Purpose
To support the design and conducting of an assessment to determine the need and structure that will form the basis for the design and establishment of a Guinea-Bissau Social Registry. This exercise will complement the ongoing formulation of the National Social Protection Policy and the National Social Protection Strategy.
Background and Rationale
Underlying poverty and vulnerability to repeated shocks are severely affecting the lives and economic prospects of thousands of Bissau-Guineans. The 2020 Human Development Report ranked Guinea-Bissau 175 among 189 countries on the human development index, and its gross domestic product per capita was $733. Based on the secondary analysis of MICS- 4 and MICS-5 data (INE, 2015), the study showed that 58 per cent of the population could be considered multi-dimensionally poor due to a combination of deprivations in living conditions (housing and sanitation), health and education.
As such, Agenda 2030 and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are severely constrained with approximately 67% of the population living in absolute poverty (below two US dollars per day) and 33% in extreme poverty (below one US dollar per day). Significant regional and urban-rural disparities exist in the prevalence of monetary poverty. Whereas in Bissau just half (51%) of the population lives on less than US$ 2 per day and 13 per cent on less than US$ 1 per day, outside Bissau three quarters (76%) of the population live on less than US$ 2 per day and 40 per cent lived on less than US$ 1 per day. Widespread poverty has a direct and visible impact on children. Worsening poverty affects all households, although it affected those led by women more in Bissau and by men more in the regions. Households headed by women are poorer in the regions than in Bissau.
The country’s institutional fragility was exposed and amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic that started on March 24, 2020 paralyzed the already fragile domestic economy which contracted by 1.5 percent in 2020 after eight years of growth at an average rate of 4.2 percent, negatively impacted access to essential social services and had a significant negative impact on people’s livelihoods, including from the informal economy. As a result of containment measures, the country also witnessed a significant deterioration of the food security situation.
In spite of the above situation, social protection policies to address income insecurity, poverty and widespread social deprivations are limited and disparate at best. Less than 5% of public and private sector workers have access to social insurance, with limited coverage. This leaves everyone else behind.
Further to the worsened socio-economic situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, household incomes have been negatively impacted by the fast-rising costs of fuel and basic necessities following the worldwide crisis triggered by the Ukraine War. Prices of products of first necessity, which depend largely on imports have sharply increased in Guinea-Bissau.
In addition, Guinea-Bissau faces a silent emergency due to the adverse effects of climate change, which is increasing floods and drought which in turn affect food security and expose the poorest quintiles to climate-related economic, social, and environmental shocks and disasters.
It is in this context of precarity, fragility and vulnerability that three UN agencies, UNFPA, WFP, UNICEF, in support of the government of Guinea Bissau are coming together to
support the government to develop a comprehensive social protection system that will respond to the population’s right to access social protection and support progress towards the achievement of development outcomes for the most vulnerable populations, with seed financing from the Sustainable Development Goal Fund. This joint effort will enable: (i) the development of a social protection policy and strategy (ii) design of a financing framework and the outline of a registry system (iii) testing delivery mechanisms through the implementation of a pilot shock-responsive social protection program, including cash transfers to vulnerable households.
Social registry provides a single source of households' information, helping harmonize targeting processes for social support programmes in Guinea-Bissau. The social registry should be a main source of data for targeting Social Cash Transfer Programme to beneficiaries, and should also be used under the annual Lean Season food insecurity response and other shocks,
Within the overall process of establishing a social protection system, UNICEF will focus on the development of the National Social Protection Policy and Strategy taking the “life cycle approach”, as an over-arching framework to provide dignified support the most vulnerable, as well as to suggest inclusive approaches to ensure no one is left behind. Women, girls, youth and persons with disabilities in rural and peri-urban areas will be of primary consideration in the National Social Protection Policy and Strategy. The leaving-no-one-behind analysis from UNFPA/GB (2020), which shows the multiple contexts of Guinea-Bissau and identifies who is extremely vulnerable or excluded within the known vulnerable groups (who is the poorest and most marginalized among women, children, youth and persons with disabilities), will be used as a basis for the exercise.
This term of reference is herewith drawn up for the recruitment of a national consultant to support the development of a Social Registry outline that will help Guinea Bissau authorities to endeavor for a Social Registry that is content specific and within the countries’ Social Protection Policy and Strategy.
Objective of the assignment/Output of the Consultancy
The national consultant will support the international consultant in drafting, presentation for validation, a national Social Registry approach and proposal. Specifically, the national consultant will undertake to:
- Compile any relevant information and data on social protection, technical, strategies, policy framework and programs in Guinea-Bissau;
- Support the international consultant to undertake a desk review and stakeholder consultations.
- Support the preparation of an outline or inception report to ensure assessment is on track with expectations.
- Design and prepare tools for data (qualitative and quantitative) collection, including meetings, surveys or group discussions with several actors.
- Support the liaison with relevant government institutions, in particular MSSI and INSS, among others.
- Organise meetings/workshops to validate draft assessment study with relevant stakeholders.
- Provide inputs to the draft assessment.
- Help develop presentations and other necessary materials to support meetings/workshops, dissemination meetings, including meetings with INSS, other government and development counterparts.
- Assists the international consultant to formulate Social Registry establishment alternatives, underpinned by principles (equity and inclusion, leaving no-one behind, transparency, accountability).
- Help with interpretation at meetings and translation of relevant documents within the scope of the assessment.
- Assist in design of the draft assessment report comprising alternatives to design and mainstream a Social Registry in Guinea Bissau for validation
- Integrate feedback and revise the document for adoption by National authorities and UN /International stakeholders supporting Guinea-Bissau Social Protection mechanisms enhancements;
- Support the organisation of induction sessions on social protection for key stakeholders to sensitise and build capacities for decision-makers and technical experts likely to take forward the establishment of the Social Registry.
Duration and working schedule of Consultancy
The indicative start date will be 22May – November, 2023. The national consultant shall work for a period of six months (6) months. The effort of developing the Framework for Social Registry will occur concomitantly. At four six months of intense consultation and collaboration with stakeholders within the country must be conducted.
The consultant will be based in the capital of the country, Bissau and may be required to conduct field visits as requested by the necessity of data collection, national consultation/dialogue as well as the validation process.
Delivery timing and how work will be delivered
- Inception report validated: 10% payment (estimated # of days: 10);
- Draft report and presentation: 50% payment (estimated # of days: 60);
- Providing a Draft Report and PowerPoint presentation, including a detailed overview of relevant regional and international evidence, based on political economy factors;
- Final report, presentation and briefing: 40% payment (estimated # of days: 15);
- Delivering a Final Report, related PowerPoint presentation and policy brief;
Payment schedule as per deliverables.
All payments, without exception, will be made upon certification from the supervisor of the contract, of the satisfactory and quality completion of deliverables and upon receipt of the respective and approved invoice.
The fee is based on an all-inclusive basis.
Supervisory arrangements:
The consultant will work under the overall leadership of the of UNFPA Resident Representative, direct supervision of Assistant Representative and International Consultant and close collaboration with the designated UNFPA Programme Officer(s) and Director General of Social Solidarity (DGSS) of Ministry of Women, Family and Social Solidarity (MWFSS), the Director General of INE at the Ministry Economy, Planning and Regional Integration (MoE) and other colleagues from UNICEF and WFP working on the Social Protection system.
Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements
Academic qualification:
University degree in Social Science, Economics, Development or related disciplines.
Experience:
- Good knowledge of social protection systems and social development;
- Demonstrated experience in supporting or conducting assessment studies and research;
- Demonstrated experience in gathering and preparing analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data;
- Demonstrated experience in providing inputs to assessment studies and/or reports;
- Demonstrated experience in collecting data or supporting data collection through a participatory approach;
- Experience of working in related fields is an advantage.
Languages: Fluency in writing and speaking Portuguese is required. Good knowledge of French or English is an advantage
Evaluation Process and methods
First, the Technical Proposals will be evaluated. The Technical Proposal was allocated a total possible score of 60/70 points (pt) using following criteria. Technical Proposals receiving 70% of obtainable points (60/70 pt) or higher, will be considered
technically responsive and the Price Proposal will be opened. Proposals which are considered not technically compliant and non-responsive, will not be given further consideration.
Please send your application by 04 June 2023 at fadia@unfpa.org
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
