Senior and Junior Policy Consultants in Social Protection

Vacancy No: ROSTER/2013/DDG/P/SOCPRO/02

Title: Senior and Junior Policy Consultants in Social Protection

Grade: Consultant

Contract type: Rosters

Organization unit:   DDG/P SOCPRO

Application Deadline (midnight Geneva time): 31 March 2014

The ILO is issuing a call for expressions of interest from Social Protection Experts who may wish to be included in a consultancy database currently being compiled by the ILO's Social Protection Department (DDG/P SOCPRO).

Interested consultants are invited to submit their application on-line in order to establish their profile in the ILO Social Protection Experts Database from which they may be considered for consultancy opportunities which might arise. Inclusion in the experts database does not guarantee a contract with the ILO or any other UN agency that may use the Database. Applications will be maintained in the ILO Social Protection Experts Database for a period of two years. The precise contractual arrangements pertaining to each consultancy will be determined as appropriate to the nature of that particular consultancy.

Candidates also applying for fixed-term employment positions with the ILO are encouraged to respond to this call for expression of interest if they so wish.

ILO welcomes applications from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities.

INTRODUCTION

The Social Protection Department (SOCPRO) of the International Labour Office provides, at the request of member States, technical advice for the formulation of national policies and legal frameworks, as well as for their implementation and monitoring. The Social Policy, Governance and Standards Branch of the Social Protection Department collaborates closely with the regional, sub-regional and country offices of the ILO to respond to the growing demand for social protection policy and legal experts to support national development processes, namely for the review of existing legislation, the analysis of policy reform proposals in line with international standards and good practices. Furthermore, it is necessary to analyse policy reform proposals with a view to collaborate with national counterparts and tripartite representatives relying on the ILO for high-quality legal expertise in the field of social protection/social security, with a particular emphasis on rights-based public social protection schemes and programmes, including contributory social insurance and non-contributory benefits including social assistance, aiming at ensuring effective access to health care and income security.

Such policy and legal advisory services and support are required in various settings. The ILO is often called upon to work closely and advise Governments and social partners, as well as UN Country Teams, international organisations and bi- and multilateral aid agencies. The work of a social protection policy consultant in the context of the ILO entails familiarity of international legal social security instruments, namely the ILO Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No.102) and the ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202).

Requests for consultants can be both for short-term consultancies and long-term project-based assignments. Experience has shown that social protection legal and policy experts can be:

- Subject matter experts, e.g. specialized in policy issues pertaining to social insurance, pensions, workmen compensation, unemployment protection, social assistance, social health protection, social security and labour rights, women's rights, human rights; and
- Experts on policy-making and institutional processes for setting up, governing and administering social protection schemes, in the context of social dialogue.

The former are frequently called upon for short-term consultancies while the latter may be brought in to serve as longer term advisers under specific technical cooperation project arrangements.

For its new ILO Social Protection Experts Database that will be used to rapidly identify and deploy expertise in support of social protection country assignments, the ILO is currently soliciting expressions of interest from interested individuals (not firms) with social protection policy analytical and advisory expertise in one or more of the following areas:

- Formulation and reform of national social protection policies in the context of national social protection systems and social and economic development strategies based on a thorough assessment of national social protection needs. This requires an analysis of quantitative and qualitative data to enable an assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of national social protection systems in meeting those needs, and the identification of gaps with due consideration to the national social, economic, political and fiscal context including a broad national dialogue.
- Design and implementation of specific social protection schemes and programmes responding to the identified needs and policy priorities.
- Analysis and advice concerning the institutional framework of national social protection systems, especially with regard to the governance and administration of national social protection schemes and programmes based on a rights-based approach.
- Development of didactical training materials and delivery of training and lectures on social protection to highly specialized national legal and policy experts and to audiences of policy-makers and practitioners.
- Facilitation of policy development through national social dialogue, e.g. through socio-economic councils. Applied research on social protection policy, its linkages to related issue areas (food security, health, education, gender equality, etc.) and its impact on various categories of the population, including with respect to children and youth, women, migrant workers, persons with disabilities, minorities, and marginalized vulnerable groups.

In the context of social policy analysis, the ILO is soliciting expressions of interest from:

- Highly qualified senior and experienced experts in social protection policy with proven track records in one or more of the above-mentioned areas.
- Junior experts with a solid academic research track record in social protection policy, including highly capable research analysts from social security administrations or government administrations dealing with social protection.

Description of Duties

The following range of tasks would typically be expected from a consultant - the level of responsibilities being adjusted with the level of experience expected (one or more):

- Advisory services: Provision of technical advice to Governments, social partners, civil society, other national stakeholders and UN agencies;
- Programme management: Policy analysis for the design and formulation of national-level policies, programmes and projects, implementation, coordination among national stakeholders and quality assurance;
- Capacity development: Capacity assessment, planning and implementation of capacity building for government officials, parliamentarians, social partners and other national stakeholders, and delivery of training events;
- Monitoring and evaluation: M&E matrix design, mid-term/final project evaluation, development of national social protection monitoring frameworks;
- Research and knowledge development: Specialized applied research, development of policy papers, identification of good practices, development of knowledge and capacity-building products and tools.

Required Qualifications

Education

Master's degree in social policy, social or political science, law, economics, public administration, or any other relevant but closely related subject.

Experience

- Senior Consultant: Minimum 10 years of experience in the area of social protection or relevant field, with a minimum of 7 years of experience working on social protection policy issues.
- Junior Consultant: Minimum 3 years of experience in the area of in the area of social protection or relevant field.
- Proven track record of publications (such as technical reports, articles, research papers, guides, manuals, etc.) in the area of work is essential.
- International experience as well as experience in providing advice to a high-level audience are assets.
- Experience in the governance and administration of a social protection scheme is an asset.
- Experience working with a diverse range of stakeholders is an asset, including liaising with high level government officials and in multi-cultural contexts.

Languages

Excellent command of English, French or Spanish is a requirement. Proficiency in at least another one of the following languages is a strong asset: Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Russian and/or Spanish.

Competencies

Computer skills: IT literacy and ability to operate with on-line web-based applications.

Demonstrate integrity by actively promoting the ILO's and UN's values and ethical standards; display cultural, ethnic, gender, religion, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills; Openness to change and ability to receive / integrate feedback; ability to work under pressure and stressful situations; ability to manage workload with minimum supervision; strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities; ability to work in a team.

Additional Information:

Interested candidates are advised to carefully review this ToR and ensure that they meet the requirements and qualifications described above. The submissions should contain: An up-to-date detailed Curriculum Vitae; and a cover letter clearly identifying each of the analytical and expertise area(s) for which the applicant wishes to be considered and a short summary of relevant qualifications for each as well as a list of publications authored by the applicant.

Applicants will be screened against qualifications and the competencies specified above. Candidates' references, including past employers, may be verified and confirmed.

Candidates short listed for a possible consultancy will be contacted by the Social Protection Department directly and will be invited to participate in an interview and/or assessment.

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit ILO's e-Recruitment website at: https://erecruit.ilo.org/. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

You can also send your CV to the email address: socpro@ilo.org with the text "EoI Consultancies: [Senior and Junior Policy Consultants in Social Protection]" in the subject field.

The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.

Depending on the location and availability of candidates, assessors and interview panel members, the ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates at the different stages of the recruitment process, including assessment centres, technical tests or interviews.