[Hiring] National Consultant for 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.

Requirements

• 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.

Benefits

• Diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.
• Attractive compensation and benefits package.

Company Description

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.