Remote Social Protection Consultant (7 Months) – UNICEF Brazil | Focus on Climate Emergencies & Cash Transfers. Our platform advertises a high-impact, remote-friendly consultancy with UNICEF Brazil. This 7-month role seeks an expert with 10+ years in Brazil’s Social Assistance system (SUAS) to develop critical technical guidance on cash benefits during climate disasters. The consultant will work closely with the Ministry of Social Development to strengthen shock-responsive social protection for vulnerable families. A Master’s degree and fluency in Portuguese are mandatory. The position includes two planned field missions and offers a competitive contract. Apply before the September 7, 2025 deadline to contribute to this vital work.
ALSO CHECK : 5 Home-Based Internships at UNDP for 2025 – Remote, Paid Opportunities
Background & Job Description
Our website partners with organizations worldwide to bring impactful international development opportunities to our audience. This listing is for a Social Protection Consultant role with UNICEF Brazil. We are an independent job board and are not directly affiliated with UNICEF; we are sharing this information to assist qualified professionals in finding this specialized contract position.
UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. In Brazil, UNICEF addresses the critical challenge of climate change, which is causing increasingly frequent and extreme natural disasters, disproportionately affecting vulnerable children, adolescents, and their families.
This consultancy is situated within a robust project to enhance the shock-responsiveness of Brazil’s Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS). Despite the system’s strength, recent emergencies like the floods in Rio Grande do Sul have revealed gaps in adapting cash transfers and social benefits during large-scale shocks. In response, UNICEF, in partnership with Brazil’s Ministry of Development and Social Assistance (MDS), has developed a series of technical guides. This specific consultancy will address a key identified gap: creating comprehensive technical guidance on Social Assistance Benefits and Cash Transfer programs in emergency contexts.
The consultant will play a central role in drafting, validating, and finalizing this critical document. The work involves close collaboration with national government teams (SNAS and SENARC), field missions to gather firsthand input, and ensuring the guidance is practical for municipal-level social workers. This is a remote position with two required in-person missions within Brazil, offering a unique chance to directly influence policy that protects the most vulnerable during crises.
Remote Social Protection Consultant (7 Months) – UNICEF Brazil | Focus on Climate Emergencies & Cash Transfers
Tasks and Responsibilities
Based on the official Terms of Reference, the key responsibilities for this role are:
Coordination and Liaison:
- Act as a key liaison between UNICEF and the technical teams at SNAS (National Secretariat of Social Assistance) and SENARC (National Secretariat of Citizenship Income) throughout the entire document development process.
- Support the coordination efforts led by UNICEF to ensure seamless collaboration and information flow between all stakeholders.
Research, Drafting, and Development:
- Develop a detailed workplan with a clear timeline, methodology, and data collection tools for the assignment.
- Participate in and facilitate workshops with key actors to collect diverse inputs and ensure the guidance is grounded in real-world experience.
- Draft the Technical Guidance on Social Assistance Benefits and Cash Transfers in Emergencies, incorporating evidence, best practices, and direct input from MDS and field missions.
- Develop a first version of the guidance for a public consultation process.
- Revise and finalize the technical guidance, incorporating all feedback received from the public consultation and subsequent technical validations.
Field Mission Execution:
- Undertake two field missions within Brazil:
- A 5-day mission to Rio Grande do Sul to conduct workshops in Porto Alegre and Lajeado.
- A 3-day mission to Vitória de Santo Antão (Pernambuco).
- Use these missions to gather critical qualitative data and insights from frontline workers and stakeholders.
Qualifications
Education and Certification:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Social Sciences, Political Science, or another relevant technical field is mandatory.
- A Master’s degree in Social Work, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Political Science, or a directly related field is mandatory.
- Certifications in project management, emergency response, or social protection are highly desirable.
Experience:
- A minimum of ten years of professional experience working with Brazilian Social Assistance public policies is mandatory.
- Advanced knowledge of the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS), including its architecture, social assistance benefits, and cash transfer programs (like Bolsa Família) is mandatory.
- Proven, specific experience in developing technical guidance materials, manuals, or policy documents focused on Social Assistance Benefits and Cash Transfers is mandatory.
- Experience with SUAS in emergencies, shock-responsive social protection, or disaster management is a strong asset.
- Previous relevant working experience with a UN agency or other international organization is a strong asset.
Additional Information
Contract Details:
- Job Number: 583507
- Contract Type: Consultant (Individual Contractor)
- Duration: 7 months
- Duty Station: Remote (Home-based in Brazil)
- Location: Brazil
- Supervisor: Chief of Social Policy, UNICEF Brazil
- Application Deadline: 7th September 2025 (E. South America Standard Time)
Financial Proposal:
- Consultants must submit a comprehensive financial proposal based on the deliverables.
- The proposal must be all-inclusive, incorporating the consultant’s fee, administrative costs, and all travel and subsistence costs for the two required field missions.
- The payment schedule is deliverable-based:
- Deliverable 1 (Workplan): 15% of total contract value (including travel costs advance)
- Deliverable 2 (Draft): 20%
- Deliverable 3 (First Version): 25%
- Deliverable 4 (Final Version): 40%
Language and Travel Requirements:
- Language: Professional fluency in Portuguese is mandatory.
- Travel: The consultant must be available and willing to undertake two field missions within Brazil (5 days to Rio Grande do Sul and 3 days to Pernambuco). All travel costs must be included in the financial proposal.
Important Conditions:
- This is a consultancy contract, not a staff position. Consultants are not entitled to UNICEF staff benefits (such as leave or medical insurance).
- The consultant is solely responsible for their tax liabilities and for securing valid health insurance for the contract duration.
- UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct, including sexual exploitation and abuse, and all selected candidates undergo rigorous background checks.
How to Apply:
This advertisement is provided by our job board. All applications must be submitted through the official UNICEF careers portal. We recommend reviewing the original vacancy announcement for the most detailed information before applying.
Disclaimer: Our platform acts as an advertising venue for this job posting. We have compiled this information from the public domain and strive for accuracy. However, all details, including responsibilities, deliverables, and deadlines, are subject to change by UNICEF. We are not involved in UNICEF’s recruitment process and cannot provide application status updates.
Suggested Top Keywords:
UNICEF consultant, social protection consultant, remote consultancy, SUAS, Bolsa Familia, cash transfers, emergency response, climate change Brazil, social assistance, homebased job, international development jobs, UN jobs Brazil, Portuguese fluency, shock-responsive social protection, policy development, technical guidance, Rio Grande do Sul, Ministry of Social Development, 7 month contract, consultancy terms
