UNDP Jobs

As a  new nation striving  to lay the ground for sustainable development, the Government of the Republic of South Sudan faces immediate challenges in terms of high degree poverty, malnutrition, and widespread displacement which coupled with limited economic employment opportunity that has created high level of vulnerability among the society. As a result of over two decades of armed conflicts that have devastated the country, border conflicts and internal violence are still ongoing. In terms of nearly all human development indicators the country is most disadvantaged with 50.6 % of the population living  below the poverty line and 47% are undernourished . The depth of hunger measured by the amount of calories a food-deprived person requires to reach the daily Minimum Dietary Energy Requirement is 427 Kcal/person/day. Physical and institutional infrastructure is weak. Oil exports account for 98% of Government revenue.  The placement of a certain form of social protection scheme is, therefore, not a choice but rather a necessity in South Sudan.  Whereas this is indeed well recognized and reflected in the South Sudan Development Plan, 2011-2013 (SSDP), strong capacity building support is required in order for the government to deliver the priorities it has set in the Plan. 

The Social Protection objective is also  grounded in the Transitional Constitution of Southern Sudan, in the chapter on the bill of rights and the Child Act of 2008, which provide the legal framework for a social protection system. The Constitution states that “All levels of government in Southern Sudan shall promote the welfare of the family and enact the necessary laws for its protection.”

South Sudan Development Plan 2012-2013:

The South Sudan Development Plan (SSDP 2012-13) recognizes the important role of social protection in mitigating and sustaining livelihoods as reflected in its prioritization of the sector under the Social and Human Development Pillar. The objective of the Social and Human Development Pillar is to progressively accelerate universal access to basic social services with the aim of building human capabilities and upholding the dignity of all people of South Sudan.  It outlines interventions planned in the sectors of health, education, social protection, sports and culture. Under the social protection, the government aims to develop a social protection policy framework which encompasses different social welfare schemes including the Child Benefit Cash Transfer Program (CBCTP) during the immediate period.  The objective of the Social protection is  to “Progressively reduce risk, vulnerability, poverty and economic and social exclusion” is expected to be achieved through the implementation of 5 Programme Areas:

• Introducing a child benefit cash transfer (identified as the sector priority programme area).
• Developing a social protection system.
• Providing family and community-based social services and livelihood opportunities for at-risk groups.
• Providing social welfare services for special need groups.
• Developing a National Early Warning System (EWS).

UNDP Programme of Support:

UNDP has initiated a Project Initiation Plan (PIP) to support the Government  address the capacity gap specifically related to the design and implementation of specific social protection programmes  in the Republic of South Sudan.  The project aims to strengthen the government capacity in formulation of an overall social protection policy framework on one hand and the design and implementation of a specific social cash transfer program on the other. The nature and scope of which will be decided through further discussion with the relevant government ministries.  UNDP, in particular, aims to support the child benefit cash transfer program which is identified as one of the top priority programs in the SSDP.

UNDP strongly believes in pursuing two tracks of support to the government  Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare in terms of the design and placement of an overall social protection policy framework and a specific social protection scheme which are to take place in parallel.  Although the  design of a national social protection policy framework requires longer period,  there is immediate need on the ground for placement of, at least, one specific social protection scheme, the social cash transfer,  to address the most vulnerable groups in the society, about which a broad consensus was reached during the SSDP preparation process to be the protection of the welfare of children. UNDP aims  to ensure knowledge, resources and commitment are being sufficiently fostered by the relevant government ministry, MoGC&SW, in planning, formulating and executing appropriate social protection schemes.

Social Protection Policy:

Areas of focus in the SP Policy

The policy  is expected to  looks at poverty in an integrated and coordinated manner, prioritizes reduction of extreme poverty,   advocates for the provision of cash transfers for those who cannot support themselves,  emphasizes long-term and predictable interventions,  stresses on asset creation and support.

Aims of the Social Protection Policy:

The policy among others will define strategies for the improvement of the socio-economic status of the poor and Vulnerable, provides reference guidelines to stakeholders in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of SP programs,  provides guidelines for cost effective, predictable and sustainable interventions, provides guidelines for resource mobilizations and allocation,  establishes an institutional framework for implementation of a national program.

Summary of key functions:

• Facilitate and provide technical  support in the design of South Sudan National Social Protection Policy.
• Conduct a desk review of key policy documents such as social welfare policy, findings from development partners , best practices from other developing countries,  legal frameworks, situational analyses and other related social sector studies.
• Provide technical assistance for the holding of three consultation workshops at regional level with key stakeholders, including State and County level stakeholders, to agree on an outline as well as components of a National Social Protection Strategy and Policy.
• Provide technical assistance and act as resource person at one national validation workshop with national and county level stakeholders to finalize draft social protection strategy and policy.

Objectives:

The main objective of the assignment is:

• To provide technical support to the MoGC&SW to  design the South Sudan National Social Protection Policy that will underpin South Sudan multi-sectoral and coordinated response to poverty and vulnerability, thus contributing to the poverty reduction efforts under SSDP 2012-13 
• Duties and Responsibilities
• Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Team Leader Poverty Reduction and MGDs Unit, UNDP South Sudan, while accountable to the Minister or the Undersecretary Ministry of Gender Child and Social Welfare, the consultant  will be responsible for carrying out the following tasks:
• Provide top-quality technical advice and inputs to the MoGC&SW in detailed design of the National Social Protection Policy which should be framed within the context of the SSDP and the Ministry's  medium term and annual plans. 
• Develop a detailed six-month work plan that integrates milestone activities to be accomplished by the MoGC&SW and outlining tasks to be accomplished by the consultant during this period of designing the policy.  The plan should also indicate expected engagement by development partners. 
• Conduct  a desk  review of key policy documents such as social welfare policy,  institutional set up and legislative frameworks of the social service delivery system, findings and diagnostic studies, situational analysis and other related social sector studies.
• Coordinate and provide technical assistance to  hold  three  consultation workshops at State  level  including key stakeholders, to agree on the outline contents, structure  and obtain inputs and feedbacks  on the  National Social Protection Policy
• Provide technical support on the actual drafting of  the national social protection policy for South Sudan. 
• Conduct and provide technical assistance and act as resource person at the national validation workshop with national and sub-national level stakeholders to finalize draft social protection policy
• Establish a mechanisms of coordination and  systematic engagement with different stakeholders in the design and roll out of the policy  including government ministries, lower tiers of government, civil society groups, private sector, parliament, media and development partners. 
• Identify and recommend   appropriate institutional frameworks for the implementing the policy  as secretariats and/ or steering committees at central, state and county levels, technical working groups, etc. Develop  specific terms of references  for each institutional organ that will be involved in the implementation of the National Social Protection Policy.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

• Strong social protection policy analysis skills;
• Previous experience in producing or facilitating social protection related knowledge products and services;
• Strong and proven verbal and written presentational skills in the English; and
• Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.
• Communication: demonstrates the ability to communicate effectively to varied audiences,
• Leading and Supervising: demonstrates the ability to lead a diverse team and supervise the work of others; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.
• Analysing: demonstrated ability to analyse and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources.
• Deciding and Initiating Action: Identifies urgent and potentially risky decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates organization-wide activities.
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts: Sets, develops and revises organizational strategy and develops clear visions of the organization’s future potential.

Education:

Advanced University degree, preferably a PhD, in Economics or other relevant field in the social sciences.

Experience:

• Ten years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the development, implementation, management, research, analysis and evaluation of social protection programs, including social cash transfer programs in developing countries, some of which should, preferably be in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Experience in policy development, advocacy and social mobilization is also essential.
• Fluency in English and another UN working language required. Knowledge of the working language of one or more countries of the region is an asset.
  

Language Requirements: 

Excellent communication skills and fluent in English (comprehension, written, and spoken).