciences, gender studies, international development or closely related fields.

Experience:

•     At least 5 years of experience of working on social protection issues, economic empowerment, labour market inclusion, gender equality and women empowerments;

•     Experience of working in SDGs and Agenda 2030;

•     Hands-on experience of working in ECIS region or in middle and upper middle-income countries;

•     Analytical, research or project management experience, which requires synthesizing complex issues, drawing synergies and establishing horizontal linkages between governance, growth, poverty, environment and digital transformation agenda.

Language:

• Good command of English both written and spoken.
• Knowledge of Russian language is an asset.

Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.

The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. 

Technical Criteria – 70% of total evaluation – max. 70  points:

• Criteria A (Relevance of education) – max points: 5.0;
• Criteria B (Relevance of work experience in social protection issues, economic empowerment, labour market inclusion, gender equality and women empowerments and SDGs  ) – max points: 10;
• Criteria B (Relevance of work and experience of working in ECIS region or upper middle-income countries) – max points: 5;
• Criteria C (Experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection, processing and analysis of development trends related to growth, poverty, environment and digital transformation) – max points: 10;
• Criteria C (Language) – max points: 5;
• Criteria D (Written Assignment – technical knowledge and clarity of the text) – max points: 20;
• Criteria E (Interview – assessing technical knowledge, motivation and communication skills) – max points: 15.

Financial Criteria – 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points

Only those candidates who will obtain min. 70% of points will be invited for the next stage of the technical evaluation and financial proposal evaluation. 

Application procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position,
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV;
• Samples of  2  (co)-authored research, analytical papers
• Financial Proposal* in USD – consisting of a) total all-inclusive lump sum amount for professional fee for tasks specified in this announcement b) travel costs to/from duty station. Price offer must not include costs related to official missions. Missions will be paid separately as per UNDP rules and regulations;
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, personal security needs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services…).
Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions and related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.