Contract Duration- 11 months

Working arrangement: Home based

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.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

The National Strategy on Social Protection 2024-2030 aims to address issues of poverty, social exclusion and advancing the reforms in the area of integrated social care services, disability assessment reform, provision of social care services, deinstitutionalization of care. This new strategy underlines that increasing the supply and quality of social services across territory is a must, in order to support the reforms in the areas of cash assistance, disability and social care, towards empowering families and children at risk. Furthermore, the strategy aims at further consolidating the provision of social care services at the local level, decentralization and deinstitutionalization process through strengthening the mandate and capacities of local government units to local social planning and provision of social services and financing with the funds from central budget, local budget and through other partnerships with wither the public or private sectors.

Objectives of the Assignment

Provide technical assistance to strengthen municipal capacities for the establishment and operationalization of Local Social Funds by increasing understanding of the legal, financial, and administrative requirements and supporting their integration into local planning and budgeting processes.
Provide tools, tailored mentoring and technical support to municipalities throughout the establishment process while facilitating peer learning and exchange among municipalities.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: External ToR TMC0003633.pdf

Minimum requirements:

Education: Master’s degree in finance, public administration, economics, social policy or related fields.
Work Experience:
- At least 10 years of experience in public finance, decentralization.
- Proven experience working with municipalities and central government institutions in public finance and social protection
- Proven experience working with local financing and social protection programmes.
Language Requirements:
- Excellent analytical and report-writing skills in English and Albanian
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
- Demonstrated skills in facilitation, capacity building, mentoring, and stakeholder engagement.
- Demonstrated analytical, communication, and report-writing skills.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate with multiple stakeholders and provide practical technical assistance to local governments.

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
A detailed technical proposal:

The technical proposal should be maximum 5 pages, responding to the requirements of the ToR, indicating clearly:

- Proposed methodological approach (training and mentoring the municipalities; organizing the forums; tracking municipal progress for the LSF establishment and operationalization; engagement with the MoHSW and MoF, municipalities etc).

- Plan of Activities and clear timeline for completion of key deliverables following the ToR requirements.

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 TMC0003633.docx
A detailed technical proposal (Add if applicable)

Remarks:

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 Consultant to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and to 46 municipalities to scale up the Local Social Fund, Social Protection, Tirana, Albania, Remote