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National consultant to support building resilient social protection: Municipal readiness and humanitarian cash transfer design.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

This initiative aims to assess existing gaps in legislation, policies, resources, and practices in managing, and mitigating the impacts of shocks through social protection measures at the municipal level. Additionally, the initiative will support co-design of municipal humanitarian cash transfer schemes targeting the vulnerable children and their families during shocks, within the scope of municipal powers, as well as build capacities to manage and implement these interventions effectively.

Scope of Work:

Strategic Context

Georgia increasingly faces hazards like floods, landslides, and fires, or other natural or man-made shocks highlighting the need to strengthen social protection and emergency response capacities. In this regard, in 2023, UNICEF and the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs (MoIDOTPLHSA) initiated a national dialogue on developing a shock-responsive social protection system.  Unlike general social protection which addresses typical lifecycle risks, shock responsive social protection specifically targets widespread crises like natural disasters and economic downturns, impacting households.

UNICEF advocates for a greater focus on children in climate and environmental strategies, emphasizing resilient social protection system and services. A key recommendation in the Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) for Georgia advises assessing measures to integrate climate shocks into responses for the social protection system, making it shock-responsive. This includes evaluating climate change risk triggers for cash-based assistance to children in rural households affected by natural hazards.

UNICEF globally champions the prioritization of children’s rights within disaster risk reduction and climate change agendas. The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region has witnessed successful initiatives in this regard, such as the “Reducing Disaster Risk for Sustainable Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)” programme ,  “Strengthening Climate Information and Multi-Hazard Early  Warning Systems for Increased Resilience in Azerbaijan” programme  and other examples from central Asia.  Drawing on the successful experiences from the region, UNICEF is committed to support the Government to design and implement programmes tailored to meet the present and increasing needs in Georgia.

Rationale:

Climate change critically threatens children’s wellbeing, affecting their rights to life, health, education, and protection as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Georgia faces increasing floods, landslides, heatwaves, and fires, which are projected to intensify. Environmental degradation and air pollution further risk children’s health and wellbeing, yet policies lack a child-sensitive approach.

Key strategies like Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)  , and the National Environmental Action Program (NEAP)  of Georgia, have limited focus on children and does not mention social protection measures which could mitigate impact of climate induced emergencies and/or other types of localized shocks.

Recent environmental and non-environmental shocks, including landslides in the Racha and Guria regions, as well as COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war, which resulted in economic hardship and displacement, have highlighted children’s vulnerability. To help households cope with the impacts of these shocks, the Government of Georgia introduced temporary financial assistance measures. These shocks highlighted the vital role of social protection system in mitigating the impacts of larger crises, underscoring the necessity of having more timely, adaptable and inclusive social protection mechanisms that can respond to various types of disasters, whether they are health-related, climate, environmental, or socio-economic.

In fact, certain shocks that are widely spread require a more centralized response such as health-related or socio-economic, while localized climate-related shocks are best addressed through municipal-level interventions. Therefore, empowering municipalities to promptly address those with shock-responsive social protection measures is crucial for meeting the needs of affected vulnerable populations, especially children and families.

However, municipalities, often first responders to small-scale emergencies, lack capacity (resources and knowledge) to support affected communities through their social protection system. Moreover, municipal Emergency Management Plans  focus on infrastructure, with limited attention to social and child welfare and with minimal integration of social protection. Whilst recent legislative initiatives have expanded local government responsibilities, municipalities struggle due to financial, human capacity, and knowledge constraints. They lack policies and programmes for preparedness and mitigation of climate-induced and/or other types of shocks.

The absence of a municipal shock responsive  social protection schemes negatively impact children and their families, exacerbating their already precarious situation. Children and vulnerable families, in particular, face “double vulnerability”—they are at risk both from the immediate impacts of climate change and from systemic gaps in social protection at the local level.

In response to the need to build municipal capacities to prepare for and mitigate the risks of natural or other types of shocks and to enhance social protection measures for vulnerable population especially children and their families, UNICEF is seeking a consultant to support the readiness of municipalities, including the design of humanitarian cash transfers, and build the resilience of municipal social protection mechanisms.

The consultancy should revolve around four key pillars:

•               Processes Pillar: Developing streamlined processes at the municipal level to enable rapid assessment of the affected vulnerable population(s), especially children and their families, during crises.

•               Financial Pillar: Establishing and securing funding sources, utilizing local government resources, national emergency funds, and external humanitarian aid to sustain the cash transfer scheme.

•               Targeting and Capacity Building Pillar: Focusing on children and families most vulnerable to shocks, particularly those in high-risk areas or facing socioeconomic challenges, while strengthening municipal capacities to manage and implement the scheme effectively.

•               Communication Pillar: Developing and implementing inclusive communication channels to raise awareness, inform the affected population(s) about available support, eligibility criteria, and application procedures, and monitoring as well as feedback mechanisms.

Within this framework, the consultancy aims to enhance municipal capacity to deliver emergency support during crises. To achieve the aim, following sub-activities should be carried out:

1.            Case Study of Municipal Emergency Response and Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

The consultant will conduct case studies in two selected municipalities, focusing on recent emergency preparedness and responses to shocks and produce reports for each municipality. The objective is to identify gaps in preparedness, management, coordination, and resource mobilization at both municipal and central levels.

The reports will map social protection delivery systems, such as municipal social protection programmes, information management systems, and financial service providers currently used for cash transfers. Additionally, the consultant will explore options for scaling up cash assistance through various modalities to meet social protection needs during emergencies. This includes reviewing current and necessary data management practices for updating and managing beneficiary information and social registries of vulnerable populations.

Furthermore, the consultant will carry out a Risk and Vulnerability Assessment in the two selected municipalities using a methodology developed by UNICEF aiming to measure the disaster and crisis risk profile, examining key trends, shocks, exposure, and vulnerabilities in two selected municipalities. It will evaluate the municipal context with a special focus on social vulnerabilities, including poverty and exclusion.

2.            2-Day Workshop: Strengthening Municipal Capacity in Social Protection and Emergency Response and Co-Designing Humanitarian Cash Transfers

The consultant will facilitate a 2-day interactive workshop, supported by UNICEF, with two primary aims:

•               Empowering municipal actors in two selected municipalities to take ownership of integrating social protection and emergency response programme enabling them to manage and implement these systems effectively.

•               Collaborate with the two selected municipalities to co-design and cost a municipal Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) scheme. This scheme will be shock-responsive, context-specific, and tailored to address local needs during emergencies, with a special focus on vulnerable populations such as children and families affected by climate change-related shocks.

In addition to the two selected municipalities, UNICEF will invite central level stakeholders such as representatives from the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health, and Social Affairs to the workshop. The stakeholders will discuss and agree on four key processes at the municipal level that will be outlined in the concept note, reflecting following areas: 1. defining roles and responsibilities during emergencies concerning cash support; 2. determining the budget flows-which funds will be allocated and how they reach the intended beneficiaries; 3. creating a Unified Database of Socially Vulnerable Families at Risk of Double Vulnerability and Heightened Risks in Emergencies; 4. and developing effective communication and messaging strategies during emergencies.

3.            Multi-stakeholder Roundtable on Implementing Municipal Shock-Responsive Social Protection to provide Humanitarian Cash Transfers (HCT) in Georgia: Facilitate a workshop, that will bring together key government entities at both central and local levels, specialized state agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), experts, and development partners. The goal is to report on the findings from the assessments and the work performed, and to facilitate a discussion outlining progress to date and an action plan to address any remaining points (outstanding gaps/ monitoring etc.), to ensure that the vulnerable population will be supported with shock-responsive social protection measures.

Interested candidates should submit an activity proposal that includes following:

•               Cover letter with the description of relevant experience and motivation to apply.

•               A working plan of the consultancy with timeline

•               Outline of the case study report

Work methodology.

The selected consultant will work under the supervision of the Social Policy and Economic Specialist. The consultant will complete the agreed tasks and provide professional expertise through the deliverables listed in this TOR.

Part of the work can be done remotely. The consultancy will require field visits, as well face to face workshop facilitation and training provision.

Duration:  from 1 December 2024 to 31 July 2025

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced university degree in the field of public administration, public policy, social science, law or equivalent

•               At least 7 years of experience working with the municipalities on social planning, programming.

•               Knowledge of decentralization and local governance

•               Knowledgeable in rights-based approach to public policies

•               Demonstrated skills in case study analysis and systems mapping.

•               Proven knowledge and experience in, developing methodologies, conducting research and analysis, developing reports.

•               Strong facilitation skills for multi-stakeholder workshops

•               Previous work with UNICEF well be an asset:

•               Demonstrated analytical, negotiation, advocacy, reporting and writing skills.

•               Fluence in oral and written communication in English and Georgian.

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.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements