Back Senior Social Protection Advisor, Bangkok, Thailand

Posting Title: Senior Social Protection Advisor

Department/Office: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

Duty Station: BANGKOK

Posting Period: 23 March 2021 - 06 April 2021

Job Opening Number: 21-Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific-152496-Consultant

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Result of Service

• Member States will have engaged in capacity development tools and the online regional platform developed under the Action Plan and develop strategies towards its implementation.
• Member States will have strengthened their capacity to share and exchange knowledge on social protection with a view to implement the Action Plan.
• Member States will have identified key priority actions to expand national coverage levels of at least one social protection benefit.

Work Location

Remotely

Expected duration

1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022

Duties and

Responsibilities

The mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote sustainable and inclusive development and regional connectivity in the Asian and Pacific region. ESCAP's role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership with policy oriented research and analysis, normative support and technical assistance and capacity building, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the Asian and Pacific region. The Social Development Division aims to enhance the capacity of member States to develop and implement evidence-informed inclusive policies that protect, empower and ensure equality for all in Asia and the Pacific. The position is located in the Sustainable Socioeconomic Transformation Section of the Social Development Division. The Sustainable Socioeconomic Transformation Section is responsible for the implementation of the Action Plan to Strengthen Regional Cooperation on Social Protection in Asia and the Pacific (in short, the Action Plan), adopted by the Committee on Social Development in 2020. The Expert reports to the Chief, Sustainable Socioeconomic Transformation Section, Social Development Division.

In October 2020, ESCAP member States endorsed the "Action Plan to Strengthen Regional Cooperation to Strengthen Social Protection in Asia and the Pacific" to promote social protection for all and accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through strengthened regional cooperation. The Action Plan provides governments with a shared vision, strategy and platform to promote partnership, peer learning and the sharing of good practice, as well as identifying the need for technical assistance.

Voluntary in nature, the Action Plan sets out key actions for governments to promote inclusive and comprehensive social protection systems. This includes ensuring the right to social protection for all without discrimination, and the design and implementation of comprehensive and sustainable social protection systems that provide adequate benefit levels and ensure an adequate standard of living. Further national actions are directed towards promoting shock responsive and gender sensitive social protection systems; efficient, transparent and accountable delivery mechanisms; engaging stakeholders; developing and strengthening data management; and promoting partnerships and knowledge exchange. The Action Plan also invites governments to set national targets on coverage through to 2030 and develop strategies to achieve these targets and integrate them into national development and social protection plans.

In response to this mandate, ESCAP will support member States in the implementation of the Action Plan through: a) periodic reports on progress made in implementation of the Action Plan,

b) development of an online regional platform to facilitate peer learning, the sharing of good practices on social protection

c) technical assistance on request.

An expert is recruited to develop capacity of member States to strengthen regional coordination in implementing the Action Plan. The expert will support the planning and monitoring of the effective implementation of the Action Plan and development of national social protection systems in select member States.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief, Sustainable Socioeconomic Transformation Section, Social Development Division, the Expert is required to perform the following functions: Support the implementation of the Action Plan by:

• Supporting development and monitoring of periodic progress reports, including through technical advice on coverage levels, contributory and non-contributory schemes, administrative processes and delivery mechanisms of national social protection systems in Asia and the Pacific;
• Contributing to the online regional platform through identification and development of relevant policy tools and analysis to strengthen implementation of Action Plan;
• Facilitating and conducting technical- and policy dialogues with relevant government counterparts in priority/champion countries of the Action Plan;
• Identifying country needs and supporting the establishment and maintenance of regional expert networks, including a roster on social protection experts, to facilitate North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation and knowledge-sharing among member States
• Consulting and closely coordinating with ILO's regional office as well as relevant United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs), United Nations Resident Coordinator Offices (UNRCOs), the Issues-based Coalition (IBC) for Inclusion and Empowerment and other development partners, as relevant;

Provide technical advisory services to members States on:

• Strategic and institutional development of comprehensive social protection systems in lower- and middle-income countries;
• Delivery and implementation of sustainable universal social protection, comprising both contributory and non-contributory schemes, with an emphasis on financing mechanisms and expansion of coverage to informal workers and other vulnerable groups; and
• Ways to improve sustainability, responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness of social protection systems and schemes through enhanced coordination, delivery and implementation;
• Training material will also be developed to complement these services and used in national capacity-building events;

Support ESCAP's efforts in broadening inclusive social protection coverage by

• Preparing background documents and contributing to regional consultations on social protection;
• Conducting analytical and policy-oriented research on social protection and the links to the 2030 Agenda;
• Participating in meetings of the Issues-based Coalition (IBC) on Inclusion and Empowerment and other interagency coordination mechanisms relevant to social protection to ensure effective contribution and collaboration;
• Coordinating with and ensuring frequent interaction with staff from ESCAP's Social Development Division, officials from member States, as well as national experts and representatives from academia, think tanks and counterparts from international agencies
• Performing other functions as and if required.

Qualifications/special skills

Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, social sciences, actuarial studies or other related fields. A relevant first-level university degree in the above fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: A minimum of ten years of experience working on social protection with in-depth work on national design, implementation and management of social protection systems and schemes is required. In-depth experience of developing and conducting capacity development and training of national officials on social protection is required. Experience from working in and with developing countries is highly desirable.

Language: Fluency in English with an excellent command in drafting is required. Knowledge of another language from the Asia-Pacific region is an advantage.

Additional Information

Communication: Excellent analytical and writing skills, with the ability to draft/edit a variety of written reports, and incorporate relevant feedback and input from multiple sources in a timely manner.

Technological Awareness: Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications, including statistical software.

Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services and offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.

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