International Individual Consultancy on Social Protection Fiscal Space Analysis in Moldova

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, a future

According to the PEFA assessment done in 2022, Moldova is confronted with the challenges of shrinking fiscal space, mounting contingent liabilities, and increasing social pressures, while it also seeks the resources necessary to support the recovery and increased and inclusive economic growth.

In March 2023, the Government of Moldova launched the reform of social assistance system, called “RESTART”. The reform planned for the period 2023-2026 has four medium-term results: 1) Vulnerable population has increased access to social services and benefits, 2) Vulnerable population has increased access to social services and benefits, 3) Social assistance system has sufficient and motivated human resources able to provide quality social services and benefits and 4) Social assistance system is digitalized to ensure efficiency and reduce fraud.

The implementation of the structural reform implies additional costs and requires finding reliable, sustainable and long-term sources of funding, both internal and external. Therefore, a fiscal space analysis is needed in order to find the available budgetary room that will allow the government to provide resources for the reform implementation and identification of available sources.

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MLSP), this fiscal space analysis will serve as a foundation for subsequent interventions and reforms to strengthen the social assistance system in Moldova. Through these interventions, UNICEF aims to support the MLSP enhancing the overall impact and sustainability of social assistance programs, ensuring they effectively support vulnerable individuals and households throughout the country.

How can you make a difference? 

1. Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of the assignment is to support the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MLSP), other line Ministries and the Government of the Republic of Moldova, to implement the planned comprehensive Social Assistance Reform (RESTART) by identifying feasible financing options through a comprehensive fiscal space analysis.

The objective of the consultancy is to produce a fiscal space analysis report for social protection. The report shall include a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analysis of potential financing options to expand the fiscal space to finance the social assistance.

The specific objectives of the study, therefore, are:

• To conduct a fiscal space analysis to examine the national capacity to mobilize resources using different financing options, at a minimum exploring all options presented in ILO’s Handbook on Fiscal Space for Social Protection[1], to fill the financing gaps in social protection.
• To use econometric tools and models to quantify the fiscal space for social protection for each of the options analysed (as per their relevancy to Moldova).
• To produce a consolidated report based on the above analyses, systematize main findings and provide policy recommendations as a way forward

The consultant will produce an analytical report providing fiscal space analysis to serve as guidance to the government and other stakeholders on the national capacity to create fiscal space to finance an economically sustainable social protection system in the country.

The output will include estimated amounts (as a percentage of the GDP/share of the national budget) that can be mobilized from different financing options, examining both existing and potential sources of resources.

The analysis and results will follow but not limited to the framework provided by the UNICEF and ILO/UN Women publication Fiscal space for social protection: A handbook for assessing financing options

• Advanced degree in finance and/or economics, development studies, public policy, or related disciplines.
• At least 7 years of experience in conducting economic and financial research and analyses, in a variety of development contexts. Experience in financing social protection will be considered an asset. Demonstrated experience conducting similar studies, specifically fiscal space analyses, financing strategies, focused on financing social development, social sectors, and/or social protection, including quantitative analyses.
• A good understanding of the social protection in Eastern Europe or Moldova is an advantage.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English required, knowledge of Romanian and/or Russian would be an advantage;
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate and work well with diverse people.

For every Child, you demonstrate

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

 For more details on the consultancy assignment and requirements, please refer to attached Terms of reference (ToR)

 2024 ToR_Indiv Consultancy Fiscal Space Analysis_VA.docx

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain the Technical Offer and Financial Offer (templates below). Please secure the Financial Proposal *.pdf document with a password on document view; the password will be requested only from technically qualified candidates. 

 Technical Offer_Fiscal Space Analysis.docx

 Financial Offer_Fiscal Space Analysis.xlsx

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

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.