Consultancy for the Development of an Evidence-Based Policy Brief on Social Protection Gaps Affecting Older People

Job Description

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Consultancy for the Development of an Evidence-Based Policy Brief on Social Protection Gaps Affecting Older People

Background

Older people play an important role in families, communities, and society. However, many older people, particularly older women and older persons with disabilities, face significant challenges in accessing adequate social protection, income security, healthcare, and opportunities to participate in decisions that affect their lives. Gaps in social protection systems can increase older people's vulnerability to poverty, exclusion, dependency, and limited access to essential services. Despite the existence of policies and programs addressing social protection and the rights of older people, there is a need for stronger evidence on the lived experiences, priorities, and specific challenges faced by older people.

Ethiopian Women Development Organization (EWDO) seeks to engage a qualified consultant to develop an evidence-based policy brief on social protection gaps affecting older people. The assignment will generate evidence through consultations with older people, including older women and older persons with disabilities, and translate the findings into practical policy recommendations. The policy brief will serve as an advocacy and policy dialogue tool to support government institutions, policymakers, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen social protection measures and promote the rights and well-being of older people.

Purpose of the Consultancy

The overall purpose of the consultancy is to generate and synthesize evidence on social protection gaps affecting older people and develop evidence-based policy brief with practical recommendations for policy and program improvement.

Specific Objectives

• Identify key social protection gaps and challenges affecting older people, with particular attention to older women and older persons with disabilities
• Document the lived experiences, priorities, and perspectives of older people regarding
• Social protection coverage and access
• Income security and livelihoods
• Access to healthcare and essential services
• Social inclusion and participation
• Participation in household, community, and policy decision-making
• Review relevant policies, strategies, legislation, programs, and existing evidence related to social protection and the rights of older people.
• Analyze the gaps between existing policy commitments and the realities experienced by older people.
• Develop evidence-based and actionable policy recommendations for government institutions and other relevant policy actors and can be used for advocacy, policy dialogue, and stakeholder engagement.

Scope of Work

Desk Review

• National policies, strategies, laws, and frameworks related to social protection and older people's rights
• Social protection programs and initiatives
• Existing studies, reports, and research on ageing and social protection
• Relevant international and regional frameworks
• Evidence on the situation of older women and older persons with disabilities
• Development of Data Collection Tools
• Key informant interview guides
• Consultation questions for older people
• Other relevant data collection tools

The tools should ensure that the voices and experiences of older people are meaningfully captured and should be inclusive of gender, disability, and other relevant dimensions.

Consultation with Older People and Key Stakeholders

Conduct consultations with selected older people, including:

• Older women and men
• Older persons with disabilities
• Other groups of older people experiencing social protection vulnerabilities

The consultant will also consult relevant stakeholders, such as:

• Government institutions
• Social protection actors
• Health and social service providers
• Organizations of persons with disabilities
• Organizations working on ageing and older people's rights
• Other relevant policy and development actors

Data Analysis and Synthesis

Analyze the information collected from consultations and the desk review to identify:

• Major social protection gaps
• Barriers to accessing social protection
• Challenges related to income security
• Barriers to healthcare and essential services
• Gender- and disability-related inequalities
• Gaps in participation and representation
• Policy and implementation gaps
• Priority areas requiring policy attention

The analysis should clearly connect the evidence collected from older people with existing policies and institutional frameworks.

Policy Brief Development

Develop an evidence-based policy brief that clearly presents:

• The policy issue and its significance
• Background and context
• Key findings and evidence
• Experiences and priorities of older people
• Existing policy and implementation gaps
• Key conclusions
• Practical and evidence-based policy recommendations

Expected Deliverables

The selected consultant will be expected to deliver:

No. Deliverable Description

1 Inception Report Methodology, work plan, consultation approach, data collection tools, and proposed structure of the policy brief

2 Draft Policy Brief Comprehensive first draft incorporating evidence from consultations and desk review

3 Validation Presentation of key findings and recommendations for stakeholder feedback

4 Final Policy Brief Revised and finalized policy brief incorporating comments and recommendations from the validation process

Duration

The consultancy is expected to be completed within 30 working days from the date of contract signing. A detailed schedule will be agreed upon between the consultant and Ethiopian Women Development Organization.

Consultant Qualifications and Experience

Professional Experience

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in research, policy analysis, social protection, ageing, gender, disability, or related areas.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting qualitative research and consultations.
• Proven experience in developing policy briefs, policy papers, research reports, or similar evidence-based publications.
• Experience working with government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, or advocacy organizations is an advantage.
• Experience conducting research with older people, women, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable groups is highly desirable.

Required Application Documents

Interested consultants should submit:

Technical proposal, including:

• Understanding of the assignment
• Proposed methodology
• Data collection and consultation approach
• Proposed work plan and timeline

Financial proposal, including:

• Professional consultancy fees
• Any applicable data collection/fieldwork costs
• Other relevant costs, clearly itemized

Updated CV, highlighting relevant experience

• At least two samples of previous relevant work, preferably policy briefs, research reports, or policy analysis documents

Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:

Criteria Weight

• Relevant academic qualifications 10%
• Relevant professional experience 25%
• Understanding of the assignment and proposed methodology 25%
• Experience in policy research and policy brief development 20%
• Experience working on ageing, social protection, gender, or disability 10%
• Financial proposal 10%
• Total 100%

Application Submission

Interested applicants must submit the following:

• legally registered certification  and organizational profile 
• Technical proposal PDF format and stamped
• Financial proposal  PDF format and stamped

Please send applications to  ewdoorg0@gmail.com

Subject: Application – Consultant for Evidence-Based Policy Brief on Social Protection Gaps Affecting Older People

Application deadline: August 21, 2026