[Hiring] National Consultancy to Develop the Zambia Sustainable Social Assistance Financing Strategy @AGORA

Role Description

The overall objective of the assignment is to develop a costed, evidence-based and implementable Sustainable Social Assistance Financing Strategy for Zambia’s Social Cash Transfer and Cash Plus programmes. The Strategy will build on the completed Social Assistance Financing Framework by translating its financing projections, gaps and assumptions into practical actions for securing existing commitments, improving efficiency and value for money, and mobilising additional financing. It will not revisit or redefine the programme ambitions or financing requirements already established through the earlier Financing Framework; rather, it will set out clear actions, institutional responsibilities, implementation steps, monitoring arrangements and a medium-term results framework to guide sustainable financing of Zambia’s Social Cash Transfer and Cash Plus programmes over the period 2027–2031. The process will be Government-led, with MCDSS chairing the Technical Working Group and providing formal clearance of key deliverables in consultation with MoFNP, UNICEF and other relevant stakeholders.

Specific Objectives

• Develop a costed Sustainable Social Assistance Financing Strategy, including a financing roadmap, costed implementation plan, institutional arrangements, results framework and monitoring approach.
• Undertake a political economy analysis to assess political feasibility, budget trade-offs, stakeholder interests, incentives, implementation risks and opportunities for advocacy to strengthen domestic financing for social assistance.
• Prepare a comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation plan covering fiscal shocks, economic downturns, inflation, exchange-rate volatility, climate-related shocks and other risks that may affect implementation of the Strategy.
• Identify practical measures to protect, sustain and progressively increase existing Government financing commitments for social assistance through national planning, budgeting and policy processes.
• Assess efficiency and value-for-money opportunities within existing social assistance programmes and, where feasible, estimate potential fiscal savings or cost-avoidance measures that can support programme sustainability.
• Assess, prioritise and further develop feasible additional financing mechanisms that could contribute to closing projected social assistance financing gaps over the medium term.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in Economics/Finance or related field.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in public finance, social protection financing, fiscal policy or development financing.
• English language proficiency.
• Demonstrated experience undertaking financing strategies, fiscal space assessments, expenditure reviews or public finance analysis.
• Strong understanding of Zambian public finance management systems and budget processes.
• Experience working with Government institutions, development partners and international organisations.
• Excellent analytical, facilitation and report-writing skills.

Desirables

• Demonstrated experience undertaking financing strategies, fiscal space assessments, expenditure reviews or public finance analysis.
• Strong understanding of Zambian public finance management systems and budget processes.
• Experience working with Government institutions, development partners and international organisations.
• Excellent analytical, facilitation and report-writing skills.

Application Process

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV).
• Cover letter.
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template).
• A detailed technical proposal: Candidates must submit a technical proposal demonstrating their understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, qualifications, and relevant experience. The technical proposal should not exceed 10 pages (excluding the cover letter, CV(s), and annexes).
• Candidates should also submit no more than three (3) relevant work samples completed within the last five years.

Remarks

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.