Social Protection Consultants

SPCs

Key Functions, Accountabilities and Related Duties/ Tasks

(2) Support the state governments in improving cross sectoral linkages with service delivery in the areas of improved realization and effectiveness of social protection strategies;

(3) Identify key challenges at the policy, program and administrative levels for cash transfer programs, developing evidence-based solutions to address key concerns (dependency, lack of fiscal space, exclusion) using a child lens;

(4) Explore the political economy of social contracts and financing of safety nets in general and cash transfers in particular in the states with specific schemes for children and adolescents;

(5) Initiate and conduct state level studies and projects involving the redesign of existing social protection schemes and the development of targeted cash transfers to responding children specially the disadvantaged groups;

SPCs

(7) Make recommendations, advocate and support the state governments in undertaking a harmonized approach to cash transfers and adopting the development of an integrated social protection system for children;

(8) Undertake a study in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, as well as relevant districts in Karnataka and Telangana, to understand the vulnerabilities and deprivations caused by floods, cyclones, and other weather events. The study should make recommendations on adjusting relevant social protection measures to address the acute risks and vulnerabilities associated with the sudden onset of climatic shocks in each state;

(9) Collect, analyze and disseminate key lessons and best practices emerging from safety nets and cash transfer implementation in the states, including on targeting and beneficiaries registration, grievances and redress mechanisms, monitoring and evaluations and MIS;

(10) Establish effective partnerships with the state governments, bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs, civil society and local leaders, the private sector, and other UN agencies to support sustained and proactive commitment to the Convention of the Rights of the Child and to achieve global UN agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals;

(11) Closely work with the government, NGO and other stakeholders on social protection and labour issues.

6. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualification and Experience:

Experience:

(2) Five years of experience in program design and implementation in social protection. Experience in Southern states is desirable;

(3) Credible body of work at the policy level with the state and or national governments in reformulating an existing government scheme, or creating a new policy in social protection covering child benefits, pensions, conditional cash transfers, insurance linked social welfare schemes, direct benefit transfers, etc.;
(4) Extensive knowledge of social safety net systems and their implementation in India;(5) Experience of working on social safety nets and social protection in other countries will be an advantage;

(6) Prior experience of working with a UN entity shall be preferred.

Skills and Competencies:

(2) Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain productive and professional relationships with senior government counterparts, donors, civil society and other stakeholders, to influence change in the decision-making process and formulation of policy;

(3) High capacity for organization and coordination, as well as the ability to work with a high degree of independence in a team environment;

(4) Familiarity with national and state schemes for children will be a strong advantage;

(5) Candidates should have excellent written and oral communication skills;

(6) Ability to work in a cross-cutting team and a wide variety of stakeholders within and outside the government is essential;

(7) Candidates must have excellent interpersonal, negotiation and presentation skills;

(8) Ability to research, collect and collate public expenditure data and present it in a coherent manner is essential;

(9) Excellent analytical and report writing skills are important;
(10) Data and information management with strong computer proficiency with regular MS Office is mandatory.

7. LANGUAGE:

Professional proficiency in English is mandatory. Ability to speak and write Telugu is preferred for the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana roles and Kannada for the Karnataka role.