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International consultancy Actuarial Cost Assessment of Maternity Benefits with UNICEF in Uzbekistan

Apply now Job no: 581599
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Tashkent
Level: Consultancy
Location: Uzbekistan
Categories: Social Policy

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, protection!

Background:
Uzbekistan has announced its intention to halve the share of the low-income population by 2026 and achieve upper-middle-income status by 2030. Social protection and decent employment promotion are among key contributors to poverty reduction and key Government’s priorities, as indicated in the high-level “Uzbekistan 2030” Strategy. Improvements of the national social protection system began in 2020 when the Government launched the Single Registry, with UNICEF and WB support. Core Diagnostic instrument (CODI) assessment was finalised by the ILO, UNICEF and the WB in 2020 served as a key impetus for the Government and social partners to initiate more comprehensive reform: adoption of national social protection strategy; extension of social assistance benefits, including for maternity; establishment of National Agency for Social Protection (NASP); improvement of social insurance system; and development of community-based services.
 
In April 2025 UNICEF jointly with the World Bank and International Labour Organization launched the joint programme “Improving Social Security of vulnerable populations” funded by the Multistakeholder Engagement to implement the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions and the World Bank Social Protection and Jobs Compass (the so-called “M-GA”).
 
The key objectives of the joint programme are: i) developing the roadmap on social insurance law implementation to streamline, coordinate, reduce fragmentation, improve coordination, ensure rights-based system, and implement the human right to social security in accordance with international human rights and labour standards; ii) supporting the Government of Uzbekistan and tripartite partners in the drafting of the executive regulations, which will include details on the new benefit design, and will be based on financial analysis of different scenarios for coverage extension; iii) strengthening social insurance system through survey and targeted focus group discussions to inform design and financing options for maternity, sickness, and unemployment benefits for the formal sector; iv) build national capacities for implementation of international social security standards into national legislation and policy; v) capacity building of social partners for participation in implementation of social insurance system; vi) developing options for extension of social protection to workers in informal economy and people employed in atypical forms of work.
 
The key planned activities of the joint programme include actuarial cost assessments for maternity, sickness, and unemployment benefits. This assignment requires a consultant to undertake the actuarial costs assessment for the maternity benefit options that are being developed under the abovementioned joint programme.
 
The assignment’s scope is defined as follows:
Scope of Work:
 
1. Actuarial Modelling and Costing - 4 days
  • Develop an actuarial model to assess the cost of the maternity benefits schemes under each proposed design options for Uzbekistan.
  • Produce sensitivity tests on key parameters to assess the robustness of actuarial projections.
  • Draw conclusions from the actuarial projections.
  • Prepare the interactive (e.g. Excel-based) costing table that allows to estimate actuarial costs subject to given parameters of the maternity benefits, e.g. adequacy, duration, frequency and eligibility criteria.
2. Provide Additional Complementary Policy Consideration/Recommendations - 4 days
  • Reflect on related legal and policy implications (e.g., transitional arrangements, administrative feasibility), and adapt key messages, considerations, and recommendations to align with stakeholders’ objectives, needs, and concerns.
3. Submission of First Draft Report For Internal Review - 4 days
  • Draft the first complete version of the report by building on the partial draft and adding the following chapters: Executive Summary, Introduction, Cost Assessment of Proposed Design Options (including sensitivity tests), and Additional Policy Considerations and Recommendations. The annexes will include details on the actuarial methodology used and references to relevant ILO social security standards on maternity protection.
4. Presentation of Findings - 5 days
  • Incorporate feedback from ILO/World Bank/UNICEF focal points into the first draft report, and prepare a PowerPoint presentation to support the communication of key findings to stakeholders
  • Participate as a resource person in meetings and activities with stakeholders and key partners to present and discuss the findings and conclusions of the study.
5. Submission of Final Draft Report - 5 days
  • Address stakeholders’ comments and, if required, incorporate them into the final draft report
Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.
 
Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. 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.

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

  • Bachelor's degree in Actuarial Sciences, data science, statistics, or related degree areas of work. 
  • At least 4 years of relevant professional experience in actuarial cost assessment.
  • Strong track record on undertaking actuarial cost assessment for Social Protection programmes.
  • Experience of working in Uzbekistan is highly desirable.
  • Ability to speak, write and read English, knowledge of Uzbek/Russian language is an advantage. 

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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. 

Advertised: West Asia Standard Time
Deadline: West Asia Standard Time

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