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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, 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.

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Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Equity 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The overall purpose of this consultancy is to support the UNICEF North Macedonia Office, in providing input to the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth for the reform of the co-funding scheme for beneficiaries of social services under the Social Protection Law. 

How can you make a difference? 

Article 308 of the Social Protection Law stipulates that the funding of social services related to the law may include co-funding contributions from the service beneficiaries or their guardians, depending on the type of services used and the financial capabilities of the beneficiary and her/his family. The type and scope of services, paid by the beneficiaries and the co-funded amount should be regulated through a bylaw authorized by the Minister. However, since the adoption of the law in 2019, the required bylaw has not been enacted. In the absence of other secondary regulations, the institutions continue to rely on a bylaw issued under the previous Social Protection Law1in order to take into account the changes introduced with the 2019Social Protection Law, including the deinstitutionalization, and the need to ensure both equity in access to social services and efficiency of public spending on such services.

In 2024, with expert support, UNICEF prepared an initial report outlining the main household income-related considerations that can be taken into account when introducing new co-funding requirements. The report examined various poverty and social exclusion indicators such as disposable household income disaggregated by income quintiles, utilization of the household income disaggregated by income deciles, minimum wage levels, the cost of consumer basket as calculated by labour unions. Based on the analysis, the report presented an initial proposal for new income-based criteria to guide beneficiary co-payments.

Scope of Work:

Under the direct supervision of the Social Policy Specialist, the consultant will be expected to carry out a range of tasks and activities:

- Revise and update the initial paper on income-related considerations for beneficiary co-funding to reflect changes in the parameters considered and amendments to bylaws regulating various social protection services.

- Engage with relevant stakeholder representatives, including service providers, and civil society representatives to gather their perspectives on important criteria for determining which services and beneficiaries should be subject to co-funding

- Analyze relevant international guidance and best practices on beneficiary co-funding based on taxonomy of social services and beneficiary characteristics

- Based on the analyses propose a reform to the approach for co-funding of services under the Social Protection Law, taking into account both income and non-income related criteria

- Present and discuss the proposed reform with representatives of the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth and other relevant institutions at a workshop

- Based on the input from the workshop draft a bylaw on beneficiary co-funding

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

Academic background: Master’s degree in economics, Finance, Management, Pubic policy, or other relevant social science; An advanced degree in relevant fields will be considered an asset.

Professional experience: At least ten (10) years of relevant professional experience in: budgeting/costing/pricing for social protection services or other basic social services or analysing budgets or costs or pricing or financing approaches for social protection services or other basic social services. At least 7 years’ experience in research and analysis of social protection services. Experience in writing analytical reports

Core competencies:
▪ Excellent analytical thinking skills
▪ Previous experience with the UN will be considered an asset
▪ Fluency in written and spoken Macedonian language is required.
▪ English language verbal and writing skills are desirable

Interpersonal and Ethical Skills: Proven effective communication and interpersonal skills, and sensitivity to diverse cultural contexts and situations

When applying please upload the following documents: 

- Most recent CV outlining the relevance to the consultancy
- Cover letter
- Financial proposal: Gross daily fee in Macedonian denars.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

[Remove the following paragraph if not a child safeguarding elevated risk role] This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

[Applicable to HQEI positions, remove the below text if not applicable]

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

[Remove the below paragraph if not applicable]

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

[Do not remove the below paragraph]

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

[Adapt the below paragraph or remove it if not applicable]

[CO/ HQ specific: visa residence requirements: i.e.: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.]

[Do not remove the below paragraph]

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.