Recrutement de 01 Individual Consultancy for an analysis of the use of the social assistance programme by beneficiaries for their children

Recrutement de 01 Individual Consultancy for an analysis of the use of the social assistance programme by beneficiaries for their children

Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Chisinau
Level: Consultancy
Location: Republic of Moldova
Categories: Social Policy
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, a chance

Moldova has profound demographic, social, economic, and geostrategic challenges, all of which contributed to Moldova’s status as one of the poorest countries in Europe.

The national social protection system addresses the most critical deprivations, mainly due to the comprehensive coverage that the system provides. It comprises key social protection schemes such as social insurance, social assistance, and social care services. It also guarantees social protection benefits when essential life-cycle risks occur (e.g. old age, disability, survivor, sickness, maternity, child benefit etc). Nonetheless, low benefits levels and high informality leave a considerable number of people behind and excluded from the coverage, thus pushing them into poverty.

In 2008 a new law introduced the ‘ajutor social’ (AS) and winter allowance, a minimum income scheme that aims at reducing poverty in the country. In 2022, a new Law no. 108 was introduced to amend the regulations of Law no. 133/2008 on ‘Ajutor Social’, including winter allowance. Also, Government Decision No. 655 of 2022 amended the Regulation regarding the method of establishing and paying ‘Ajutor Social’ and winter allowance. The amendments tightened requirements and eligibility criteria but also increased the benefits level.

In the context of the latest modifications presented in the TOR, there is a need to identify the best options and scenarios to separate the guaranteed minimum income for children components of 'Ajutor Social' from other components that are paid to adult members of the family, and to propose means of ensuring that it is indeed used for the needs of children.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF is partnering with the MLSP to conduct a study to generate evidence to i) understand better how the ‘Ajutor Social’ is spent on children and/ or to improve children’s access to services; and ii) inform the ongoing reform of social assistance and the design a new formula for a guaranteed minimum income (GMI) for children and increase access to ‘Ajutor Social’ for children.

Objectives of the Study

The current socio-economic context and the ongoing inflation and energy price crisis will be taken into account to understand how families with children’s expenses are impacted. The study will assess how Ajutor Social impacts expenditure incurred by families with children.

The primary objectives of the study are as follows:

Identify what childcare services are used in correlation with 'Ajutor Social', and identify barriers to social, public services and goods for children.
Determine to what extent Ajutor Social enables families to make decisions about their welfare and how families spend the funds from 'Ajutor Social'.
To what extent families focus on purchasing of essential services for children and to what extent Ajutor Social increases the purchasing power of beneficiaries, enables families to choose goods that best correspond to priorities of children.
Assess the impact of 'Ajutor Social' on the consumption basket of a family with children, choices and social behaviour (e.g. use of healthcare, education, nutrition and food consumption), and to what extent 'Ajutor Social' strengthens the resilience of a family during crises. The assessment will assess the value-added of the 'Ajutor Social’ in tackling the energy and inflation crisis and poverty reduction.
Estimate an average expenditure of families with children, and what are share of expenses is spent on children.
Assess the degree to which families who have children with disabilities access cash transfers programmes and identify the main bottlenecks for accessing these.
Provide recommendations for adjusting ‘Ajutor Social’, including programme design for a GMI for children. Develop modalities that ensure adequate spending of the child’s component of the ‘Ajutor Social’ on children's needs only. Identify options where can be stocked the child’s component of Ajutor Social.
Details of how the work should be delivered

The study will be conducted based on a purposive sample of Ajutor Social and winter allowance (APRA) beneficiary families with children (including an agreed percentage of families with children with disabilities) that are included in the Social Assistance Automated Information System (SAAIS) managed by MLSP and ANAS. The sample of families of children with disabilities will be drawn based on the type of disability and background characteristics considered to be relevant for the study. Details on the sample and the methodology to be followed will be developed by the consultant, in cooperation with MLSP and UNICEF, in the Inception Report.

Reporting requirements

The consultant will report to the Social Policy Specialist, who will regularly communicate with the consultant and provide feedback and guidance on his/her performance and all other necessary support so to achieve objectives of the consultancy, as well as remain aware of any upcoming issues related to consultant’s performance and quality of work.

All activities and deliverables undertaken by the consultant shall be discussed and planned in consultation with UNICEF and MLSP. The consultant is expected to deliver each component of the workplan electronically (in Word format) and in English. At each stage, the deliverable shall be sent to the Social Policy Specialist by email, with the Deputy Representative in copy.

Work location and official travel involved

The work will require 1 week mission to Chisinau to meet with the national stakeholders and 1 or 2 weeks mission for local travels in order to conduct in-person visits and interviews with the different local government authorities, as per their availability. The consultant is expected to cover costs, arrange and schedule such visits, including transportation. The UNICEF office will facilitate introductions to key informants

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

Advanced university degree (Masters, or PhD) in economics, social sciences, public policy or international development policy.
Eight years of professional experience in research, policy or technical assistance related to social policy and/or social protection.
Experience in qualitative or quantitative data analysis and access to experience fieldwork to support data collection.
Strong knowledge of social protection policy debates and evidence required.
Demonstrated ability to produce clear, succinct policy materials.
Previous research experience on cash transfers and disability access to services is an asset.
Demonstrated experience conducting interviews with government officials and the community, and familiarity with ethical guidelines when working with human subjects
Experience in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is a strong advantage
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English required, knowledge of Romanian and/or Russian would be advantage.
For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

For more details on deliverables and minimum requirements, please refer to attached Terms of reference (ToR)

Download File 2023_TOR_Analysis AS expenditures on children.docx

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain the Technical Offer and Financial Offer (templates below). Please secure the Financial Proposal *.pdf document with a password on document view; the password will be requested only from technically qualified candidates.

Download File Technical Offer.docx

Download File Financial Offer.xlsx

Applications for this assignment must be received no later than: 18 September 2023

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/individual contractors 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.

Remarks:

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.

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.

Advertised: 04 Sep 2023 GTB Daylight Time
Deadline: 18 Sep 2023 GTB Daylight Time