International Consultant - Chief Technical Advisor for the social protection

The Joint Programme 'Strengthening Resilience of Pacific Island States through Universal Social Protection’ is a UN joint initiative to be implemented in four Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) with funding from the UN SDG Fund. Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau are highly vulnerable to shocks due to their geography, small populations, size of the economy and exposure to climate change and extreme weather events.

In line with the principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the outcomes of the UNDP Pacific Strategy 2018-2022, the Joint Programme will work through five strategic interventions that will lead to all families benefiting from universal SP systems; data and evidence; public finance; institutional coordination and information management systems; and partnerships and outreach. These interventions are critical in leading to the development and strengthening of a coherent SP policy framework in all four countries which will support their combined 250,000 households either directly or indirectly. Inclusive SP systems will include fiscally sustainable social insurance schemes for the active population seeking or holding jobs, self-employed or voluntarily contributing, non-contributive social welfare in the form of child allowance, social safety nets and social services for all people in need as well as labour market interventions to facilitate access to jobs and incomes. SP will be evidence-based (including using digital data and innovative data systems), developed and implemented through participatory consultations, have equitable financing mechanisms, forge strong partnerships with stakeholders including faith, community-based organizations and the private sector, induce smarter institutional coordination, bolster capacity for implementation, and expand outreach.