National Expert Contractor

Result of ServiceTime Activities September 2025 • UN agencies identify and – once these are approved by GoA – contract researchers. • GoA organizes – in collaboration with ESCWA, ILO, UNICEF, UNDP and RCO – an inception workshop to introduce the structure of the Template for Authors; confirms drafting process and timelines, as well as roles and responsibilities. October 2025 • ESCWA provides remote backstopping and coordinates the production of a Zero Draft. • The GoA (Government Author) provides available data and viewpoints. • The contracted experts collect data, conduct literature review, and submit Draft Zero of the CPR. December 2025 • ESCWA, ILO, UNICEF, UNDP and RCO provide a technical review of Zero Draft. • The GoA (Government Author) facilitates setting up key informant interviews (KII) to be conducted by the contracted experts. • The contracted experts further collect data and revise the CPR draft. • The contracted experts further collect data, revise the CPR draft and submit a Pre-Final Draft. January-April 2026 • ESCWA, ILO, UNICEF, UNDP and RCO provide a technical review of the Pre-Final Draft. • The GoA (Government Author) facilitates setting up further key informant interviews (KII) to be conducted by the contracted experts to complement the pre-final draft. • ESCWA, ILO, UNICEF, UNDP and RCO conduct internal and external reviews and backstopping. • The contracted experts submit the Final Draft of CPR. May-June 2026 • ESCWA, ILO, UNICEF, UNDP and RCO ensure editing and translation of the Final Draft of the CPR. August 2026 • GoA organizes a public launch event with the government and the contracted experts, and releases the Final Draft of CPR. Work LocationRemote Expected duration10 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesBACKGROUND Algeria has one of the most comprehensive and best-performing social protection systems in the Arab and African regions. According to the latest data from the ILO, fully 60.2 per cent of the population benefited from at least one social protection cash benefit as of 2021 – far above the averages for North Africa (35.8 per cent) and the world (52.4 per cent). Notably, almost 70 per cent of all employed persons in Algeria contributes to a pension scheme, meaning that the level of informality is much lower than in most other Arab countries. Recent reforms have aimed to make the social protection system yet more inclusive, for instance by introducing unemployment benefits, by increasing social insurance coverage among self-employed entrepreneurs (auto-entrepreneurs) and by ensuring free access to medication to population groups not covered by social insurance. In 2025, maternity leave was extended to 150 days, rendering the labour market more gender sensitive. Nonetheless, there remain gaps and shortcomings entailing an insufficient degree of protection for certain groups. Moreover, in order to consolidate and build upon the achievements of recent decades, it is critical to ensure the system’s long-term sustainability, notably in the context of an ageing population. Since 2013, the Caisse Nationale des Retraites has been running a deficit, notably due to the higher number of early retirees. There is also a degree of fragmentation and duplication between programmes and institutions, reducing the system’s overall effectiveness and efficiency. In order to identify pathways to meet such challenges, policymakers need to have a comprehensive overview of the current national social protection landscape. To this end, ESCWA in collaboration with the International Policy Center for Inclusive Growth, has developed a template to develop National Social Protection Country Profiles. This tool provides detailed guidance for establishing comprehensive reviews of national social protection systems and programmes. The development of CPRs does not only enable governments to establish an inventory of current social protection schemes and establish a baseline to monitor future developments, but can also provide them with well-informed options regarding future reform needs and pathways. Against this background, the RCO seeks to contract a national research expert to conduct, in close coordination with an international research expert also to be contracted, the Government of Algeria (GoA) and the UN partners, the assigned National Social Protection Country Profile. This takes place within the framework of the proposed project Strengthening the Algerian Social Protection System, jointly implemented by ESCWA, UNICEF, the ILO, the UNDP, and the RCO, and building upon a partnership between the Government of Algeria, under the leadership of the MoF, and the United Nations System established in 2024. In addition to the Country Profile, the proposed project also comprises a TRANSFORM social protection training session and a training session relating to actuarial science for social security. The national contracted expert should possess the required knowledge, skills and experience in terms of: - Contributory and non-contributory social protection - Qualitative and quantitative research - Regional and country context - Language (French and Arabic) Following the distribution of tasks and responsibilities outlined in the Template for Authors, this undertaking will be carried out in close collaboration with ESCWA, UNICEF, the ILO, the UNDP, and the RCO who throughout the process will play the role of technical editors, and GoA, who will play the role of Government Author. OBJECTIVES AND REQUIRED SERVICES The objective of the assignment is to develop a CPR for Algeria following the hands-on guidance provided in the Template for Authors. Building, when relevant, on recent research conducted in the Algerian context, the CPR aims to achieve the following: • Provide a review and analysis of the national SP system, including a summary of the national context, an overview of the legislative and policy framework, an inventory of SP programmes and an in-depth examination of two or three main ones, as well as a delineation of current and future trajectories and policy recommendations, • Establish a baseline for monitoring progress relating to the SP system's effectiveness and efficiency in terms of both life-cycle risk mitigation and covariate shock responsiveness, • Offer evidence-based policy options and enable informed decision-making, • Serve as a standardized basis for cross-country comparison and learning. The national contracted expert should, in close collaboration with the international expert: • Participate in an inception workshop to discuss and confirm drafting requirements, processes, and timelines, • Undertake a thorough literature review, including key reports and legislation • Collect qualitative and quantitative data and information directly from the relevant instances, including by undertaking visits to the offices of these and by carrying out key information interviews, • Populate the inventory of social protection programmes and produce figures and charts, • Participate in a launch event to present the CPR and discuss future pathways with key government representatives, • Ensure availability and uphold regular communication with the GoA and other relevant national stakeholders as well as with ESCWA throughout the CPR development process, • As far as possible, seek synergies with the other components of the proposed project, • Undertake other tasks/activities that are necessary for a successful outcome. METHODOLOGY The development of the CPR requires using both quantitative and qualitative methodology. Detailed requirements can be found in the Template for Authors. DELIVERABLES The CPR: The national contracted expert shall, jointly with the international contracted expert, under the supervision of ESCWA, UNICEF, ILO, UNDP, and the RCO (Technical Editors) and in close collaboration and coordination with the GoA (Government Author) while adhering to the 20,000-word limit and the agreed timeline (not exceeding 12 months), draft a CPR including the following content: • Introduction • Section 1: The country context, including a number of key demographic and socio-economic indicators (substantive input by ESCWA) • Section 2: Appraisal of national SP policy and regulatory context (substantive input by ESCWA) • Section 3: Mapping of SP programs and an in-depth look at the design, delivery mechanisms, and organizational set-up of selected key programs • Section 4: Current and future trajectories and policy recommendations, including tools for costing policy options. • References • Annexes RESPONSIBILITIES The national contracted expert is expected to carry out the required work in close coordination and collaboration with the international contracted expert as well as with the GoA (Government Author), ESCWA and the UN partners (Technical Editors), and potentially with other relevant national entities to ensure successful contract fulfillment. All questions and concerns related to the details of the work should be directed to ESCWA and the UN partners, from whom a focal point will be designated. Exchange of information and communications between the contracted experts and the focal point should take place via e-mail, phone, or through available virtual platforms such as Microsoft Teams. ESCWA, ILO, UNICEF, UNDP and the RCO will partner with the GoA and the contracted experts in this process. They will jointly manage the deadlines for submitting the draft and final versions of the CPR. The role of the national contracted expert is as follows: • Co-responsible for the actual writing of the draft CPR in line with the Template for Authors and following the standardized process: o Ensure that the word limit (20,000) is not exceeded. o Ensure that the CPR is finalized within the set timeline, which should not exceed 12 months. • Maintain close contact with ESCWA and the UN Partners; collaborate and coordinate with the GoA (the Government Author) and potentially other national stakeholders and request data and information as necessary via government entities and conduct Key Informant Interviews (KII) facilitated by the GoA (the Government Author). For clarity, the roles of UN system and the GoA are detailed as follows: ESCWA, ILO, UNICEF, UNDP and RCO (Technical Editors): • Provide the researchers and GoA with the Template in addition to the associated documents/tools, including: o \"Associated figures and annexes” comprising annex tables and standard figures, o “SP Basic Costing Tool” that will be used in costing policy recommendations (as needed/relevant). • Provide technical guidance, in particular to: o Respond to questions from the contracted experts, e.g., on whether to include non-essential insertions, o Review and edit drafts and provide feedback as well as further technical guidance, o Schedule validation meetings based on the agreed-upon timeline to review the draft and final versions of the CPR, o If required, manage, and coordinate the external review processes. • Organize key events, including: o A national inception workshop to brief the GoA and other relevant national entities, as well as the contracted experts, about the requirements to prepare and draft the CPR including the timeline and deadlines of the overall drafting process, o A launch event to announce the final CPR and discuss findings and future pathways with key government officials. The GoA (Government Author): • Provides overall guidance on behalf of the government and facilitates the overall process from the government perspective including but not limited to: o Ensures that the data and information stemming from various government sources as required by the Template for Authors are as far as possible made available. o Facilitates communication between the contracted experts and relevant stakeholders, including other government entities working on SP. o Convenes other national stakeholders as needed. o Reviews, validates, and approves the CPR. Qualifications/special skillsA Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in political science, sociology, economics, or other relevant academic background is required. A Master’s degree is desirable. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of five years of experience in the field of social protection in the Algerian context 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, French and Arabic are required. 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.