Senior Consultant - Demographic and Social Protection Technical Lead

Senior Consultant - Demographic and Social Protection Technical Lead

We are seeking an experienced Senior Demographic and Social Protection Technical Lead to support a technical assistance assignment in Chad.

The assignment aims to strengthen the use of demographic and social protection evidence to inform practical policy choices that contribute to human capital development, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), demographic transition, and demographic dividend outcomes in Chad.

About Palladium: Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.

Location: Chad (consultant must be locally based and demonstrate a strong understanding of Chad's operating environment, institutions, and development context).

Engagement type: Individual consultant assignments only. Applications from consulting firms, consortiums, consortium members, or other organizations will not be considered.

The Senior Demographic and Social Protection Lead is being recruited and contracted for the first phase of the assignment. The contract may be extended to the second, conditional phase.

Phase 1: Senior Demographic and Social Protection Technical Lead

Phase 1 will determine whether and how demographic and social protection evidence can be used to inform practical policy and programme decisions that improve human capital, SRHR, and demographic outcomes in Chad. Specifically, the assignment will establish the foundations for a possible second phase of support by identifying priority policy questions, assessing stakeholder demand and institutional ownership, evaluating data availability and quality, and ensuring alignment with existing initiatives such as SWEDD+.

Key questions to be answered include:

• (1) Which policy, planning, budgeting, investment, or programme decisions could realistically be strengthened through better use of demographic and social protection data?
• (2) Which institutions should lead, use, and act upon this evidence, and what ownership arrangements are most likely to support sustained uptake?
• (3) What roles do government and development partners currently play, and where are there opportunities for stronger coordination?
• (4) What demographic and social protection data are available and accessible for a possible second phase, including progress against the current census?

Through stakeholder consultations/key informant interviews and document review, the consultant will develop a diagnostic report and co-design a government-owned Terms of Reference for a potential second phase of support.

Key responsibilities

The consultant will be expected to:

• Provide senior technical and strategic leadership for the assignment.

• Lead engagement with relevant government institutions, development partners, and other key stakeholders.

• Assess the policy and institutional landscape relevant to demography, social protection, human capital, SRHR and demographic transition.

• Identify key opportunities, constraints and considerations that should inform subsequent technical assistance.

• Assess the feasibility and relevance of available demographic and related evidence.

• Lead preparation of the main Phase 1 outputs and recommendations for a potential second phase

• Key deliverables The assignment is expected to produce:

• A Phase 1 Diagnostic Report; and

• A proposed scope Terms of Reference for Phase 2.

• Required experience and qualifications We are seeking a senior consultant with:

• Advanced expertise in demography, social protection, public policy or a closely related field.

• Strong understanding of the links between social protection, SRHR, human capital development, demographic transition and demographic dividend.

• Strong knowledge of Chad's policy, planning, social protection, health, population and development landscape.

• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder, institutional and political economy analysis supporting policy reform, programme design or investment decisions.

• Strong professional networks and established working relationships with relevant government institutions, development partners, research organisations or implementing organisations in Chad.

• Experience working with institutions and partners such as INSEED, MFBEP, MSP, MASAH, UNFPA, the World Bank and/or SWEDD+ is highly desirable.

• Proven experience facilitating senior-level government and development-partner consultations and supporting institutional ownership.

• Native-level written and spoken French and professional proficiency in English.