Developing Operational Manuals and Supporting Tools for the Improved Delivery of Social Assistance in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG)

Background

The Public Assistance Programme (PAP) in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is the government’s primary established social assistance programme for supporting the nation’s most vulnerable families and individuals. The PAP is under the management of the Department of Social Development (DSD), within the Ministry of Social Mobilization, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs, Youth, Housing and Informal Human Settlement (MoNM). 

The PAP is made up of three grants with objectives shaped around pursuing three separate outcomes: the Vulnerability Grant provides a supportive function to the chronically vulnerable; the Family Support Grant (FSG) pursues developmental objectives for households that have the capacity to become self-sufficient; and the Emergency Grant provides a rehabilitative function for unforeseen acute needs to alleviate hardship and prevent household from falling into poverty due to idiosyncratic shocks. These grants fit with a wider framework of social assistance and care programmes and services under MoNM and other ministries. 

In addition to providing routine assistance, the Government of SVG has also responded to major socioeconomic shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the volcanic eruption in April 2021, by expanding the PAP as well linking it to other services. For example, in response to COVID-19 the FSG expanded to reach new households whilst in response to the volcanic eruption the FSG was expanded with links to the Family Life Education[1] for a cash-plus approach. Under these emergency contexts, various operational features have been developed and piloted including the use of e-wallets, as well as new monitoring and communication tools, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Other interventions also include a Volcanic Eruption Emergency Programme supported by the World Bank, and a parallel cash assistance programme by the World Food Programme. 

It is also worth noting that the development of a national policy, along with an updated survey of living conditions and development of the beneficiary management system have been ongoing for several years and were anticipated back in 2020. The World Bank Human Development Service Delivery project has been part of this systems building effort since 2018, which initially focused on financing a new country poverty assessment as well as investing in systems capacity. The latter included a comprehensive Social Assistance Management Information System (SAMIS). In 2021 this project was reoriented to focus on enhancing efficiency of the PAP, including renewed effort to prepare the national social protection policy, to develop the SAMIS, and improve beneficiary selection and intake with an updated proxy-means testing model.

In 2022, the MoNM with support of UNICEF undertook a Review of the Social Assistance Framework and PAP, as well as a review of use of social assistance in response to the volcanic eruption, which recommended developing and updating key operational manuals. More specifically these recommendations were:

1. Update the PAP programmatic and operations manual. The most recent manual available for the PAP is from 2015, and social assistance with respect to the three programmes (Vulnerability Grant, Family Support Grant, and Emergency Grant) have fundamentally changed since then, in addition to its capacity to temporarily expand in times of shocks.  
2. Review and update the Family Life Education (FLE) Training manual. The FLE training has a curriculum and was first successfully deployed in 2021 as part of the response to the volcanic eruption, with beneficiaries receiving the training as well as cash through the FSG with a ‘cash plus’ approach. The FLE is being further deployed as part of recovery programmes in 2022.Updated guidance would not only be important to strengthen operational capacities of the MoNM, but equally be valuable to ensure the policy can be effectively implemented, and key referral pathways to related services can be identified, including in times of shocks.

Goal and Objective:  The MoNM is therefore seeking a consultant to review and update key operational manuals for the three key social assistance programmes, as well as the Family Life Education Training, for the enhanced delivery of social protection in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, including in times of shocks.  

1. Link to the Annual Work Plan: This project relates to Activity 3.3.4 of the AWP which is strengthening of social protection systems for humanitarian response.

Activities and Tasks: The consultant will perform the work in close cooperation with the MoNM at the national and decentralized levels, as well as with technical support from UNICEF. The method would include but not be limited to:

2. Desk/literature review: To develop a repository of existing documents and tools that are used for implementation, mapping key tools and processes along the programme cycle, and reviewing the documents (identifying where inconsistencies exist, or where there is a lack of documentation) for the four programmes;
3. Attending and documenting key operational tasks (distribution, trainings, targeting etc.) and conducting Key Informant Interviews with key stakeholders (implementers, beneficiaries etc.) to map out/ verify/ develop/ update key processes and tools;
4. Participatory sessions with implementers to map out processes and identification of tools; this is to map out processes where there is no standardized written approach to agree on processes going forward;
5. Focus Group Discussions (FGD): Focus group discussions (FGDs) with with beneficiaries of the different programmes to ensure a human-centered operational approach;
6. Development of new operational manuals and guidance, including updating and/or developing accompanying tools and materials for implementers. Each manual would aim to:

1. Clarify key design features along the programme cycle (objectives/planning, targeting, registration, distribution, monitoring, grievances/case management, communication etc.), including with a small section on considerations in times of emergencies (i.e. how the processes could be tweaked in order to respond to covariate shocks) and promoting child-sensitive approaches where possible.
2. Outline the processes, roles and responsibilities, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for each phase
3. Ensure the presence of key materials and tools for implementers (i.e. monitoring tools to be linked to the monitoring chapter etc.). Where possible, each chapter should have a storyboard developed for a short video providing an operational overview to the implementer (the video production would be done separately). The specific set of tools will be discussed and agreed at the beginning of the contract.
4. Provide clarity on how the different programmes relate to each other (i.e. mutually exclusive/ cash plus approaches etc.)
5. Suggestions for additional changes for future improvements in the design and delivery of social assistance, based on opportunities that have been identified throughout the work.

Work relationships: 

The contractor will report directly to the Social Policy Specialist within UNICEF. Within Government, the focal point will be the Director of Social Development. In addition, an Advisory Group will be formed which will be comprised of representatives from UNICEF and the MoNM, and other relevant stakeholders as required. This group will provide support to the consultant which will include, but will not be limited to, the following: 

• Advice on the context and necessary supporting data required for the development of the Manuals; 
• Assistance with the development of internal/external communication, logistics, etc. and strategies required to support the data collection; and 
• Feedback on reports developed by the firm.

The consultant will be required to meet with the advisory team at (to be agreed) specified points, at a time that is convenient to all persons involved.

2. Outputs/Deliverables:  

There will be six deliverables in total:

Please note that the deliverables and schedule will be subject to the availability of data, information and interviews from the Government side.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• Bachelor degree in Social Science, International Development Studies or any related technical field. Additional 2 years of experience may be substituted in lieu of a Masters

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Knowledge and/or experience working in the Caribbean context
• Social Policy and social protection expert
• Excellent knowledge of the fundamentals of humanitarian cash transfers
• Emergency response experience
• Good interviewing and facilitation skills 
• Excellent analytical skills
• Excellent report writing skills 
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in humanitarian and/ or social transfer programming.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. 
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. 

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

The consultant is responsible for arranging his/her own travel, including bearing the costs visas and travel insurance. Accommodation, meals and incidentals costs must not exceed the UN daily subsistence allowance rates. The costs for approved travels will be reimbursed by the UNICEF ECA upon submission of receipts and based on applicable UN DSA rates. All approved travels to be conducted in accordance with UNICEF travel rules and regulations.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables which receive satisfactory quality review.  In general, individual contracts shall not allow for fee advances. However, a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value may be authorized by the Approving Authority in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

This assignment is a remote assignment (based in consultant’s home location). The Consultant is expected to work with his/her laptop and mobile phone. There will be planned visits to SVG to be discussed and agreed with the Advisory team.

The Consultant will report to the Social Policy Specialist and he/she will work closely with the Advisory team which will include UNICEF staff and members of the implementing partner's team.

The Consultant will be expected to report regularly on progress being made on the contract to the Advisory team. Periodic discussions will also be carried out during the consultancy period to monitor progress and constraints, support required and proposed solutions.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

Before commencing work, a consultant or individual contractor shall submit a statement of good health and take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement, including confirmation that he or she has been informed of the inoculations required for the country or countries to which travel is authorized. Consultants and individual contractors shall assume all costs that may occur in relation to the statement of good health.  Consultants and individual contractors are required to certify that they are covered by medical/health insurance.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNI

RECOURSE

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant. Performance indicators against which the satisfactory conclusion of this contract will be assessed include: timeliness/quality of submission and responsiveness to UNICEF and counterpart feedback.

TITLE RIGHTS

All materials created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract and any intellectual property rights thereof, including but not limited to patents, copyright and trademarks, shall be jointly owned by UNICEF and the Contractor. At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights. Any third-party usage shall require written permission from both parties.

TRAININGS

Consultants and Individual contractors, even those working from home, must complete the following online courses prior to signature of contract.  All certificates should be presented as part of the contract:

• Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF
• Prevention of Sexual Harassment & Abuse of Authority
• Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA)

Consultants and Individual Contractors must complete the following course before commencement of any travel on behalf of UNICEF.

• BSAFE Security Training 

Any consultant or individual contractor who is issued a UNICEF email address must complete the following courses no later than 30 days after signature of contract. 

• Fraud Awareness
• General Information Awareness Security Course

HOW TO APPLY

Prospective consultants should apply through UNICEF jobs website using the following link:

no later than November 25th, 2022. The application package should include the following:

1. A cover letter;
2. Detailed Curriculum Vitae.
3. A proposal stipulating all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

  To view our competency framework, please visit here. 

  UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.