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International Consultancy: Cost Estimation of Key Social Interventions in the First Decade of Life for El Salvador

San Salvador

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: San Salvador
  • Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Social Affairs
    • Social and Economic Policy
  • Closing Date: Closed

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

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 champion

Background

El Salvador is the smallest, but also the most densely populated country in Central America. Though El Salvador is roughly the same size as Belize (its land mass is about 10% smaller), its population is 18 times larger, and almost 70% live in urban settings. While 34.9% of the general population lives below the poverty line, 48.2% of the population under 18 years of age lives in poverty, just one indicator of the vulnerability and need of the country’s young people.

El Salvador is a young country, 2.4 million of children between 0-18 years old (35% of total population), and about 300 births occur daily. Despite this demographic opportunity, only 9 cents of each US dollar are invested in children between 0 to 6 years –the very critical moment for school preparedness and child development, whereas social spending in adults is about 60 cents, according to estimates (UNICEF, 2011). As a result, a long-term projection indicates that only 1 out of 6 children will have in their adulthood a job with a salary equal or above of 500 USD and with social security.

El Salvador’s population has experienced its demographic transition, with fertility rates decreasing from approximately 4 children per woman in 1990, to 2.1 children per woman in 2016.  However, other societal changes have resulted in what has been called the “crisis de cuidado” Described as a major social concern throughout Latin America, the population in need of care is increasing, but caregivers (typically women who are either entering the labor market or migrating) are decreasing. 

At least 20% of El Salvador’s population lives abroad; in 2016, a third of all households received remittances, (17.1% of GDP).  Migration and violence also influences family structure and patterns for caregiving. The country has the world’s highest homicide rate among children below 19 years age. 36.8% of children under 18 lives without one or both parents, and the 28.8% are abandon by one or both parents.

The effects of gang related violence are acute. In late-April 2016, the Central Bank estimated that the total cost of violence has increased from 10% of GDP in 2005 to 16% of GDP in 2014 –public social expenditure in 2014 represented approximately 15% of GDP. The Ministry of Education has reported in 2015, that 24.2% of the enrolled students were not assisting to school (most of them due to violence) and that gangs are present in 64.8% of the schools.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of the consultancy

To develop a cost estimation of key interventions for the first decade of life designed by Global TIES for Children for UNICEF, using current trends in demographics, income and multidimensional poverty, fiscal and social expenses allocations, among other key variables. The consultant will also provide a welfare analysis with estimates of the proposal implementation on employment generation, as well as earnings and poverty.

Specific objectives

  1. To conduct an in-depth review of the data required to perform cost estimations and welfare impact analysis of key interventions for the first decade
  2. To estimate the cost of the propose key social interventions for children under different scenarios. (coverage, etc).
  3. To estimate the positive effects of the implementation of this programmes on employment, workforce, earnings, and poverty.
  4. To provide recommendations on possible fiscal adjustments to ensure fiscal sustainability of interventions for children and adolescents.

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

  1. Postgraduate degree (Ph.D) in economics, public policy, finance, or other relevant social science field.
  2. At least 15 years of professional experience in children development research and public policy consultancy. Experience in emerging countries, is an advantage.
  3. Extensive experience in methodologies to develop costing estimates for child-specific interventions.
  4. Strong analysis skills of quantitative data.
  5. Proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel and other statistical software.
  6. At least 10 years of experience in promoting policy dialogues with diverse groups of stakeholders, including the fiscal authorities, is desirable.
  7. Fluency in English. Working knowledge of Spanish is an asset.
  8. Knowledge of UNICEF’s priorities and initiatives to promote social inclusion and the rights of children.

Please find a complete version of TOR attached.

Download File Cost Estimation Child Centred Social Policy_Contest.pdfDownload File P11 UNICEF.PDFDownload File How to edit the P11 in PDF format.pptx

This vacancy is now closed.
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