Development of IGAD Regional Social Protection Strategy

Term of Reference for
Development of IGAD Regional Social Protection Strategy

1.    Background 

IGAD established a Social Development Unit in April 2005 with the mandate to coordinate social development issues such as labour and employment, health, education, social protection and migration.  IGAD also implemented a Regional Food Security and Risk Management (REFORM) Program (2009-2011) with the overall goal of sustainably reducing vulnerability to food insecurity and poverty in East and Southern Africa.

With the completion of the REFORM programme in December 2011, member states strongly expressed their need for IGAD to continue with its technical assistance and guidance as they endeavour to finalize their national social protection frameworks.  This was also expressed through a Letter of Accord presented to the IGAD Secretariat during the 8th TAC Meeting held in Mombasa, Kenya in August 2011.

As a follow up to this request, IGAD organized a Regional Consultative Forum on social Protection that was held in November 2011, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The forum discussed on the structure of IGAD’s support to the social protection activities of member states as well as to the Technical Advisory Committee on social Protection as a first step towards addressing the issues presented in the Letter of Accord.  The consultative forum particularly accorded member states the opportunity to discuss and build consensus on the need to develop IGAD’s Regional Social Protection Strategy that builds on their own national experiences and trends in Africa and other parts of the world and at the same time, social protection contributes to an equity-focused approach to development, as it ensures equal access to services and is conducive to equitable human development.

2.    Purpose: 

The proposed IGAD Regional Social Protection Strategy is expected to take into account the AU Social Policy and experience of Member States and feeds into the overall IGAD Regional Policy Framework for Social Development.  It is expected to serve as a guideline for member states in their efforts towards completing their visions for a national social protection framework. Among the issues the Regional Social Protection Strategy is hoped to assist member states would include addressing and resolving the numerous challenges they encounter as they strive to complete their national social protection policy frameworks. The Social Protection Strategy will also have a critical importance in systematizing the idea and eventually concretizing it in packages of interventions that will cover the whole IGAD region. It will also serve as a comprehensive roadmap that guides IGAD’s regional intervention in supporting Member States initiatives in this area.

3.    Objective of this consultancy

The main objective of this consultancy is to develop a comprehensive Social Protection Strategy for IGAD region Based on the priority areas that will be identified by different stakeholders. The Regional Social protection Strategy will serve as a comprehensive roadmap and package of interventions that will address the whole of IGAD region and provides opportunity to improve regional and national capacities to analyze policies and programmes on Social protection and promotes the role of social protection in sustainably reducing vulnerability and poverty in the IGAD region.

4.    Methodology and scope of work
In developing the regional Strategy on Social Protection, the consultant will be working closely under the guidance of the program manager of health and social development and in consultation with senior staff in IGAD secretariat, in addition to consultations with IGAD member states officials and other relevant stakeholders,
Consultations will be held with relevant member state institutions and other stakeholders with Social Protection related functions and interventions

5.    Expected Results (measurable results)

In carrying out the various tasks outlined in this TORs, the consultant will provide analytical inputs, and produce policy products on social protection strategy. The main outputs include:
i.    Inception report
ii.    Synthesis report of the desk review
iii.    Social Protection strategy document

6.    Duration:

The assignment proposed to be completed in 30 working days, tentatively within the period from May to July2013

7.    Activities, resources, deadlines:

Key Activities:

1. Conduct a desk review of key policy documents such as social welfare policy, situational analyses and other related social sector studies
2. Conduct visits to MS to collect information relevant to strategy development
3. Facilitate the validation workshop at regional level with key stakeholders, including MS stakeholders
4. Draft and finalize Social Protection Strategy document

Outputs/Deliverables	Duration (person days)	Deadline	Amount payable (US$)
A. Inception report detailing work program	1	May 25	400
B. Desk review and synthesis of SP information in IGAD region	3	May 30	1200
C. Visits to MS to collect information relevant to the strategy development	12	June 10	4800
D. Strategy development	7	June 30	2800
E. Incorporation MS feedback and comments	4	July 20	1600
F. Validation workshop	3	July 30	1200

8.    Key skills, technical background and experience required:

-    Advanced university degree (Master or PhD) in economics, social sciences, public policy and/or relevant studies
-    6-8 years of professional work experience in policy development, technical assistance, capacity building related to social policy and/or social protection
-    Expert knowledge on social protection policy debates and evidence required
-    Previous experience in social protection policy development
-    Excellent interpersonal skills required
-    Previous research experience on poverty and/or development. Experience in quantitative or qualitative data collection and analysis is a plus
-    Excellent written and oral communication skills in English required; skills in another language preferably French is desirable
-    Ability to respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner
-    Excellent organization skills, attention to detail

Following that IGAD hereby invites interested candidates to submit applications to provide consultancy service to the facilitation the process of development for the regional Social Protection Strategy. Interested candidates may submit their Curriculum vitae to IGAD office not later than 15th May, 2013 to the following address; hr@igad.int and/or fathia.alwan@igad.int

IGAD is an equal opportunity employer and female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply