National Consultancy to Develop the Zambia Sustainable Social Assistance Financing Strategy (2027-2031)
Organizational Context
UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights as a calling. UNICEF offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.
Job Purpose
The consultancy aims to develop a costed, evidence-based, and implementable Sustainable Social Assistance Financing Strategy for Zambia's Social Cash Transfer and Cash Plus programmes for the period 2027-2031. This strategy will translate existing financing projections, gaps, and assumptions into practical actions for securing commitments, improving efficiency, and mobilizing additional financing. It will build upon the completed Social Assistance Financing Framework without revisiting its core ambitions or requirements. The strategy will outline clear actions, institutional responsibilities, implementation steps, monitoring arrangements, and a medium-term results framework to guide the sustainable financing of these vital social assistance programmes. The process will be government-led, with MCDSS chairing the Technical Working Group and ensuring formal clearance of deliverables in consultation with key stakeholders.
Responsibilities
The consultant will develop a costed Sustainable Social Assistance Financing Strategy, including a financing roadmap, implementation plan, institutional arrangements, results framework, and monitoring approach. This will involve elaborating key approaches from the Financing Strategy Framework. A political economy analysis will be conducted to assess political feasibility, budget trade-offs, stakeholder interests, incentives, and implementation risks, identifying advocacy opportunities for domestic financing. A comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation plan will be prepared, addressing fiscal shocks, economic downturns, inflation, exchange-rate volatility, climate-related shocks, and other potential risks. Practical measures will be identified to protect, sustain, and progressively increase government financing commitments for social assistance through national planning and budgeting processes. The consultant will also assess efficiency and value-for-money opportunities within existing programmes, estimating potential fiscal savings or cost-avoidance measures. Finally, feasible additional financing mechanisms will be assessed, prioritized, and further developed to help close projected social assistance financing gaps over the medium term.
Work Experience
At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in public finance, social protection financing, fiscal policy, or development financing.
Skills
Financing strategies development, Fiscal space assessments, Expenditure reviews, Public finance analysis, Zambian public finance management systems, Budget processes, Government institution collaboration, Development partner engagement, International organization experience, Analytical skills, Facilitation skills, Report writing skills