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 a 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. 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.
   2. Deadline: 10 days from the contract signature date
   3. Estimate Budget: 5% of the total amount of the contract.
2. Work Assignment overview 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. Deadline: 30 days from the contract signature date
   3. Estimate Budget: 35% of the total amount of the contract.
3. Work Assignment overview 3
   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. Deadline: 60 days from the contract signature date
   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.