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: Download File 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.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)

Cover letter

A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) financial proposal template - TMC0005648.xlsx

A detailed technical proposal: Candidates must submit a technical proposal demonstrating their understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, qualifications, and relevant experience. The technical proposal should not exceed 10 pages (excluding the cover letter, CV(s), and annexes).
Candidates should also submit no more than three (3) relevant work samples completed within the last five years.

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not downloadable on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

National Consultancy to Develop the Zambia Sustainable Social Assistance Financing Strategy (2027–2031) Lusaka, Zambia (remote) 3 months (595272)