International consultation for the revision of the National Social Protection Policy and its action plan - (telework), Bamako, Mali

International consultation for the revision of the National Social Protection Policy and its action plan - (telework), Bamako, Mali Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund Country: Bamako Office: UNICEF Bamako International consultation for the revision of the National Social Protection Policy and its action plan - Bamako, Mali (Telework) - 5 months (595738) Job no:

595738

Standard position: Consultant

Location

Division/Equivalent: Dakar (WCAR), Senegal School/Unit: Department/Office: Bamako, Mali Categories: Social Policy UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights and help them reach their full potential from early childhood through adolescence. At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate and proud of what we do, as long as our presence is needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a profession - it's a vocation. UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff varied opportunities for professional and personal development, allowing them to strengthen their sense of purpose while serving children and communities around the world, with an attractive set of remunerations and benefits. We invite you to consult our website ( website ) for more information

Other information

The National Social Protection Policy (PNPS) adopted in 2016 expired in December 2025. The implementation of the PNPS has made it possible to respond to several structural and cyclical problems in the context of the fight against poverty and inequalities, through among others, the strengthening of the legal, regulatory and institutional framework of social protection; the extension of the field of social security, social assistance and social action. Despite these achievements, the implementation of the PNPS has not achieved the expected results, due in particular to the lack of funding allocated to the sector, the low adherence of populations to voluntary insurance, gaps in coordination between actors, the low responsiveness of social protection measures to shocks, the insufficient extension of the Unified Social Register etc. In view of these results and the scale of new social protection needs, the Ministry of Health and Social Development, through the National Directorate for Social Protection and Solidarity Economy (DNPSES) launched two important works in May 2026: (i) the revision of the PNPS, and (ii) the development of its Five-Year Action Plan. The specific objectives assigned to these two works are as follows: a) Determine the relevance of the NPPS, through its strategies and taking into account actions implemented at individual, community and institutional levels, with all key stakeholders (government, local authorities, civil society and development partners). (b) Analyse the effectiveness of the NPPS, paying particular attention to the results achieved through the implementation of the action plan. c) Appreciate the level of resource mobilization (human, material and financial) that enabled the financing, management and coordination of the PNPS 2016-2025. (d)Identify challenges, lessons learned and good practices in the implementation of NPPS. (e) Provide recommendations on which to base the revision of the NPPS and the development of the new action plan. (f) Develop a clear and coherent vision and overall objectives for the development of long-term social protection, taking into account the specific challenges and challenges of the country, including emerging ones. Vision 2063, the National Strategy for Emergence and Sustainable Development 2024-2035The government’s Multi-Risk Contingency Plan and other national policies will also need to be considered for appropriate alignment.

Education / Qualifications

(g) Identify priority areas of intervention through the PNPS axes that promote social inclusion, access to basic social services including child-sensitive social services, gender transformations and stakeholder empowerment. h) Develop the revised NPPS action plan, based on the time frames set by the Ministry of Health and Social Development. Integrate crisis and shock response mechanisms (economic, health, climate, etc.) into this plan in order to protect vulnerable populations and strengthen their resilience. (i) Support the validation and approval work of the revised NPPS and its action plan by national authorities. To carry out the revision of the NPPS, DNPSES requested and obtained the support of UNICEF for technical and financial support. For example, UNICEF supported the recruitment and provision of a team of consultants to DNPSES in March 2026. The latter supported: the recruitment of two national consultants by DNPSES to accompany it throughout the process; the establishment of the Monitoring Committee by decision of the Minister of Health and Social Development, composed of national experts and TFPs (UNICEF, World Bank, FAO, WFP, UNDP, UNHCR), for the governance of the work; organization and facilitation of the start-up and scoping workshop; production and validation of the start-up report; the launch of field data collection work. In light of the above, UNICEF wishes to recruit an international consultant to join the team of consultants in order to finalize work on the revision of the NPPS and develop its first five-year action plan. The contract holder will be able to rely on all documentation produced, national consultants, DNPSES, UNICEF and the entire Follow-up Committee team to carry out his/her mission, especially during the start-up period. If you would like more information on this consultancy, including detailed deliverables and expected results, please see the full Terms of Reference here: Ext ToR TMC0005685.pdf

Candidate profile

Qualifications / specialist knowledge / experience / skills (technical/functional) / language skills required for the mission Academic training Higher university degree (master’s level or equivalent, or higher) in social policy, public policy, development economics, public administration, social sciences or in a relevant field.

Experience

Experience of at least 8 years in supporting the formulation of social protection policies, strategy development, program design, budgeting, implementation, review or evaluation of social protection programs are required. At least two sample reports must be submitted in connection with the work carried out. Proven experience in supporting government policy formulation and strategic planning processes, ideally in the areas of social protection, gender, humanitarian action, food and nutrition security. Strong command of social protection systems, institutional arrangements, implementation mechanisms, funding and budgeting, as well as performance monitoring and accountability frameworks. Excellent analytical, consultation, communication and writing skills, with a demonstrated ability to produce high-quality strategic and public policy documents in French. Skills Excellent analytical and research capabilities, with a strong ability to synthesize complex information and produce quality reports. Excellent communication skills, facilitation of consultations, negotiation and partnership management.

Main duties

Demonstrated ability to lead complex missions, coordinate multidisciplinary teams and deliver high-quality results on time LINGUISTIC Requirements French Desired assets Experience working in a Sahel country or comparable low-income, fragile or shock-prone contexts is desirable For every child, you need to show...

Responsibilities

The core values of UNICEF, benevolence, respect, integrity, trust, responsibility and sustainability (CRITAS). They are the basis of everything we do and the way we do it. Discover our Charter of Values: UNICEF Values UNICEF is there to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our staff must reflect the diversity of these children. UNICEF is committed to including everyone, regardless of race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, breastfeeding hours and reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments that, in interaction with various barriers, may impede their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its policy and strategy for the inclusion of people with disabilities 2022-2030UNICEF is committed to increasing the number of employees living with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we plan reasonable accommodations to meet the work-related support needs of candidates and employees living with disabilities. UNICEF has also set up an accessibility assistance service to enhance physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant living with a disability and need digital accessibility support to complete the online application form, please submit your application through the email accessibility button on the UNICEF Careers page Accessibility | UNICEF. UNICEF does not hire candidates married to children (persons under 18 years of age). UNICEF has a zero tolerance policy for behaviour that is inconsistent with the goals and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of power and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo a rigorous review of their references and background and must adhere to these standards and principles. The background check will include the verification of academic credentials and work history. Selected applicants may be required to provide additional background check information, and selected applicants living with a disability may be asked to submit supporting documentation relating to their disability in confidence. Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal (TMS): An updated TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV) A cover letter A separate financial offer (only accepted in the attached template format) Financial Proposal Template TMC0005685.xlsx Notes: If the Terms of Reference (ToR) or documents relating to the financial offer are not visible on some recruitment platforms, we invite you to consult our official page: Vacancies | UNICEF Careers. UNICEF does not collect any fees at any stage of the recruitment, selection and contracting process (application, interview, validation, appointment or training). In addition, UNICEF will never ask for applicants’ bank details. All positions at UNICEF are publicly advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be

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