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Specific task

Under the direct supervision of the Head, Bureau of Labour and Social Affairs and Chairperson of the board of social protection fund, and UNICEF Ethiopia Amhara FO, the incumbent will be responsible to the following tasks and duties.  

1.  Provide technical support, to design, develop and manage the SPF.

• In line with the regulation ratified by the regional administrative  state Cabinet to establish a SPF, the senior consultant will provide efficient and effective support to the regional SPF board, technical advisory committee and secretariat office to strengthen  the overall strategic leadership and coordination of the SPF  system development, development of evidence based strategic and operation planning,  resource   mobilization, key stakeholders engagement and participation and the SPF supported projects/program design, implementation and  monitoring and evaluation. The following are the major roles and activities that senior consultant is expected to undertake.
• The senior Consultant coordinates the regional SP Council and ensure it is functionality give direction on legal and corrective measures of systemic issues to BoLSA and overall multisectoral coordination.
• Build and strengthen the capacity of executing bodies for the proper implementation of the strategy and policy and ensure the integration of social protection interventions into the development strategies and programs of sectors.
• Develop a monitoring and evaluation system with a standard monitoring framework for efficient and effective implementation of the social protection programs and projects
• Provide regular report to the SPF board on how efficiently and effectively the Social protection budget is utilized including the expected outcome and impact 
• The senior technical assistant takes primary responsibility in leading, coordinating and guiding the rolling out of SPF board decisions, recommendations of the SPF technical advisory committee, and implementation of strategic and operation plans.
• Support the preparation and endorsement of the working guidelines, standard operating procedures and technical documents that help and facilitate the implementation of SPF supported programs, projects and initiatives in the region.
• Manage, coordinate and supervise the overall day to day activities of the social protection fund, including management of operation and program teams
• Establish and put in-place social protection trust fund executive office structures at all level and get it endorsed by the board and ensure that it is fully functional.
• Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and institutional capacity building measures to achieve the social protection fund goals.
• Support the management, administration and operations team of SPF secretariat to establish and maintain sound full programs, operations and supply management system and controls per the standard of financial and supply management requirement.
• Develop different standard operating procedure that would help the social protection fund effective and efficient management and accountability.
• Develop capacity building strategies that will facilitate the smooth implementation of the SPF strategy and implement them accordingly.
• Design and Develop and SPF beneficiary database and ensure social protection trust fund beneficiaries’ profile is archived in protected and safe place and in systematic way for future retrieval and use.   

2. Policy advocacy, communication, networking and partnership

• Promote the SPF goals and objectives are in line with the overall social protection policy and strategy through advocacy and policy dialogue, active engagement in communication, networking and participation at every opportunity, at the regional, national and international level.
• Leveraging the efforts underway by the regional government to strengthen the social protection system in the region through strengthening broad-based partnerships and networking to raise awareness and stimulate open dialogue to address the multidimensional socio-economic needs and challenges of vulnerable people living with social exclusion and harm in the region.
• Ensure exchange of information, experience, identify new strategies and courses of action to accelerate/improve the social protection trust fund functions, delivery of services and achieve the social protection policy and strategy requirements and objectives.
• Use evidence to facilitate consultative discussions, meetings and program reviewing with government counterparts and other partners such as influential people, community and religious leaders, civil society organizations, international and national nongovernment organizations, UN organizations, investors and businesspeople.
• Collaborate with communication groups to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization efforts in order to enhance collaboration with media, civil society and involvement of individuals, families and communities to support positive practices on social protection services; engage dialogue with private sector on good practices and corporate social responsibility; and strengthen partnerships with bilateral and multilateral organizations.
• Regularly interact with Government and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies at different stages of the social protection programs implementation to follow up on agreements and recommendations.
• Represent social protection fund executive office while dealing with third parties including facilitating the signing of agreements with the board. 

3. Resource mobilization (financial and Technical)

• Design and develop resource mobilization strategy (financial and technical) from international, national, regional and community sources.
• Organize and facilitate regular fund-raising events, programs, scientific conferences, workshop and meetings and program and project reviewing meetings to maximize the resource mobilization effort.
• Develop, compile, promote new ideas, innovations, tools, technological approaches, that can enhance and boost social development in the region.
• In line with the regulation 189/2020 and functions given from the board, the senior technical assistant outlines the structures of the regional SPF secretariat office, its operation modality, programmatic and support staff.
• Prepare grant proposals for project and program assessment, appraisal, endorsement and operationalization based on the strategic plan and seek for the approval of the board.
• Identify and review projects proposals that could be supported by the social protection fund and monitor the implementation. 

4. Evidence generation and learning: Situational analysis, monitoring, evaluation, learning and dissemination of information

• Design and develop the SPF implementation monitoring and evaluation framework and the learning, experience sharing and evidence generation strategy.
• Set research and innovation agenda, establish research hubs, strategies and develop monitoring and evaluation tools.
• Coordinate and facilitate different researches that will help to generate evidence, assess the progress interventions and evaluate the intervention for decision making and policy change 
• Promote social protection knowledge management through exchange of knowledge, information, situation analysis, experience or lessons learned; promote knowledge sharing and technical input or recommendations on major social protection programme directions and on introduction of new initiatives in the region
• Support the promotion and documentation of indigenous community support mechanisms in the region and design strategic advocacy for further scale up.  
• Document and share best experiences on social protection intervention regionally, nationally and internationally to inform and update the ongoing effort on social protection in the region.
• Regularly monitor the indicators and assess the implementation of social protection interventions implemented by all partners and stakeholders in the region. 
• Develop the database for beneficiaries and updating of profiles of vulnerable people who need socio-economic support in the region disaggregated by sex, age, vulnerability type and geography.
• Design and develop financial and program monitoring and control mechanism to ensure financial auditing is happening regularly and by an authorized body and on time   

Expected deliverables and payment schedule

• Submission of detailed workplan – 20% [31 December 2020]
• Social protection council guide revised and cascaded to zone and woreda, with scheduled meetings, and administrative processes established (e.g. minutes documented, recommendations for follow up/action points etc.) – 10% [31 January,2021]
• Provide quality assurance and guidance to finalize situational analysis and development of SPF strategic and operation plan including dissemination of the study with clear milestone outlined in consultation with BOLSA and a firm – 10% [28 February 2021]
• Develop executive office structure of Social Protection Fund and support the development and implementation of a human resources including recruitment of staff, and prepare capacity development strategy as well-built capacity executive office – 20% [31 March, 2021]
• Social protection fund monitoring and evaluation framework developed, including monitoring indicators and tracking procedures – 10% [30 June,2021]  
• Develop standard operating procedures – 10% [ 31 July 2021]
• Develop communication and advocacy strategy for SPF resource mobilisation and organize high-level workshop for advocacy and policy dialogue – 10% [30 September, 2021]
• Map partnerships and develop resource mobilization strategy – 10% [15 November,2021]

 

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Reporting and supervision 

The consultant is accountable to Head, Bureau of Labour and Social Affairs and Chairperson of the board of social protection fund, and UNICEF Ethiopia Amhara FO and once the necessary reports are submitted to the office, payment approval will be done.

Qualification, experience and competency  

• PhD/MA in Social Sciences, Development Economics, Social Protection, Monitoring and Evaluation, Public Health or any related field.
• Minimum of 10 years demonstrable professional working experience in social protection intervention and or other related development areas.
• Desirable experience at international, national and regional levels with track record in effectively designing, implementation and monitoring of social development and social protection programs in the past.
• Demonstrated experience in drafting guidelines and working documents related with social development (social protection /social welfare).
• High level strategic thinking and analytical capacity to design and develop strategic and operational plan, implement and monitor social development programs and projects.
• Excellent networking within and outside Ethiopia,
• communication and coordination skills for resource mobilization, negotiation and advocacy with high level convincing and persuasion skill
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Amharic. Knowledge of other local language in the region is an advantage.    
• Compassionate and enthusiastic to serve the most vulnerable people of the region with full devotion and dedication to address their socio-economic problem.
• Embracing diversity, to serve every vulnerable people regardless of their cultural background gender, social status, religious, tribal connections. and is willing and open to listen to others views and opinions outside of his or her conventional thinking.
• Possess high level of drive for result. Highly result oriented, sets high standard and goal for himself and strives to achieve them 
• Knowledge and experience with the socio-economic dynamics and cultural fabric of the region with particular emphasis on the different vulnerability situation in Amhara region.

• Excellent team building capacity; someone who is always willing to work with team spirit and able to mobilize all team member to one united action to achieve the overarching goal of the organization 

• Subject matter expert in social development with exposure to digital technology and other Information Technology applications

General Conditions:  

• The consultant will be based in Bahir Dar and stationed within the Social Protection Fund Executive Office.  
• The consultant will be managed under the direct formal supervision of the Head, Bureau of Labour and Social Affairs and Chairperson of the board of social protection fund, and UNICEF Ethiopia Amhara FO.
• The consultant is entitled to daily substance allowance (DSA) when on travel outside duty station based on the executive office per diem rate.      
• The consultant is authorized to have access to SPF executive office transport for official travels.
• The consultant will be paid monthly upon completion of deliverables and report approved by supervisor.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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:

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.

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.