Terms of Reference (ToR) for a consultancy on Qualitative and quantitative research on extension of social security coverage in Jordan

Terms of Reference (ToR) for a consultancy on Qualitative and quantitative research on extension of social security coverage in Jordan (ilo.org)

I. Project Background
PROSPECTS
Overlapping drivers of displacement worldwide have coincided and increased the scope, scale and complexity of displacement. Approximately 25.4 million individuals are recognized as refugees who have fled their homes due to a well-found fear of persecution. This is alongside millions of internally displaced persons and those who have fled their homes but are not recognized as refugees by the 1951 Refugee Convention. As a country neighboured by Iraq, Syria and the West Bank, Jordan is facing a historic forced displacement crisis and as the crisis extends into the next decade, the country is at an inflection point, given the scope, scale and protracted nature of the displacement. In response to the considerable challenges posed by forced displacement, a new strategic partnership, named PROSPECTS, was established by the Government of the Netherlands, IFC, UNICEF, ILO, UNHCR and the World Bank. The partnership spans eight countries and covers a five-year period (2018-2022).
Through the Prospects partnership, the World Bank, IFC, UNICEF, UNHCR and ILO aim to leverage their comparative advantages and areas of expertise to programme complementary and interdependent interventions that address education, employment and protection challenges that negatively affect the livelihoods and well-being of host communities and forcibly displaced persons. The combined efforts of the organizations will endeavour to bolster the medium- and longer-term development goals for host communities and forcibly displaced persons to access quality and market-relevant education; decent work and enterprise opportunities; and comprehensive protection systems.
ESTIDAMA++
Over 50 per cent of the workforce in Jordan is in the informal economy where there is increased risk of exploitation and a lack of social protection coverage. The exact number of informal workers in Jordan is difficult to measure, but based on previous labour force surveys, certain characteristics appear to increase the likelihood of workers being informal, marked by their lack of social security coverage. Workers in micro and small enterprises, non-nationals, and workers in particular sectors such as construction and agriculture, all have lower rates of social security coverage. A combination of factors such as legal exclusion, contribution cost, awareness and employer compliance, influence participation. Without some form of social protection, workers face higher financial risks and consequences to their well-being when contingencies, such as
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sickness, unemployment, and work injury, occur. The right to social protection is universal, and one in which Jordan has taken important steps to realize.
Through the Estidama++ Fund, the Jordanian Social Security Corporation (SSC) and the ILO seek to support participation in the social security system through the provision of a financial subsidy and information on social protection rights and benefits. Estidama++ provides a coverage reward (in the form of a quarterly incentive payment) to employees and contribution subsidy to employers to incentivize registration in the social security system and support continued compliance with contributions into the medium/long-term. As part of the wider extension of coverage and formalization agenda, the project also works to improve the enabling environment, through investment in capacity building, institutional coordination, social dialogue, and evidence generation to support the adoption of a national model for subsidized contributions. Donor government participation from the Kingdom of Netherlands, Kingdom of Norway and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom helps offset the risk incurred by the SSC in extending benefits to groups who may be unable to pay full contributions in the short-term. II. Assignment Background
Jordan and the social security system
Jordan’s economy has grown steadily in recent years, weathering the pandemic and global volatility with relative stability. Despite a generally positive outlook, there is significant weakness in the labour market with low rates of job creation and unemployment standing at 22.9% (youth and female unemployment is close to 50 and 30 percent, respectively). Jordan’s Economic Modernization Visiona outline’s the government’s key priorities for the next decade. Chief among them is creating 1 million new jobs, and within this target, addressing the high rates of informality (more than 50% of Jordan’s workforce operates in the informal economy).
When looking only at social security coverage, informality is highest amongst non-Jordanian workers. 96% of Syrian employees lack social security coverage, compared to only 24% of Jordanian employees who lack coverage. However, given the larger absolute size of the Jordanian labour force, Jordanians represent one-third of all employees without social security coverage. Outside of social security, Jordanian host community members and Syrian refugees rely on different forms of social assistance to secure their needs. For the host community, this includes poverty targeted assistance administered by the National Aid Fund. For refugees who are registered with UNHCR, they receive a combination of food, health and cash assistance. Both NAF and UNHCR assistance is prioritized for only the most vulnerable households based on family size, disability, gender of household head and other considerations. For host community members and refugees who are working formally, they are to be registered in Social Security, providing them with insurance throughout the life cycle including protection in instance of unemployment, maternity, work injury, death, disability and old age.

(Please read attached TOR for further details on Job description, deliverables and payment modality.)