Dear colleagues,

I have been asked to circulate this ToR relating to a current UNICEF consultancy on children and social protection in Laos. Please do not reply to me but directly to  Mizuho Okimoto-Kaewtathip at UNICEF (Asia): [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>

Many thanks, Nicola.
[DRAFT]

UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND

Terms of Reference for Consultant on Social Protection study


 1.  Background & Purpose:

While the positive strides made by countries, especially in the Asia region, have accelerated the global economic growth, the recent global economic crisis has once again, alerted the public on the uneven impact across the various strata of the society. The vulnerabilities of the marginalised population evidently reaffirmed that the fruits of development have been inequitably distributed, high levels of poverty continue to persist, and that public policies may not necessarily be in place to prevent the near-poor population from spiraling down to poverty. Indeed, the economic, social and environmental changes have brought about intensified forms of vulnerabilities and risks as well as inequalities and exclusion. As such, the emerging needs are no longer met by conventional approaches to social protection as a temporary risk mitigation mechanism, but require comprehensive, sustainable and rights-based approaches that can generate a wider impact.

The adverse multiplier effects of globalisation on investment in social development, employment opportunities, changes in market price and household coping mechanisms can have grave impact on the overall development outcomes but especially on children due to their unique vulnerabilities. As the preliminary findings of the Child Well-Being Study has highlighted, the missed opportunities in the early years of life for example through the disruption in access to basic social services such as education and health would have detrimental impact on a child’s development not only today but throughout the life time. The reduction in household income and changes in market price, will inevitably change the household consumption patterns but the implications may differ among the household members such that children may be consuming less food products or those with less nutritional value, withdrawn from schools and receive less health care. Global research confirms that poverty is most likely transferred down to the next generation, and thus the investment in the young generation is an imperative to human development at all times through various means including social protection systems.

While the impact of the global economic crisis in Lao PDR is known to be subdued, there is insufficient evidence due to the lack of real-time monitoring systems and recent major national-scale social indicator surveys. However, the impact of such global crisis is likely to only gradually surface and other more relevant major external shocks to household livelihoods in Lao PDR may include natural disasters and access to land. Nevertheless, chronic poverty persists and affects a large number of children in the country, and such external shocks could drive even a larger number of children to unsustainable levels. Thus, the potential implications of children should be well understood in order to analyse the existing policy framework and to identify ways to mitigate the impact of such shocks. The Government of Lao PDR is considering social protection as one of the priorities in the proposed 7th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP).


 1.  Objectives of the exercise:


 *   As a follow-up to the Child Well-Being Study that identified the characteristics of vulnerabilities experienced by children, review the policy framework and programmes on social protection, basic social services and investment in social development, social transfers (e.g. Poverty Reduction Fund, Village Development Fund etc.), and analyse the implications on children.
 *   Take stock of existing good practices (e.g. those that are being initiated through sectoral work supported by UNICEF) that can be systematically scaled up.
 *   Introduce cutting-edge approaches to social protection by presenting the concept of Child-Sensitive Social Protection in the context of Lao PDR to the Government and facilitate a policy-level dialogue on the issue with a view to provide inputs to the 7th National Socio-Economic Development Plan.
 *   Contribute to the knowledge generation among UN agencies and IFIs and strengthen partnerships in this field, including through the CCA/UNDAF process.
 *   Facilitate various policy dialogue through publication of a policy brief and paper on child- sensitive social protection in the context of Lao PDR with recommendations on how to implement this.


 1.  Methodology:

•         Desk review of secondary data on existing policies and programmes to analyse the potential implications on children.
•         Interviews with officials in relevant Government partners, UN agencies, IFIs and UNICEF programme sections.
•         Field visits to validate and observe systems of social protection as necessary.
•         Consultation meeting involving relevant stakeholders to share the preliminary findings.


 1.  Schedule of Tasks & Timeline:
Responsibilities and tasks:

Week 1 and 2 (10 working days)
Orientation and desk reviews of key documents related to social protection as well as meetings with Chief of Sections.
Development of methodology for data collection as well as protocols and instruments for research.

Presentation of research framework to UNICEF staff and key partners in Government, UN agencies and IFIs.

Meetings and interviews with key Government partners, UN agencies, IFIs and other relevant partners.

      Week 3 and 4 (10 working days)
      Report writing

      Week 5 (5 working days)
      Internal discussions with the programme sections, consultation meeting with partners and submission of the final report and policy brief.


 1.  Deliverables:

• 100 % upon submission of:

o    Concept note with research plan, methodology and draft outline of the report

o    15-page final report

o    2-page policy brief

o    Background note for ADB-UNICEF regional conference on social protection

o    Presentations

o    Report on consultation meeting

o    Archive of reference documents



 1.  Qualifications & Experience required:

• Background in economics, public policy and social development.
• Over 10 years of experience in a relevant field, including in capacity development of Governments.
• Knowledge of Child-Sensitive Social Protection approach and other cutting-edge research trends on social protection.
• Publication in relevant field, including articles published in internationally recognised journals.
• Ability to write concise policy advocacy document.
• Ability to communicate succinctly and strategically, and also facilitate policy-level dialogue.
• Familiarity with the UN and UNICEF in particular.
• Ability and commitment to meet deadlines.


-- 
The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302).