UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. 

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling. 

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package. 

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF. 

How can you make a difference?  

The overall objective of the assignment is to develop a costed, evidence-based and implementable Sustainable Social Assistance Financing Strategy for Zambia’s Social Cash Transfer and Cash Plus programmes. The Strategy will build on the completed Social Assistance Financing Framework by translating its financing projections, gaps and assumptions into practical actions for securing existing commitments, improving efficiency and value for money, and mobilising additional financing. It will not revisit or redefine the programme ambitions or financing requirements already established through the earlier Financing Framework; rather, it will set out clear actions, institutional responsibilities, implementation steps, monitoring arrangements and a medium-term results framework to guide sustainable financing of Zambia’s Social Cash Transfer and Cash Plus programmes over the period 2027–2031. The process will be Government-led, with MCDSS chairing the Technical Working Group and providing formal clearance of key deliverables in consultation with MoFNP, UNICEF and other relevant stakeholders.

Specific Objectives

•Develop a costed Sustainable Social Assistance Financing Strategy, including a financing roadmap, costed implementation plan, institutional arrangements, results framework and monitoring approach. The strategy will elaborate the key approaches set out in the Financing Strategy Framework through the subcomponents below:

•Undertake a political economy analysis to assess political feasibility, budget trade-offs, stakeholder interests, incentives, implementation risks and opportunities for advocacy to strengthen domestic financing for social assistance.

•Prepare a comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation plan covering fiscal shocks, economic downturns, inflation, exchange-rate volatility, climate-related shocks and other risks that may affect implementation of the Strategy.

•Identify practical measures to protect, sustain and progressively increase existing Government financing commitments for social assistance through national planning, budgeting and policy processes.

•Assess efficiency and value-for-money opportunities within existing social assistance programmes and, where feasible, estimate potential fiscal savings or cost-avoidance measures that can support programme sustainability.

•Assess, prioritise and further develop feasible additional financing mechanisms that could contribute to closing projected social assistance financing gaps over the medium term.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  ToR_ext_TMC0005648.pdf

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

QUALIFICATIONS / SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE/ COMPETENCIES (CORE/TECHNICAL/FUNCTIONAL) / LANGUAGE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE ASSIGNMENT  

 Education:

• Advanced university degree in Economics/Finance or related field

Work Experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in public finance, social protection financing, fiscal policy or development financing.

 Language Requirements:

• English

 Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Demonstrated experience undertaking financing strategies, fiscal space assessments, expenditure reviews or public finance analysis.
• Strong understanding of Zambian public finance management systems and budget processes.
• Experience working with Government institutions, development partners and international organisations.
• Excellent analytical, facilitation and report-writing skills.

Desirables:

• Demonstrated experience undertaking financing strategies, fiscal space assessments, expenditure reviews or public finance analysis.
• Strong understanding of Zambian public finance management systems and budget processes.
• Experience working with Government institutions, development partners and international organisations.
• Excellent analytical, facilitation and report-writing skills.