RIATT-ESA is seeking a consultant to conduct a comprehensive review of existing literature of current policies, practices and knowledge on social protection mechanisms for adolescents and young people in the East Africa Community (EAC) Partner States. The study will inform the development of the EAC framework on social protection.
Aim of the Study:
The consultant will be required to conduct a comprehensive review of existing literature (published, programme documents and grey literature) of current policies, practices and knowledge on social protection mechanisms for adolescents and young people in the EAC Partner States. The study will inform the development of the EAC framework on social protection.
In order to achieve this, the study will look at these components:
1. Identifying what constitutes adolescent, young people “social protection” as viewed by Partner States and identify actors and the extent to which there appears to be a ‘regional consensus’ on defining components of social protection as explicitly as possible in terms of functional policy or programme activities;
2. Mapping the different social protection mechanisms existent in the Partner States (how the different countries conceptualize social protection – in broad terms).
3. Reviewing the different social protection mechanisms that are responsive to particular population groups e.g. persons affected by HIV as an example (implications of the varied understanding and application of social protection to the population especially the most marginalized).
4. Making recommendations on what would be ideal (with reference, for example, to the EAC Minimum Standards for Comprehensive Services for Children and Young People).
Scope of this assignment
Goal and Objective
Consulting services are required to map and assess current mechanisms for coordination of adolescent and young people HIV sensitive social protection programmes in Partner States in the East Africa Community to identify capacity gaps, leading to the preparation of best practice guidance and standards for the coordination, implementation and financing of social protection programmes by the Partner States governments, development partners, private sector and civil society organizations.
Under the supervision of the RIATT-ESA Programme Manager and in close consultation with the Social Protection Technical Working Group, the consultants will carry out the following:
i. Conduct a mapping of the different social protection mechanisms existent in the Partner States (how the different countries conceptualize social protection – in broad terms).
ii. Conduct a desk review of existing well-being, health including HIV sensitive social protection laws and policies in the Partner States for adolescent and young people. This includes all the legal and policy instruments that the partner states use across the three social protection pillars.
iii. Consult with a sample of stakeholders at various levels on the requirements for effective coordination and capacity building needs for enhanced coordination. This should also include their perspectives on how sub-national and national coordination mechanisms should be linked and the duties and expectations between each of them; Recommend ways to formalise the existing relatively informal and relationship-based coordination arrangements at sub-national level.
iv. Draft and test guidelines and standards for (i) delegation from national to sub-national governments; and (ii) coordination of social protection interventions at local levels, linkages between these levels of coordination; and
v. Undertake a detailed mapping of partner organizations that are supporting which governments in Social Protection and develop a detailed 4W (Who is Where, doing What, When) matrix as a basis for development of an integrated HIV social protection platform for adolescents and young people.
vi. Provide a review of where Social Protection programmes are effectively reaching young people.
Detailed Activities and Tasks
Specifically, the consultant will do the following:
-
Conduct a mapping of the different social protection mechanisms existent in the Partner States (how the different countries conceptualize social protection – in broad terms).
-
Review the different social protection mechanisms that are responsive to particular population groups e.g. persons affected by HIV, young people etc. (implications of the varied understanding and application of social protection to the population especially the most marginalized).
-
Identify the principal social protection programmes in the Partner States; the lead agency (government or non-government); and the target beneficiaries.
-
Conduct a desk review of existing social protection policies and laws in Partner States focused on adolescents and young people.
-
Establish in each of the Partner States the following with regard to HIV social protection for adolescents and young people:
-Existing coordination mechanisms and structures and frameworks for social protection, participating agencies;
-Coverage of social protection within the Partner States’ National Integrated Development Plans, and financial resources for social protection;
-Existing information on social protection programmes coverage;
-Capacity of existing coordination structures; and
-Bottlenecks and barriers to effective coordination.
-
Make recommendations on what would be ideal (with reference, for example, to the EAC Minimum Standards for Comprehensive Services for Children and Young People).
Consultation with stakeholders
Consult with stakeholders at national level to gather views on:
-
Roles of the various stakeholders in provision and coordination of social protection;
-
Knowledge and knowledge gaps on social protection;
-
Human resources allocation and capacities;
-
Opportunities for improved coordination on social protection;
-
Barriers to improved coordination on social protection;
-
Proposals on expected linkages between national and sub-national social protection mechanisms; and
-
Access to training on HIV social protection and social protection forums;
Outputs/Deliverables
This assignment has 6 deliverables:
-
Inception Report
-
A mapping of social protection mechanisms
-
Stakeholder consultations in the EAC
-
Report on social protection programmes
-
Proposals for partner states for integrated social protection models
-
Final report with recommendations on what would be ideal (with reference, for example, to the EAC Minimum Standards for Comprehensive Services for Children and Young People).
QUALIFICATIONS
Required qualifications, desired competencies, technical background and experience. The consultant(s) will require the following skills:
-
Relevant advanced academic degree (Social Sciences, Development Studies, Economics or related fields); previous experience leading teams; knowledge of social protection and HIV programmes; knowledge of institutional development and capacity assessment; high quality report writing skills;
-
Demonstrated experience in institutional development and with knowledge of social protection policy and implementation;
-
Knowledge and skills in capacity assessment in relation to large scale public programmes;
-
Specific knowledge of mapping, programmes coordination and data base development;
-
Demonstrated ability to prepare for, facilitate and lead, national surveys;
-
Demonstrated ability to present information and ideas and to communicate effectively;
-
Demonstrated data collection and analytical writing skills;
-
Knowledge of the East Africa Community (EAC) administrative structures is an added advantage;
-
Proven ability to: (i) handle multiple tasks under pressure with short deadlines; (ii) ability to work independently, seeking guidance on complex issues; and (iii) excellent interpersonal skills, proven team orientation and the ability to work across unit boundaries.
HOW TO APPLY
Potential candidates are requested to submit the following to hradmin@repssi.org cc riattesamanagement@repssi.org by the 21st January 2019 . Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
-
A cover letter outlining your skills and experience
-
CV