National individual consultant - Economic/Finance Expert and Team Lead

This consultancy supports revising the system for pricing and financing of social protection services to expand equitable access to quality services for children, particularly the most vulnerable. The Economic/Finance Expert and Team Lead will coordinate the team, lead research on the existing model and international best practices, revise the National Methodology for Financing Social Protection Services, conduct pricing simulations and fiscal impact assessments, and develop implementation manuals and price calculators.

Responsibilities

• Conduct a comprehensive desk review analysis of the system for financing social protection services.
• Conduct a comparative analysis on pricing, financing and contracting for provision of social protection services by non-state actors in countries relevant for North Macedonia and international guidance to identify best practices and lessons learned.
• Engage relevant stakeholders to document practical experiences, challenges and recommendations related to the current pricing and financing system for social protection services.
• Draft a proposal for reform of the system for pricing and financing of social protection services based on analyses and stakeholder consultations.
• Present the draft reform proposal to stakeholders and incorporate feedback.
• Prepare a practical Guide for implementing the reform of the social services financing system including a user-friendly price calculator.
• Develop and deliver a capacity-development programme for implementation of the reform including workshops with key stakeholders.

Requirements

• Masters degree in economics, finance, or other relevant social science. An advanced degree in relevant fields will be considered an asset.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in public finance, budgeting, costing, pricing, financing models or financial analysis, of which at least 7 years should be related to social protection, social services, public sector financing or comparable social sector assignments.
• Experience in developing costing models, fiscal assessments, pricing tools and analytical reports will be considered an asset.
• Excellent analytical thinking skills.
• Previous experience with the UN will be considered an asset.
• Fluency in written and spoken Macedonian language is required.
• English language verbal and writing skills are desirable.
• Proven effective communication and interpersonal skills, and sensitivity to diverse cultural contexts and situations.

Skills

• Public Finance
• Budgeting
• Costing Models
• Pricing Tools
• Financial Analysis
• Fiscal Assessments
• Social Protection Financing
• Social Services Financing
• Financial Modeling
• Analytical Reporting
• Research Leadership
• Pricing Simulations
• Fiscal Impact Assessment
• Methodology Development
• Implementation Manual Development
• Price Calculator Development

Languages

Macedonian, English