Individual Consultant to Support the Review of National Protection Policy and Legislative Framework at UNDP

Additional Category: Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
Type of Contract: Individual Contract
Post Level: National Consultant
Duration of Initial Contract: 60 Days
Expected Duration of Assignment: 60 Days
Starting Date: 01-Dec-2020 (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)

Background
Social protection is an important dimension in the reduction of poverty and multidimensional deprivation. It is an approach towards thinking about the processes, policies and interventions which will make the poor less prone to poverty, less insecure and more able to participate in economic growth. This is grounded in the view that the limited capacity of households and communities to protect themselves against contingencies threatening their consumption and investment plans (i.e. their vulnerability) is a major factor explaining poverty and underdevelopment. Social protection policies are always part of a broader set of policies - on macroeconomic stability, enterprise and employment development, health and education - aimed (partly) at reducing risk and vulnerability and encouraging pro-poor growth.

The poor and deprived are not a homogeneous group: among them are people who are actively forging pathways out of poverty, but also people who have just become poor. There are also people who are chronically poor, and who may pass their poverty on to the next generation. Vulnerability to shocks both makes people poor in the first place and keeps them poor in the long run. The shocks poor people face can be economic, natural, political, environmental, and health related. The deprivation that can follow from a shock or a series of shocks can have many dimensions: economic, social and political. A social protection approach can make a strong contribution, alongside other approaches, both towards preventing the slide into poverty and assisting with recovery, and towards the long-term reduction of poverty and multi-dimensional deprivation, as one way for chronically poor people or their children to escape poverty.

It is in this context that the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, the coordinating organ of all projects, programmes and policies of government, was given the task to anchor the review of the National Social Protection Policy with all relevant stakeholders including development partners and civil society organisation.

The current National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) was approved by the Federal Executive Council in December 2017. Its implementation commenced in 2017 and ending in December 2020. Therefore, the policy is due for review and the MFBNP has officially launched the process to review the policy.

The main objective of the review of the policy is to accommodate some emerging issues on social protection so that Nigeria will flow with the Global trend in social protection programmes across sectors at both the national and sub-national levels of government. Specifically, the current National Social Protection policy document (2017-2020) deserves a review for the following reasons:

• The policy recommended its review for every four years and the implementation of the policy is currently in the 4th year.
• Nigeria needs to see COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to strengthen her social protection programmes as well as intervention strategies to accommodate all relevant actors and sectors of the social protection.
• There is need to define role and responsibilities of all sectors particularly with the emergence of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
• There is also needed to revisit the method of data capturing of the poor and vulnerable to provide for a comprehensive peculiarities of Nigeria typology and demography;
• There are global emerging issues that require social protection interventions.

To support the review of the policy the Ministry of budget and planning have set up a multi-sectoral technical working group. The major role of the TWG is to undertake the review and ensure that all planned activities and relevant stakeholders are engaged.

Stakeholder engagement and communication will be a key aspect of the process to strengthen the policy framework for social protection in Nigeria. Without this consultation and engagement, the effectiveness and inclusiveness of the policy review might not be guaranteed. These ToR describe:

The main objective of the assignment is to ensure adequate and effective stakeholder engagement and communication on the process to revise the national policy and develop social protection legislation. Specific objectives of the assignment include the following:

• To support the work of the stakeholder engagement sub-committee of the national policy review TWG
• To ensure effective identification and engagement of key stakeholders to support key decisions for the revision of the NSPP
• To ensure key vulnerable groups at all levels are consulted on the review of the NSPP and the development SP legislation
• To ensure effective communication at high level and to the general public of the ongoing review of the policy and development of legislation.  

Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the direct supervision of the UNDP and the Deputy Director Social Development MFBNP, the consultant contracted for this assignment will perform the following tasks: Will undertake a stakeholder mapping for the review of the NSSP and develop a stakeholder engagement and communication strategy.
• Develop key messages, approaches, papers and tools for engagement of relevant stakeholders. Facilitate consultative multi-stakeholder meetings on key policy and legislative issues.
• Advise on all required high-level policy engagement. Support all communication activities of the NSSP-TWG. Support dissemination and high-level engagement on the revised policy.
• The review of the national policy will be spearheaded and anchored by the National Social Protection Policy review technical working group (NSPP-TWG).
• The TWG was recently constituted by the Ministry of Finance Budget and National Planning (MFBNP).
• The technical working is chaired by the Permanent Secretary MFBNP and is made up of stakeholders form relevant MDA’s, civil society organizations and development partners.
• The TWG will be a critical reference point and engagement forum for this assignment.
• A key Sub-Committee of this group is the stakeholder engagement sub-committee. The main function of this subcommittee is to socialise the NSSP, ensure broad stakeholder engagement and awareness raising on the ongoing policy review process and development of SP legislation.
• At the start of the assignment, the consultant will be expected to define the methodology, process and approach with the stakeholder engagement sub-committee as well as the NSPP-TWG.
• The consultant will also be expected to work with the Sub-Committee and TWG to identify and agree on the major steps and timelines.
• During the course of the assignment regular follow-up meetings with the Sub-committee and TWG will be held to clear all outputs of the process.
• Depending on changes in the contexts and requirements the consultant maybe called upon to support additional steps.

Key Tasks:

• Inception and scoping meetings
• Stakeholder mapping and communication gaps analysis.
• Drafting of policy review messages, tools and design of communication approaches.
• Work with the NTWG on the concept notes and program agenda to drive diverse Stakeholders engagements / events on national and geopolitical zonal levels.
• Facilitation of stakeholder Consultation.
• Work with NTW to harmonize positions of major stakeholders and present a report.
• Prepare Comprehensive Strategic Plan for aggressive Public sensitization and mobilization of support for National SP Policy and Stakeholder engagements.
• Facilitation of high-level dialogue on key policy decisions
• Support to key communication and media engagement events.
• Coordinate Press Briefings ahead of launching.
• High level dissemination of revised policy

Deliverables:

• Inception report (including work plan, methodology, and proposed tools for the review)
• NSPP review and SP legislation stakeholder engagement and communication strategy
• Tools, Key messages and communication approaches
• Programme of Activities produced
• Stakeholder consultation reports
• Advocacy Plan developed
• Policy dialogue with key decision makers held
• Communication and media events held
• Press briefing organized for key Ministers and Head of relevant UN Agencies
• High level engagements held

Required Skills and Experience
Qualifications and Experience:

• At least 10 years’ experience Communication, policy analysis, Development, Social Policy or other related fields
• Good Knowledge of Social Protection in Nigeria and across the African continent
• Good knowledge of communicating development planning with reference to Nigeria National Planning.
• Public Sector Experience with reference to Communication Strategy in development planning programmes.
• Knowledge of project planning with emphasis in monitoring and evaluation of development programmes
• Experience supporting social protection policy or legal processes
• Excellent communication and report writing skills are required.
• Familiarity with the overall policy and strategic context of Nigeria is an asset.
• Good facilitation skills for internal and external consultations;
• Strong analytical and good inter-personal communication skills; experience in participatory processes;
• Professional command of English, both oral and written, good report writing skills.

Selection Criteria:

• Educational Qualifications (20 Marks)
• Professional Qualifications and Certifications (30 Marks)
• Experience implementing similar assignment in the past (50 Marks)
• Languages Required: English  

Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism
• Ability to work with a multi-cultural and diverse team
• Ability to produce high quality research work under pressure of tight schedules and timelines.