National Consultant On Extension Of Social Protection And Social Security Benefits Coverage To Rural Areas

Vacancy number: FVAC16.018 Job title or task: National consultant on Extension of social protection and social security benefits coverage to rural areas Division / Department: RNE/FAOLB   Program / Project No: Location: Lebanon   Estimated start date: November 28th , 2016   Duration: 25 WD   Reports to: Name: Maurice Saade Alfredo Impiglia Title: FAOLEB Representation RI-SSFF manager General description of the tasks, targeted objectives and outputs   Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Lebanon, and technical supervision of the Manager of RI-SSFF in the Regional Office for the Near East (RNE) in Cairo, Egypt and technical officers in the Social Protection Team in HQ, the national consultant will conduct the following activities in close collaboration with the International consultant (FAO/ILO) to support the costing the extension of social protection coverage to rural areas:   Collect, review and analyze existing data / information on farmers, workers in agriculture within MoA (census and other registration data) and within other development stakeholders working in agriculture sector (types and size of production, ownership, irrigation, location, family size, gender, livelihood conditions, coverage to social security) Collect, review and analyze data on social insurance (health insurance, old age pension, crop/weather insurance, etc), poverty in rural settings (CAS, CDR/ESFD, NPTP, MoSA, INGOs, local NGOs, etc…), and other demographic and socio-economic indicators Based on existing legal dispensation, survey and empirical data, map the needs for social security coverage and gaps/risk priorities amongst small scale farmers (self-employed, small family farmers) and farm workers (wage agricultural workers, seasonal and casual workers) by agricultural sub-sector (e.g. forestry, fisheries, livestock, crop production) Revise existing laws at MoL concerning labour rights in Lebanon and existing laws at NSSF concerning social security benefits to farmers and agriculture workers identifying gaps relevant to the agriculture sector (farmers and agriculture workers), Conduct consultations with farmers’ representatives and associations to identify their priority social protection issues and their proposals for addressing these issues; and identify existing collective practices for social protection in rural areas (health, old age pension and crop insurance) Based on consultations with concerned Ministries (Labor, Agriculture, Social Affairs, Health and Education), identify which social protection and security schemes are applicable to rural populations, farmers and agricultural workers. Explore with ILO Lebanon office on harmonizing the findings of the study on Universal health coverage in Lebanon with the results with the International consultant (FAO/ILO) on costing the extension of social protection coverage to rural areas. Based on existing information and evidence on needs and demand for social security, arising from discussion with key stakeholders and in line with the principles of feasibility, attractiveness, adequacy and affordability, support in: designing and costing two or three options of benefit packages (benefits and contribution level) Providing actuarially based projections on financial sustainability Determining needs for co-financing and possible financing sources and modalities, with the objective to ensure financial sustainability & broad coverage Prepare a national advocacy plan to present in a workshop to high level decision makers at Government of Lebanon and concerned stakeholders   Qualifications and Experience: Advanced degree or equivalent in Social Science, International Development Studies, Law, Rural Development, Economics or Sociology Minimum 5 years working experience in social development,  social protection, labor rights, gender, crop insurance and legal framework on social security issues or similar practical expertise; Knowledge and deep understanding of social and agricultural institutional working conditions in Lebanon.   Selection Criteria: Good understanding of social protection issues, particularly under prevailing informalities in rural employment and rural settings Practical experience in conducting similar work Good command of Arabic and English; proof of good English writing skills MAIN RESULTS Advocacy report on extension social protection in rural areas Workshop for high level Government decision makers key performance indicators Advocacy report on extension social protection in rural areas as defined above, with clear recommendations on the way forward on legal, technical operational level including: Collected information, needs assessment and gaps mapping Analysis of the actual situation A road map with pre-requisites including main challenges and key conditions of success Proceedings of national advocacy workshop for high level decision makers. Required Completion Date: December 31st 2016 Final report to be provided at the end of consultation.