International Consultant and Trainer on Automatic Registration for Social Insurance

Result of ServiceProvide practical training and clear guidance, both written and verbal, to enhance understanding – nationally and regionally – and co-development of an automatic registration model for social insurance using innovative, locally adapted methods. (Deliverable expected by 15 Sept 2025. 17.5 days ) Work LocationESCWA Expected duration1.5 Month Duties and Responsibilities1.Background The 2024 World Social Protection Report shows that only 34.7% of Egypt’s population is covered by at least one social protection benefit, leaving many—particularly the “missing middle”—unprotected. This group includes workers not enrolled in social insurance, either because their employers fail to register them or because they don’t meet the criteria for poverty-targeted programs, which are not a substitute for insurance-based coverage. Arab countries have made progress in strengthening social protection through pensions, healthcare, and targeted cash assistance. However, the shift from broad consumption subsidies to targeted support has left many informal, irregular, and self-employed workers excluded from coverage. Automatic registration mechanisms can support broader inclusion, typically by requiring employers to enroll employees when contracts are signed. In practice, many remain unregistered due to weak enforcement and low penalties for non-compliance. Self-employed workers are often required to register when starting their activity, but enforcement is again limited. Many choose to pay only minimal contributions, reducing future benefits. In some cases, such as in Egypt, workers register as casual laborers to lower their contributions, despite being entitled to broader benefits. A more effective approach would involve a stronger technological and enforcement framework. For example, linking professional licensing and business registration to social insurance inspections could improve oversight, clarify workforce size (including unpaid family workers), and boost compliance. A highly qualified trainer–consultant with a strong background in IT and digital systems will play a key role in advancing this initiative through capacity-building and technical coaching. With hands-on expertise in social insurance registration technologies, information system design, and database interoperability, the trainer will support national counterparts in reviewing the proposed model for automatic enrolment and exploring its practical feasibility. Their role will include facilitating knowledge-sharing sessions, building institutional understanding of key technical aspects, and identifying areas for improvement to ensure the model is both technically sound and contextually appropriate. 2.Tasks - duties and responsibilities The international consultant/trainer is expected to undertake the following tasks in strong collaboration and coordination with ESCWA’s SP team and relevant national stakeholders and other international experts: • Review the previously conceived model for the automatic identification and registration of irregular workers (including self-employed individuals, casual workers, employees of micro and small enterprises, and contributing family members), and develop materials and sessions to explain its logic and functioning to relevant national and international counterparts. • Guide participants through a review of how existing registries and information systems (e.g., civil registry, tax, labor, licensing, health insurance, registries of associations of informal workers etc.) could be integrated for automated enrollment, using a participatory, coaching-based approach that strengthens institutional knowledge and decision-making capacity. • Facilitate (online) discussions to identify gaps, risks, and opportunities in the current model design, including data availability, institutional coordination, legal and technological constraints, and system interoperability as well as relevant behavioral considerations. • Support stakeholders in co-developing improvements to the model to ensure it can effectively identify and enroll eligible informal workers and self-employed individuals into social insurance systems. • Develop and deliver at least one online or in-person training session or workshop tailored to key stakeholders, explaining the principles, opportunities, and technical considerations of automatic registration and data integration in social insurance. In addition to providing technical guidance, the consultant/trainer will serve as a key resource for knowledge transfer and capacity development. The consultant’s training role will ensure that stakeholders not only receive a technically sound model but are also equipped to maintain and adapt it beyond the consultancy period. Qualifications/special skillsA master’s degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, International Relations, Public Administration, Project Management, Social Policy, Social Development, Economic Policy, Financial Policy or another relevant field. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 10 years of professional work experience in social protection policy in low-middle income countries is required. Experience in databases and/or automatic enrolment is required. Experience with administrative records and interoperability is required. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English is Required and knowledge of Arabic is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.