Comparative assessment: cost-effectiveness, accessibility, inclusion, reliability & accountability of Social Cash Transfer/SCT electronic & manual in Zambia, Lusaka 4 months, remote+travel #595388
Organizational Context
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. 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.
Job Purpose
The consultancy aims to conduct a multidimensional assessment of Social Cash Transfer (SCT) electronic and manual payment modalities in Zambia. This assessment will cover cost-effectiveness, accessibility, financial inclusion, reliability, and accountability, while also quantifying current unit costs and estimating performance variations under different payment methods. The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the SCT program's efficiency and impact, informing future policy and program design. The consultant will analyze beneficiary experience and program quality, contributing to the optimization of social protection delivery systems in Zambia and potentially other similar contexts.
Responsibilities
The consultant will apply a multidimensional assessment covering cost-effectiveness, accessibility, financial inclusion, reliability, accountability, beneficiary experience, and program quality. This includes quantifying current unit costs and estimating how performance may vary under different payment modalities (electronic vs. manual). The consultant is expected to design and conduct costing, cost-effectiveness, operational efficiency, or value-for-money studies. They will also perform institutional and political economy analysis of SCT payment modalities. A key responsibility is to produce high-quality analytical reports, policy briefs, and presentations for government, UNICEF, or development partner audiences. The consultant must demonstrate experience with mixed-methods research, including quantitative data analysis and qualitative interviews/focus group discussions, applied to social protection delivery. Familiarity with and direct engagement with Zambia's SCT Programme and its delivery architecture is essential. The consultant will translate research evidence into usable policy advice.
Work Experience
At least 7 years of progressively responsible research experience in social protection, cash transfer programming, public finance, economic analysis, or development research. Demonstrated experience in designing and conducting costing, cost-effectiveness, or value-for-money studies is required. Experience with government institutions or social protection stakeholders in Zambia or similar contexts is strongly desirable.
Skills
Cost-effectiveness analysis, Accessibility assessment, Financial inclusion analysis, Reliability assessment, Accountability assessment, Mixed-methods research, Quantitative data analysis, Qualitative data analysis, Institutional analysis, Political economy analysis, Social protection programming, Policy advice