Lead Consultant (Viksit Chhattisgarh Social Policy Support -- VC-SPS - Nationals only, Office based with travel

Contract Duration – 18.5 months

Working arrangement: office based with travel

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TERMS OF REFERENCE

The Government of Chhattisgarh’s Viksit Chhattisgarh (Anjor) Vision 2047 sets an ambitious agenda for inclusive development, and the Viksit Chhattisgarh Progress Measurement Framework (VC-PMF) is the primary instrument through which the state tracks progress. This consultancy supports the government in embedding children’s wellbeing, equity, social protection, and public finance priorities into the VC-PMF and associated policy processes. The Team Lead will provide strategic support to the VC-SPS team anchored within Rajya NITI Aayog (RNA), generating evidence-based insights and translating them into concrete inputs to the VC-PMF. The consultant will: (i) conduct high-quality policy analysis on child poverty, social protection, and public expenditure; (ii) support institutionalisation of child budgeting and PF4C within the VC-PMF; and (iii) provide strategic advisory support to RNA and line departments to integrate child-focused priorities into planning, budgeting, and monitoring systems.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: Lead Consultant Viksit CG 2026-27.pdf

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master’s degree or equivalent (PhD preferred) in Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, Geography, or similar disciplines in social sciences.
• Work Experience: Minimum five years of relevant experience in social policy, public finance, or child poverty analysis, including research under doctoral/post-doctoral programmes. Demonstrated analytical and advisory engagement with state or national government institutions. Prior experience with UN agencies, bilateral donors, or multilateral development organizations in Chhattisgarh or comparable states preferred. Strong quantitative skills including advanced proficiency in STATA, econometrics, composite index construction, and GIS/ArcGIS spa􀆟al analysis.
• Language Requirements: Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Hindi; familiarity with Chhattisgarhi context is an advantage.
• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills: Knowledge of SDG monitoring frameworks, child poverty methodologies, and public expenditure analysis. Demonstrated ability to generate and deploy evidence for policy advocacy with senior government stakeholders. Ability to work effectively in a multi-stakeholder environment with government, UNICEF teams, and development partners.
• Desirables: Familiarity with Chhattisgarhi governance context; knowledge of GIS/ArcGIS; experience with child budgeting frameworks.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) Financial proposal Lead Consultant.docx
• A detailed technical proposal: one sample of past analytical work relevant to the assignment.

Remarks:

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.