Social Policy (policy systematization) Consultant, Brasilia (remote), Brazil – 2 months

While significant progress has been achieved in Brazil and globally in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), much remains to be done to ensure the integral protection of children and fulfil their fundamental rights in an equitable and non-discriminatory manner.

UNICEF has a long-standing tradition of supporting governments in strengthening policies and actions through technical cooperation. This collaboration enables public institutions at various levels to achieve their objectives, particularly those focused on advancing the rights of children and adolescents.

In the State of Amazonas, specifically in the municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, UNICEF is leading a pilot initiative to address Multidimensional Poverty by strengthening the Social Assistance System (SUAS). Launched in November 2023 in partnership with the State Government, municipal authorities, and an Non-Governmental Organization, the initiative is now fully operational and is scheduled to conclude in April 2025.

The initiative employs active and participatory methodologies in collaboration with the local social assistance secretariat, with a particular emphasis on the work of Social Assistance Family Service (PAIF). This service provides essential support to the municipality’s most vulnerable families, including those actively involved in the initiative.

Beyond delivering tangible results to families and enhancing government structures and processes, the initiative aims to create a comprehensive report for the financing partner/donor. This report will detail the actions, decisions, processes, and outcomes achieved. Furthermore, it will provide insights and actionable elements to support the scaling of the initiative to other municipalities, ensuring a broader and more sustainable impact.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The consultancy focuses on documenting and systematizing the initiative implemented in Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas, leveraging the intersectoral nature of Brazil’s social protection system. This initiative, led by UNICEF in partnership with the State Government, municipal authorities, and an NGO, has demonstrated potential as a successful practice that could be scaled and presented to stakeholders, including the Federal Government/Ministry of Social Development (MDS) and other Brazilian municipalities.

The primary objective of this consultancy is to collect, organize, and systematize all aspects of the initiative—its steps, challenges, actions, partnerships, and results—into a structured format for the financing partner/donor and other stakeholders. This comprehensive documentation will also serve as a foundation for presenting the initiative as a scalable model to other municipalities.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief of Social Policy, the consultant will gather and analyse both quantitative and qualitative data, including records and testimonies, to deliver an evidence-based report. The activities entail:

1. Identification and Systematization: conduct a thorough mapping of the initiative’s steps, challenges, actions, partnerships, and results in Presidente Figueiredo.
2. Analysis and Insights: highlight key challenges, successful elements, and actionable recommendations for scaling the initiative to other municipalities.
3. Comprehensive Report: develop a clear, well-structured, and communicative report that consolidates all findings. Ensure the report is designed to effectively communicate results, best practices, and recommendations for potential replication in other contexts.

This consultancy aims to provide an actionable and replicable knowledge base, contributing to broader efforts to address multidimensional poverty through strengthened social protection systems.

DELIVERABLES

              1. Work Assignment overview 1

1.1. Deliverables/Outputs: Work plan, including detailed travel plan and proposed methodology for collecting data and testimonials, with detailed timeline. The work plan needs to be developed in line with the expected results mentioned in these Terms of Reference and in coordination with UNICEF.

1.2. Deadline: 10 days from the contract signature date

1.3. Estimate Budget: 5% of the total amount of the contract.

2. Work Assignment overview 2

2.1. Deliverables/Outputs: Intermediate Report based on existing documents and records of the initiative and actors/stakeholders mapping, including first impressions from the first mission to Presidente Figueiredo.

2.2. Deadline: 30 days from the contract signature date

2.3. Estimate Budget: 35% of the total amount of the contract.

3. Work Assignment overview 3

2.1. Deliverables/Outputs: Report containing the final systematization of the initiative, with identification of all consulted sources and accompanied by the identification and systematization of all of the initiative steps, challenges, actions, partnerships and results at Presidente Figueiredo. The report must include all collected contents in a comprehensive and easy-to-communicate manner that can be a reference for communicating results and best practices to be escalated by other municipalities.  

2.2. Deadline: 60 days from the contract signature date

2.3. Estimate Budget: 60% of the total amount of the contract.

DURATION OF CONTRACT:

2 months

TRAVEL PLAN

The work should include two missions to Amazonas, each one including one full work day in Manaus so as to include meetings with the state counterparts and UNICEF, and at least three days in Presidente Figueiredo. Consultant’s, travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, public policy, public administration, social sciences, political science, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in social protection or public policy analysis.
• Prior experience in conducting policy-related systematization and reporting.
• Knowledge of the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS) will be an asset.
• Relevant professional experience in the Amazon territory (Amazônia Legal) will be an asset.
• Fluency in Portuguese.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Portuguese – full proficiency (Fluency)

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.

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 jobs-near-me.org 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.