Social Protection Consultant

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)

FamilyCONS Local

2023-08-01August 4, 2023Title of project: Access to social protection rights and services in Hungary

Purpose of project:
The main objective of the consultancy is to conduct research and map the legal framework relevant to the social protection system in Hungary applicable to refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons. The term refugee includes people fleeing from Ukraine, with temporary protection or other status. The study is primarily intended for an internal/restricted audience to guide UNHCR advocacy – although publication may be considered. The study will provide an analysis on the level of implementation of the said legislation, identifying gaps (including legal, as well as administrative and practical barriers to social inclusion) and opportunities. It will finally formulate recommendations for changes in the legislation, regulations and/or administrative instructions, in order to achieve better socio-economic inclusion for the people UNHCR serves in Hungary.

General Background of Project or Assignment:
UNHCR aims to support the effective inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons into government social protection systems according to their profiles, vulnerabilities, needs, and capacities. Based on international and national law, they have right to access a range of government social protection programmes, however there are a series of potential barriers limiting refugee access all government social protection benefits and services on par with citizens. Many of the access barriers identified in the 2021 RBE Social Protection Policy Brief remain or have been exacerbated in the last year including complicated eligibility ad administrative requirements, limited awareness and access to information and services, limited financial inclusion and additional legal complications and inconsistencies.
Social protection, as defined by the Social Protection Inter-Agency Cooperation Board (SPIAC-B), comprises a national system of laws, policies and programmes aimed at preventing and protecting all people against poverty, vulnerability, social exclusion throughout their lifecycle, with a focus on supporting the most vulnerable to manage the different range of risk encountered. Social protection encompasses social assistance (or social safety net), Social insurance (including health insurance support, paid leave and unemployment support, pensions, disability benefits, flexible or reduced
social security contributions), and labor market support (including wage subsidies, additional training, labor regulation adjustments and reduced work time / subsidies).


Overall Purpose and Scope of Assignment:
The overall purpose of the Consultancy is to prepare a Study on the relevant framework on social protection, its implementation (including gaps, opportunities and barriers to social inclusion), as well as recommendations for improvement. The study will be an internal document primarily used by UNHCR. It will contribute to the following:
- UNHCR and its partner organizations will have better understanding of the available social welfare assistance and services accessible for refugees and stateless persons;
- The study will be identifying the gaps of the Hungarian social protection system related to refugees, which can support to define the mechanism and targeting of the upcoming UNHCR cash transfer programme;
- Aligning UNHCR direct assistance with the national protection systems with the aim to facilitate the eventual transition of refugees to social protection systems.
- The main findings and recommendations of the study will serve the evidence-based advocacy work of UNHCR with government and development actors aimed at scaling up the capacity of government programmes to ensure sustainable inclusion of refugees into social protection programmes.


The Consultant will undertake the following activities:

- Analyzing the legal framework of Hungarian social protection system applicable for persons under UNHCR’s mandate including the international legal framework and national laws/ governmentaldecrees;

- Identifying and analyzing the conditions/accessibility/ financial relevance of the different social assistances available to refugees and stateless persons including but not limited by the following categories|:

a) Financial social benefits (non-exhaustive list): regular subsidies, family allowance, childcare support allowance, parental support, regular child protection allowances, schooling benefits, maternity support, retirement benefits, active age allowance, employment substitution support, nursing fee, child home care allowance, rehabilitation, and disability benefits;
b) Non-financial social assistance (non-exhaustive list): housing support, school meals, school materials, one-time in-kind child protection support, exemption from paying for prescribed medication (free or cheaper medication), free or discounted institutional child meals and free holiday meals for children, support for textbooks, travel discounts; support for persons living with disabilities;
c) Services and supports provided by the local municipality.

- Analyzing the conditions/accessibility of the social and care services available to refugees and stateless persons:

a) Analyzing the accessibility and challenges of health care system according to the different legal and health statuses of refugees, including procedure of acquiring health insurance card, available health care for severe ill persons, children, and other persons with vulnerabilities;
b) Analyzing the accessibility, quality and capacities of shelters and other form of accommodations available to refugees and stateless persons; assessing the effectiveness of the governmental financial incentive aims at expanding the housing capacities;
c) Analyzing the accessibility and challenges of education system from kindergarten education up to tertiary education for refugees and stateless persons in concern with different legal status. The analysis shall pay special attention to available mechanisms in place supporting the educational inclusion of refugee children into mainstream education;
d) Analyzing the accessibility of child protection system with special focus on services related to unaccompanied children;
e) Analyzing the labor market programmes/policies targeting people in need of protection such as re-training programmes and language courses aims to support better employability;
f) Analyzing the accessibility of legal aid services and other services relevant for refugees and stateless persons.

- Assessing the implementation of social protection policies in practice through analysis of the public administration procedures and requirements towards refugees and stateless persons through interviews with authority representatives; questions for specific issues stateless persons and refugees face in practice can be shared with UNHCR;

- Analyzing the challenges and gaps of the Hungarian social protection system related to refugees and stateless persons, and suggest recommendations for legislative reforms or for the adoption of new regulations and administrative instructions;

- Preparing a matrix which can illustrate the available social assistance and services according to legal statuses, as an Annex to the main analytical report.
The study will be based on mixed methods of research, that shall include an in-depth desk research of the related legal framework as well as interviews with authority representatives including national and local level institutions from different protection sectors. The study will build on already existing UNHCR research and analysis, as well as on-going UNHCR research, monitoring and analysis.
A more detailed methodology will be submitted by the consultant, which need to reflect age, gender, diversity, and disability inclusion in its design. It shall also have special focus on the most vulnerable groups considering literacy levels, documentation issues, language barriers.

Required level, qualifications and work experience: The assignment is for an Individual Consultant

Qualification and experience required (degree required, years of work experience, field of expertise, language required):
Educational background and working experience:
- Legal studies and other field of studies relevant for the scope of the study will be an asset;
- Minimum 5 years of working experience related to the Hungarian social protection system and/or related field such as public administration system;
- Minimum 5 years of experience in conducting studies and legal research.
Skills and other competences:
- Strong knowledge of the social protection legal framework in Hungary
- Knowledge of asylum and refugee issues in Hungary, including in relation to the Ukraine emergency response.
- Self-starter willingness and ability to set up necessary meetings;
- Excellent writing skills in Hungarian and English;
- Ability to work with people of different nationalities, religions, and cultural backgrounds.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least C2 level): English, Hungarian

Location(s) (specify if working from home): Home-based (remote work), with regular consultations with the Project Owner/Hiring Manager, including in person in Budapest. Occasional work from UNHCR office in Budapest office is possible, as needed.

Suggested fee (daily/weekly/monthly/lump sum) and currency:
Total budgetary amount allocated for individual contract (incl. travel and DSA etc.): 13,000 USD
Payment schedule: payment will be made in monthly instalments, depending on satisfactory progress on the research and analysis.

Total amount of days/weeks/months to be worked within the duration of assignment: 60 days

Candidates must be legally present in Hungary at the time of application, recruitment and hire.

Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. No late applications will be accepted. UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

 

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

Hungarian

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English

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Desired Languages

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Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance