Consultant – Zambia Sustainable Social Assistance Financing Strategy

About the role

UNICEF is seeking an experienced consultant to lead the development of a costed, evidence‑based Sustainable Social Assistance Financing Strategy for Zambia’s Social Cash Transfer and Cash Plus programmes covering 2027‑2031. The assignment will be government‑led and will translate financing projections into practical actions.

Key responsibilities

• Develop a comprehensive, costed financing roadmap and implementation plan for the programmes.
• Conduct a political‑economy analysis to assess feasibility, stakeholder interests, and advocacy opportunities.
• Prepare a risk assessment and mitigation plan covering fiscal shocks, inflation, exchange‑rate volatility, climate impacts and other threats.
• Identify measures to protect and progressively increase existing government financing commitments.
• Define institutional arrangements, results framework, monitoring approach and medium‑term outcomes.
• Coordinate with the Ministry of Community Development, Social Services and Poverty Alleviation (MCDSS), Ministry of Finance and National Planning, and other stakeholders.

Required profile

• Proven experience in designing financing strategies for social protection or cash transfer programmes.
• Strong understanding of Zambia’s public finance environment and social assistance landscape.
• Ability to work collaboratively with government officials and international partners.
• Excellent analytical, report‑writing and presentation skills.

Required skills

What we offer

• Three‑month consultancy contract with UNICEF.
• Remote work arrangement with occasional coordination in Lusaka.
• Opportunity to influence national social protection financing in Zambia.