Social Protection

UNDP works to address the existing gaps in social protection systems by the provision of technical advisory to countries and regional institutions, advocacy, research and knowledge development and sharing. While situated in the Inclusive Growth teams (RSCA and in the Country Offices), social protection closely links to several UNDP priorities like resilience building, multidimensional poverty, inclusive growth, climate chainge, SDGs and Agenda 2063 as well as with partners, such as the African Union (AU), UN agencies and academia and civil society organizations. Current initiatives under this workstream: 1) Community Based Social Protection (CBSP); 2) AU-UNDP collaboration on the Social and Solidarity Economy in Africa; 3) Innovative Financing for Social Protection; 4) Social Protection Data Platform in Partnership with University of Venda, South Africa; 5) Social Protection Engagement Framework for Africa (SPEFA); 6) Social Protection and Climate Change .

Local, Integrated Multidimensional Poverty Index (LIMPI)

Relatedly, the Inclusive Growth (IG) Team is undertaking a novel project entitled “New poverty and inequality metrics: Integrated local MPIs for more inclusive local development policies and programmes”. The project fills an important void in identifying and targeting those people and populations being left behind. Ultimately, this project seeks to enhance the design of more robust, integrated, inclusive and targeted programmatic solutions in select UNDP Inclusive Growth Portfolios, informed by data on multidimensional poverty and inequality at the local level that seeks to directly improve the lives of those left behind groups. The project is being implemented in select localities of Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

1. Research, policy analysis, and technical advisory

• Carry out research and undertake policy analysis in relation to community-based social protection and social protection in relation to specific development areas, including, climate change, migration, and disability inclusion.
• Support technical advisory in response to the COs’ requests and opportunities for engagement by preparing context analyses, research briefs with comparative practices, and other background materials as required.
• Provide and solicit technical inputs for the LIMPI project to develop and apply the LIMPI methodology.
• Stay abreast with the current policy literature, tools, approaches, and methodologies in relation to social protection, social inclusion, and multidimensional poverty in Africa.

2. Project management and logistical support

• Provide administrative and logistical support to ensure smooth implementation of the IGET’s Social Protection work plan. 
• Serve as the focal point for LIMPI at the regional level, and coordinate and liaise with the 4 UNDP Country Offices.  
• Ensure the day-to-day management of the LIMPI project at the regional level for timely delivery of technical, logistical, and operational support. 

3. Data and Knowledge Management 

• Support qualitative and quantitative data collection, harmonization, and analysis for the CBSP project. 
• Provide technical and operational support during the development of the CBSP report. 
• Organize webinars for Poverty and Inequality Community of Practice to promote findings of the LIMP and CBSP initiatives. 
• Work to contribute to the development of COs’ staff capacities in social protection by knowledge-sharing initiatives. 
• Support the development and finalization of 4 country’s policy briefs/advocacy materials in a timely manner. 
• Support publishing of the project’s Synthesis Report and a UNDP Guidance Note based on the application, experiences, and lessons learned from the LIMPI initiative. 

4. Advocacy, Outreach and Communications 

• Liaise with and support the Communications team during the production of the CBSP regional report. 
• Support advocacy and outreach to promote the CBSP and LIMPI outputs (reports, case studies, briefs) in different fora. 
• Assist with the preparation of advocacy materials for the CBSP and LIMP initiatives. 

5. Partnerships 

• Collaborate with UNDP partners (African Union, UN agencies) and relevant stakeholders (including academia, civil society, development partners, bilateral actors, etc.). 

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking. 
• Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
• Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple  sources of pressure simultaneously.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bringpeople together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
• Enable Diversity and  Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

Technical and cross functional competencies

• Background in Inclusive Growth/Social Protection systems, particularly in the context of Africa; with some experience in inequality and exclusion.
• Knowledge of Multidimensional Poverty theory and application.
• Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need.
• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform, and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making.
• Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience; Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.

Desired additional skills and competencies.

• Understanding of and previous research on issues related to social protection, inequality, multidimensional poverty, and sustainable development, particularly in the context of Africa.
• Excellent drafting and editing skills and attention to detail.
• Experience in supporting project management functions (logistics, work plans, workshops, etc.).
• Computer skills: MS Office proficiency.
• Data analysis skills using Excel or statistical software.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and experience working collaboratively in small and large multi-cultural teams within and across organizations.
• Previous experience with the United Nations is desirable.

Academic Education;

• Master's or Bachelor’s Degree in economics, social science, international development, or a related area.

Years of Relevant Work experience;

• 2 years of relevant work experience with a bachelor's or 0-year experience with a master's in economics, social science, international development, or a related area.

Language;

• English, French is an asset.