International Consultant to Support the Government of Liberia in the Rollout of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), Monrovia, Liberia, 6 months (onsite/remotely)
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Job no: 580848
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Monrovia
Level: Consultancy
Location: Liberia
Categories: Social Policy
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up.
For every child, social policy is a must!
Background:
The Government of Liberia has launched the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) 2025–2029, a comprehensive national development plan designed to drive economic transformation, human capital development, and governance reform. This strategic initiative is aligned with Liberia Vision 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the ECOWAS Vision 2050.
The country’s political economy remains shaped by its post-conflict context, characterized by governance challenges, dependency on external debt, and structural economic vulnerabilities. According to UNICEF’s F4C (Financing for Children) framework, boosting domestic revenue mobilization is critical to reducing aid dependency and ensuring sustainable investments in child-centered development. However, persistent issues such as inefficient budget execution, weak accountability systems, and delays in public expenditure disbursement continue to impede the effective delivery of child poverty reduction programs.
Despite efforts to enforce fiscal discipline, Liberia’s fiscal deficit is projected to increase from 3.4% of GDP in 2024 to 4.5% in 2025, driven by rising government expenditure. On a positive note, inflation is expected to decline from 8.4% in 2024 to 5.7% in 2025, supported by exchange rate stability and tighter monetary policies.
The 2025 national budget stands at USD 851.76 million, up from USD 738.86 million in 2024. Key priority areas include public administration, security, social services, and infrastructure development. Over the past five years (2020–2025), Liberia’s national budget grew by 60.4% (USD 320.8 million), with the largest annual increase of USD 215.9 million recorded between 2020 and 2021.
Budget allocations for the education sector ranged from 2.1% to 2.6% of GDP and represented 13–15% of total expenditures, with a notable increase projected in 2025. The health sector maintained stable funding between 1.6% and 1.8% of GDP, accounting for 9–10% of the national budget. Although allocations for social protection remain low (around 2–3% of the budget), they have increased from 0.3% in 2024 to nearly 0.5% in 2025.
While Liberia has made commendable progress in decentralization and social protection, the successful implementation of the AAID agenda requires robust technical assistance, institutional capacity building, and targeted implementation support. In this context, UNICEF Liberia, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), seeks to engage a consultant to provide expert guidance on program-based budgeting, social protection systems, and policy implementation.
II. Purpose of the Assignment:
The consultant will provide technical and strategic support to the Government of Liberia and UNICEF in implementing the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development. The primary objectives are:
- Strengthen budget planning and execution for child-sensitive social protection programs.
- Support the fiscal decentralization process and enhance government capacity in program-based budgeting.
- Facilitate stakeholder engagement and inter-agency coordination for AAID implementation.
III. Scope of Work:
The consultant will undertake the following tasks:
- Assess budget allocations for child-focused social sectors and social protection sectors under the AAID.
- Develop a policy brief[1] on financing options for social protection expansion in 4 counties and present it to TWG chair by MFDP
- Provide technical guidance to MFDP on fiscal decentralization
- Engage with UNICEF, MFDP, MoGCSO, sectoral ministries and key Development Partner (IMF, World Bank, WFP, Swedish embassy) to ensure budget advocacy alignment with national policies[2].
IV. Work Assignment Overview:
The detailed ToR can be accessed: 
Full TOR.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education:
- Master’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Social Protection, or a related field.
- At least 8 years of experience in social protection policy, public finance, and program-based budgeting.
- Knowledge of Liberia’s governance and fiscal decentralization framework or in similar context within Africa.
- Experience working with government ministries, UNICEF, or international organizations.
- Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder coordination skills.
Work Experience:
- The consultancy requires extensive experience in public financial management, particularly in budget transparency, program-based budgeting, and fiscal decentralization.
- The consultant should have a proven track record in designing and implementing social protection policies, with expertise in child-sensitive programming under frameworks like the AAID.
- Strong experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration between government agencies, development partners, and civil society is essential.
- Additionally, the consultant should possess analytical skills in resource allocation and financial planning, along with demonstrated experience in providing technical assistance to governments on policy development and implementation.
- Prior experience working as an advisor to government institutions on financial and social policy matters is required.
- Knowledge of the UN system and its operational frameworks is an advantage, particularly in areas related to social protection, public finance, and international development cooperation.
Language Proficiency:
- Fluency in English required.
VI. Working Conditions:
The necessary computer equipment for the consultation will be provided by the consultant or the consultant is expected to use his/her own ICT equipment.
VII. Supervision:
- The consultant will be supervised by Deputy Representative - Programme.
VIII. Technical and Financial Proposals:
Applicants are invited to submit with their online application:
- A cover letter explaining why they are well placed to undertake this assignment
- A recently updated CV
- A financial proposal which must be an all-inclusive cost (consultancy fees, mission expenses, travels, etc.).
- Applicants are invited to submit their financial proposals in USD using the template below:
Selection criteria will be based on qualifications, skills, expertise and experience in the required field, and quality of the technical and financial offer. Each application will be assessed first on its technical merits and subsequently on its price.
Evaluation Criteria (This will be used for the Selection Report)
A) Technical Evaluation (e.g. maximum 75 Points) B) Financial Proposal (e.g. maximum of 25 Points)
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.
Advertised: Greenwich Standard Time
Deadline: Greenwich Standard Time