International Expert Contractor

Client of United Nation careers

BACKGROUND

Algeria has one of the most comprehensive and best-performing social protection systems in the Arab and African regions. According to the latest data from the ILO, fully 60.2 per cent of the population benefited from at least one social protection cash benefit as of 2021 far above the averages for North Africa (35.8 per cent) and the world (52.4 per cent). Notably, almost 70 per cent of all employed persons in Algeria contributes to a pension scheme, meaning that the level of informality is much lower than in most other Arab countries. Recent reforms have aimed to make the social protection system yet more inclusive, for instance by introducing unemployment benefits, by increasing social insurance coverage among self-employed entrepreneurs (auto-entrepreneurs) and by ensuring free access to medication to population groups not covered by social insurance. In 2025, maternity leave was extended to 150 days, rendering the labour market more gender sensitive. Nonetheless, there remain gaps and shortcomings entailing an insufficient degree of protection for certain groups. Moreover, in order to consolidate and build upon the achievements of recent decades, it is critical to ensure the system s long-term sustainability, notably in the context of an ageing population. Since 2013, the Caisse Nationale des Retraites has been running a deficit, notably due to the higher number of early retirees. There is also a degree of fragmentation and duplication between programmes and institutions, reducing the system s overall effectiveness and efficiency. In order to identify pathways to meet such challenges, policymakers need to have a comprehensive overview of the current national social protection landscape. To this end, ESCWA in collaboration with the International Policy Center for Inclusive Growth, has developed a template to develop National Social Protection Country Profiles. This tool provides detailed guidance for establishing comprehensive reviews of national social protection systems and programmes. The development of CPRs does not only enable governments to establish an inventory of current social protection schemes and establish a baseline to monitor future developments, but can also provide them with well-informed options regarding future reform needs and pathways. Against this background, the RCO seeks to contract a international research expert to conduct, in close coordination with an national research expert also to be contracted, the Government of Algeria (GoA) and the UN partners, the assigned National Social Protection Country Profile. This takes place within the framework of the proposed project Strengthening the Algerian Social Protection System, jointly implemented by ESCWA, UNICEF, the ILO, the UNDP, and the RCO, and building upon a partnership between the Government of Algeria, under the leadership of the MoF, and the United Nations System established in 2024. In addition to the Country Profile, the proposed project also comprises a TRANSFORM social protection training session and a training session relating to actuarial science for social security. The international contracted expert should possess the required knowledge, skills and experience in terms of: - Contributory and non-contributory social protection - Qualitative and quantitative research - Regional and country context - Language (French and, preferably, Arabic)

Following the distribution of tasks and responsibilities outlined in the Template for Authors, this undertaking will be carried out in close collaboration with ESCWA, UNICEF, the ILO, the UNDP, and the RCO who throughout the process will play the role of technical editors, and GoA, who will play the role of Government Author.

OBJECTIVES AND REQUIRED SERVICES

The objective of the assignment is to develop a CPR for Algeria following the hands-on guidance provided in the Template for Authors. Building, when relevant, on recent research conducted for each country, the CPR aims to achieve the following:

• Provide a review and analysis of the national SP system, including a summary of the national context, an overview of the legislative and policy framework, an inventory of SP programmes and an in-depth examination of two or three main ones, as well as a delineation of current and future trajectories and policy recommendations,
• Establish a baseline for monitoring progress relating to the SP system's effectiveness and efficiency in terms of both life-cycle risk mitigation and covariate shock responsiveness,
• Offer evidence-based policy options and enable informed decision-making,
• Serve as a standardized basis for cross-country comparison and learning.

The international contracted expert should, in close collaboration with the national contracted expert:

• Participate in an inception workshop (virtually or in person) to discuss and confirm drafting requirements, processes, and timelines,
• Undertake at least one mission to Algeria and collect data and information directly from the relevant instances
• Analyse the data and information
• In the light of international standards and best practices, undertake benchmarking
• Indicate areas where further improvement is possible and indicate possible pathways for reinforcement
• Participate in a launch event, virtually or in person, to present the CPR and discuss future pathways with key government representatives,
• Ensure availability and uphold regular communication with the GoA and other relevant national stakeholders as well as with ESCWA throughout the CPR development process,
• As far as possible, seek synergies with the other components of the proposed project,
• Undertake other tasks/activities that are necessary for a successful outcome.

METHODOLOGY

The development of the CPR requires using both quantitative and qualitative methodology. Detailed requirements can be found in the Template for Authors.

DELIVERABLES

The CPR: The international contracted expert shall, jointly with the national contracted expert, under the supervision of ESCWA, UNICEF, ILO, UNDP, and the RCO (Technical Editors) and in close collaboration and coordination with the GoA (Government Author) while adhering to the 20,000-word limit and the agreed timeline (not exceeding 12 months), draft a CPR including the following content: