TOR for Consultancy Service Job

Terms of Reference for Consultancy Service to Conduct Social Protection Policy Analysis

1. Background:

The Social Protection Actors Forum (SPAF) is a coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other Non-State Actors (NSAs) committed to support social protection in Kenya through the promotion of citizen’s engagement in the development, implementation and evaluation of social protection interventions with support.

The platform aims at bringing together all the NSAs in the social protection sphere to synergize their efforts and amplify their voices on matters affecting social protection in Kenya.

SPAF is supported by the African Platform for Social Protection (APSP), Concern Worldwide, and funded by UKaid from the department of International Development (DfID).

A key area of work is to stimulate demand for the establishment of formal institutional frameworks to legally entrench social protection, enhance social services delivery and coverage.

The current Constitution of Kenya provides for the Right to Social Security, which obligates the State to observe, respect, protect and fulfil the right.

The legislative and policy debate on social protection is at an advanced stage in Kenya with the developing an institutional framework for social protection.

The platform will build on the growing awareness by citizens, consolidate information, produce the evidence, and lobby policy makers for both an increase in commitments on existing mechanisms and the roll out of a more comprehensive social protection mechanism.

In relation to this, SPAF is implementing an advocacy project that will help ensure vulnerable populations realize social protection, and the right to social security as provided by the Constitution of Kenya.

In order for SPAF to make an effective contribution inn this area, there is a need to identify key evidence and technical gaps that need to be addressed in order strengthen our programming and policy advocacy in social protection, supporting our role as a national leader in this field and provide relevant policy tools and materials to policy makers, Members of Parliament and platform members.

In line with these main initiatives, various technical inputs and analyses will be produced by the platform in partnership with other organizations and external experts.

The intention is to produce analytical products that could underpin ongoing technical support to the Social Assistance Bill and Social Protection Policy and policy work among the platform member organizations.

2. Purpose:

The goal of the project is that the Right to Social Protection is progressively realized by the most vulnerable populations in Kenya with their participation in decision making.

SPAF is a civil society platform that advocates for strong and inclusive frameworks for social protection that advocates for the needs of the most vulnerable.

Under the guidance of the Human Rights and Advocacy Programme Manager, and in consultation with the Platform’s Policy Working Group, the main objective of this assignment is to identify and articulate policy problems and concerns facing social protection in Kenya.

The consultant will also use the outputs of this task as inputs to produce Policy brief(s) on social protection and legislation.

3. Expected Results

The consultant will provide analytical inputs and policy support in social protection. As the main analytical outputs, the consultant will:

• Identify baseline values for the projects indicators for tracking purposes, and advice on Monitoring and Evaluation system.
• Identify National Legislative and Policy priorities with respect to SP with accompanying public expenditure and budget analysis.
• Identify and recommend policy measures to promote the right to social security through increased public investment in social protection.

4.Deliverables:

• Policy Analysis document
• Dissemination report

5. Duration:
Ten Days full-time; from 2nd – 15th May 2012. The consultant will work from Concern Worldwide Offices in Parklands, although there is some flexibility to work part of the time off-site.

6. Activities and Deadlines:

Output

The preparation, review and finalization of the Baseline and
Dissemination reports.

Duration
10 Days.

Deadline
May 15th

Output
Present reports to Policy Working Group Members

Duration
10 Days.

Deadline
TBD.

6. Key skills, technical background, and experience required:

• Advanced university degree (Masters or PhD) in economics, public policy and/or international development policy or any other related closely related discipline;
• At least three years of experience in quantitative analysis, Completion of empirical economic and policy research a plus; and completion of empirical economic and policy research;
• Previous experience in social protection a plus;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English required;
• Ability to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner;
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

The consultant will report to the SPAF National Coordinator with support from the Advocacy and Human Rights manager, Concern Worldwide.

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV to
platformforsocialprotection@gmail.com, and copy to victor.odero@concern.net with subject line “Social Protection Policy Analysis” by April 26th, 2012.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above.

Submissions made without a daily rate will not be considered.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.