Consultor para el uso del Índice de Pobreza Multidimensional (IPM)

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established to promote the rights and well-being of every child, has been operational for several decades and works in over 150 countries. The organization focuses on ensuring that children have access to education, healthcare, and protection from violence and exploitation. UNICEF's mission is to advocate for the protection of children's rights, help meet their basic needs, and expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. The organization employs thousands of staff globally, collaborating with governments, civil society, and other partners to implement programs that improve the lives of children and their families.

Job Overview:
The consultant will be responsible for systematizing the technical and political uses of the Multidimensional Poverty Index (IPM) as tools for planning, monitoring, and evaluating public policies. This involves reviewing international experiences, identifying analytical methods, and incorporating complementary mechanisms such as dashboards and specific indices focused on children and adolescents. The consultant will analyze the comparative use of the IPM in public policy across selected countries, considering its integration into regulations, planning frameworks, budget allocations, poverty reduction goals, and social protection design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design. The ultimate goal is to develop proposals for utilizing the IPM as a public policy instrument that prioritizes the needs of children and adolescents, ensuring that their rights and needs are adequately addressed in poverty measurement and policy formulation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake several key activities, including:

• Identifying technical uses of the IPM through a review of academic and institutional literature, creating a matrix that describes its utility, analysis methods, and examples.
• Defining criteria for selecting a reduced set of countries with official multidimensional poverty measures, proposing a final list of eight countries based on specific selection criteria.
• Presenting the selected countries to international experts in multidimensional poverty, gathering feedback, and refining the list based on expert recommendations.
• Conducting in-depth analyses of the selected countries, focusing on key dimensions such as monitoring poverty reduction progress, impact evaluations, policy coordination, budget allocations, and normative interventions.
• Describing the maturation process of the IPM in these countries, identifying institutional mechanisms, methodological adaptations, and innovations.
• Conducting a comparative analysis of the selected countries to identify similarities, differences, and critical factors in the use of the IPM for public policy.
• Validating findings with representatives from at least four selected countries to ensure the relevance and accuracy of the documented experiences.
• Analyzing international experiences related to the development and implementation of the IPM for children and adolescents, identifying best practices and methodological approaches that can inform the Peruvian context.
• Developing proposals for using the IPM as a tool for planning, monitoring, and evaluating public policies aimed at poverty reduction, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children and adolescents.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong background in social sciences, public policy, or a related field. They should have demonstrated expertise in poverty measurement, particularly in multidimensional poverty indices. Familiarity with international standards and practices in poverty analysis and public policy formulation is essential. Additionally, candidates should have experience working with governmental and non-governmental organizations, particularly in contexts related to child welfare and social protection. Strong analytical skills, the ability to synthesize complex information, and excellent communication skills are required.

Educational Background:
A master's degree or higher in social sciences, public policy, economics, or a related field is required. Candidates with a Ph.D. or equivalent experience in relevant areas will be given preference. Relevant certifications or training in poverty measurement methodologies and public policy analysis will also be advantageous.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least five years of professional experience in public policy analysis, poverty measurement, or related fields. Experience working with international organizations, particularly in the context of child welfare and social protection, is highly desirable. Proven track record of conducting research and analysis on poverty-related issues, as well as experience in project management and stakeholder engagement, will be beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in Spanish is mandatory, as the position requires extensive communication and documentation in Spanish. Proficiency in English is also required, as the consultant will need to engage with international experts and review literature in English. Knowledge of additional languages relevant to the region may be considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The position is a consultancy role, and the contract duration will be specified upon selection. The consultant will be expected to work full-time during the contract period. Compensation will be based on the consultant's experience and qualifications, with payments made in local currency (Soles) for approved deliverables. The consultant will not be considered a staff member of UNICEF and will not be entitled to benefits such as vacation or health insurance. It is the consultant's responsibility to ensure compliance with local tax obligations. Selected candidates must provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, unless they are working remotely and not interacting with UNICEF programs or communities.