Call for External Collaborator – Local Social Security and Formalization Coordination Consultant for Tripartite Group in Basra
I. Background and purpose:
In March 2023, Iraq ratified International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 102 on Minimum Standards of Social Security. Following this, in November 2023, the Government enacted Law No. 18 of 2023 on Retirement and Social Security for Workers. This new law replaces the former Retirement and Social Security Law No. 39 of 1971 and aims to provide comprehensive coverage for all workers, including those in the informal economy, the self-employed, and contributing family workers. These legislative developments mark a significant step towards increasing the formalization efforts in the country. Indeed, the expansion of social security will shed light on hidden labour relations and enable efforts to ensure better protection.
Basra Governorate represents the highest Labour Force participation rate in all Iraq (at 40.7% as per 2021 LFS). Understanding the specific needs and challenges faced by Basra’s labour force is crucial. Engaging in tripartite discussions is vital for the successful implementation of the new social security law, ensuring that the perspectives and requirements of Basra’s diverse workforce are effectively addressed.
In that line, the ILO is committed to providing technical support for reforming and developing Iraq’s social security system and enforcing relevant regulations, including the new law. This initiative is in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, workers’ and employers’ organizations, the Labour Committee and Civil Society Institutions within the Iraqi Parliament, with funding generously provided by the European Union in partnership with UNICEF and World Food Program.
As part of the project, in May 2024, the ILO conducted a one-day tripartite workshop in Basra Governorate, which included local government representatives, the Labour Committee in the Parliament, the Social Security Office in Basra, workers’ and employers’ organizations. The workshop aimed to facilitate social dialogue on the national implementation of the new social security law and highlighted proposed activities for 2023-2027. Discussions focused on implementation mechanisms, the commitments of local and national parties, challenges, strategies, and priorities for expanding coverage under the new law in Basra. The workshop concluded with an agreement to continue joint efforts between the Department of Pension and Social Security in Basra, workers’, and employers’ organizations to ensure the optimal application of the law.
II. Scope of work
Under the EU-funded project “Social Protection Programme for Iraq: Leveraging Effective Response and Accelerating Reform,” the International Labour Organization is seeking a Local Social Security Consultant in Basra to coordinate the work of the tripartite consultation group in the governorate.
The primary objective of the Local Social Security and Formalization Consultant is to facilitate the effective coordination and collaboration of the tripartite plus constituents in Basra Governorate, ensuring social dialogue among all stakeholders to successful facilitate and follow up on the expansion of social security coverage under the new Retirement and Social Security Law No. 18 of 2023, effective social security participation and progressive transition from the informal to the formal economy among workers and economic units.
This role focuses on strengthening coordination and information exchange between the Social Security Department, trade unions, employers’ organizations, and other relevant stakeholders. Key responsibilities include organizing meetings, workshops, and coordination events; identifying and addressing challenges in tripartite-plus discussions; overseeing the implementation of the new Law; facilitating the exchange, interpretation, and preliminary analysis of information and data; and monitoring progress to assess impact and support the extension of social security coverage to all workers in the governorate and progressive transition to formality.
III. Detailed tasks
The selected consultant will undertake the following activities:
1. Support in Tripartite coordination and Stakeholder Engagement:
• Facilitate and convene regular in-person tripartite or tripartite-plus meetings in Basra to support counterparts in developing a comprehensive framework for extending social security coverage and support formalization efforts in both governorates. This includes leading discussions among the Social Security Department, trade unions, and employers’ organizations to develop a joint action plan, ensuring that all stakeholders’ perspectives are considered.
• Coordinate closely with ILO tripartite constituents — government, workers’, and
employers’ organizations — as well as other relevant stakeholders in Basra to strengthen collaboration throughout the consultancy period. This coordination will contribute to the successful extension of social security coverage to workers in both the formal and informal economies, promoting more inclusive and comprehensive social protection.
• Support the establishment of sectoral or geographical sub-groups within the tripartite
framework, in collaboration with local counterparts, to further tailor the extension of social security coverage.
• Liaise with the National Social Protection Programme Officer, ensuring alignment with
project objectives and work plans.
• Support in establishing and maintaining partnerships with government entities, private sector actors, financial institutions, and local communities.
2. Field Implementation & Monitoring:
• Conduct periodic analyses of the socio-economic landscape in Basra and/or priority sectors to identify the governorate’s most prominent or emerging areas of activity with a potential for the extension of social security coverage, generation of decent (formal) jobs
and/or progressive formalization of workers and economic units. This will be done in collaboration with employers’ and workers’ organizations, as well as other relevant stakeholders, to inform outreach and social security coverage strategies.
• Support the implementation of the awareness-raising activities on the Social Security Law
in Basra, as part of a national campaign led by the ILO in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, workers’ and employers’ organizations, implemented by a local NGO.
• Facilitate the development and negotiations the tripartite group roadmap on the extension of social security coverage and formalization oversight. The consultant will support tripartite constituents along with the development and negotiation of roadmap for the Basra tripartite group on social security and formalization group. The roadmap will include a context analysis, a detailed workplan, a coordination strategy, and a schedule of periodic
meetings to monitor progress. It will also define key activities, indicators, and strategic objectives to guide and align the group’s efforts.
• Support in overseeing implementing partners’ activities in Basra, when relevant, tracking
progress against work plans, identifying operational bottlenecks, and providing strategic recommendations.
• Conducting data collection for different types of activities.
3. Operational & Logistical Support:
• Managing schedules and timelines for project activities, ensuring efficient resource allocation and adherence to deadlines.
• Coordinating logistical arrangements for field missions and stakeholder engagements in Basra.
• Follow up with event management providers under supervision of the ILO team
IV. Expected deliverables
The consultant will submit five (5) bi-monthly deliverables. Each deliverable must be submitted in English (and Arabic where relevant) and include evidence such as attendance lists, minutes, photos, and other supporting documentation to the satisfaction of ILO. Payments will be released after approval of each deliverable.
Deliverable Period
Deliverable 1: Tripartite Group Activation in Basra & Action Plan: – Convene and document regular tripartite or tripartite-plus meetings in Basra (minutes, attendance, photos).
– Support expansion of tripartite groups and outreach in Basra.
– Draft and submit a framework and detailed draft workplan for the tripartite groups including objectives, roles, activities, indicators, documentation mechanisms and priority sectors/areas. 10 Jan – 29 Feb 2026
Deliverable 2: Awareness & Outreach Implementation
– Support the awareness campaigns (field, media, universities, civil society) on the Social Security Law and its benefits.
– Provide tailored guidance to tripartite partners and collaborators on campaign roll-out.
– Begin mapping and coordination with potential CSO partners for future campaigns (including proposed target areas and modalities).
– Submit progress brief including updated sectoral outreach coverage. 1 Mar – 30 Apr 2026
Deliverable 3: Sectoral Analysis & Partnership Strategy
– Conduct and submit updated analysis of priority sectors in Basra, issuing short reports/working papers justifying selection.
– Develop and apply strategies to activate community partnerships (women’s associations, student unions, youth/professional groups) to reach vulnerable groups.
– Provide a mid-term progress note on expansion of social security enrolment and awareness. 1 May – 30 Jun 2026
Deliverable 4: Monitoring, Evaluation & Data Systems
– Develop and update a database with monitoring indicators (number of registrants, awareness levels, sectors covered, un- covered groups).
– Produce an interim evaluation report measuring progress in extending social security coverage and provide practical recommendations for next steps.
– Document lessons learned, challenges and coordination levels among parties. 1 Jul – 31 Aug 2026
Deliverable 5: Final Report & Roadmap for Next Steps
– Consolidated final report covering all activities (meetings, campaigns, sectoral analysis, partnerships).
– Lessons learned, challenges and actionable recommendations at governorate level.
– Updated roadmap and proposals for sustaining/expanding tripartite engagement. 1 Sep – 30 Sep 2026
The assignment will run from 10 Jan 2026 to 30 September 2026, covering approximately a total of up to 90 working days, with an average of 10 working days per month.
V. Reporting arrangements
The consultant will conduct the assignment under the overall supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor on Social Security and in close coordination with the National Social Protection Progamme Officer based in Baghdad.
VI. Detailed qualifications, experience and skills required
The consultant should meet the following qualifications and possess the necessary expertise:
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in law, economics, social sciences, or
a related field.
• Proven experience in project organization and management, with strong competencies in planning, coordination, and follow-up—particularly in facilitating multi-stakeholder committees or working groups related to social protection or labour initiatives.
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills, with the ability to lead inclusive dialogue and build consensus toward concrete outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience working with key national and local stakeholders, including the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), local government bodies, trade unions, employers’ organizations, and civil society actors.
• Experience in development programming, with sound knowledge of Iraq’s social security
system and recent reforms, particularly the Retirement and Social Security Law No. 18 of 2023.
• Good understanding of Basra Governorate’s economic and labour market context, including key sectors, workforce characteristics, informality, and levels of social security coverage. Familiarity with the roles and functions of trade unions, employers’ organizations, and social security institutions is an asset.
• Strong analytical and research skills, with the ability to deliver clear, concise, and well- structured reports and documentation.
• Fluency (excellent written and verbal communication skills) in Arabic (mandatory) and English (desirable).
• Experience from the local context is required, and existence on the ground is highly preferred.
VII. Indicators for evaluation of outputs
• Timely submission of deliverables according to the schedule.
• Quality and completeness of documentation (minutes, attendance, reports).
• Evidence of progress in tripartite coordination, awareness campaigns, sectoral analysis, and data systems.
• Clear, actionable recommendations for sustaining and expanding social security coverage.
VIII. Payment terms
1. Progress payments
2. Payment schedule and timeframe shall be based on the number of days
corresponding to each one of the deliverables quoted/ planned by each applicant.
3. The daily fee shall be established within the fee range corresponding to
the complexity of assignment and the external collaborator’s country of
residence, please refer to the table available on the announcement web.
4. If needed contract can be developed in local currency (IQD) considering the UN operations exchange rate .
The assignment will run from 10 January 2026 to 30 September 2026 (up to 90 working days, in average up to max. 10 days/month). Progress payments will be released according to the schedule below, subject to the satisfaction of ILO. as per the requirement and the payment plan determined by the ILO, and the submission of corresponding monthly reports confirming the working time.
Payment Percentage Deliverables Paid on
First Payment 20% Deliverable 1 (10 Jan – 29
Feb 2026):
Tripartite Group Activation in Basra & Action Plan:
– Convene and document regular tripartite or tripartite- plus meetings in Basra (minutes, attendance, photos).
– Support expansion of tripartite groups and outreach in Basra.
– Draft and submit a framework and detailed Within 30 days after the clearance of the deliverables received by ILO team (by no later than 31st of March 2026) draft workplan for the tripartite groups including objectives, roles, activities, indicators, documentation mechanisms and priority sectors/areas.
Second Payment 20% Deliverable 2 (1 Mar – 30
Apr 2026):
Awareness & Outreach Implementation
– Support the awareness campaigns (field, media, universities, civil society) on the Social Security Law and its benefits. Within 30 days after the clearance of the deliverables received by ILO team (by no later than 31st of May 2026)
– Provide tailored guidance to tripartite partners and collaborators on campaign roll-out.
– Begin mapping and coordination with potential CSO partners for future campaigns (including proposed target areas and modalities).
– Submit progress brief including updated
sectoral outreach
coverage.
Third Payment 20% Deliverable 3 (1 May – 30 Jun
2026):
Sectoral Analysis & Partnership Strategy
– Conduct and submit updated analysis of priority sectors in Basra, issuing short reports/working papers justifying selection. Within 30 days after the clearance of the deliverables received by ILO team (by no later than 31st of July 2026)
– Develop and apply strategies to activate community
partnerships (women’s associations, student unions, youth/professional groups) to reach vulnerable groups.
– Provide a mid-term progress note on expansion of social security enrolment and
awareness.
Fourth Payment 20% Deliverable 4 (1 Jul – 31 Aug
2026):
Monitoring, Evaluation & Data Systems
– Develop and update a database with monitoring indicators (number of registrants, awareness levels, sectors covered, un- covered groups). Within 30 days after the clearance of the deliverables received by ILO team (by no later than 30th of September 2026)
– Produce an interim evaluation report measuring progress in extending social security coverage and provide practical recommendations for next steps.
– Document lessons learned, challenges and coordination levels
among parties.
Final Payment 20% Deliverable 5 (1 Sep – 30 Sep
2026):
Final Report & Roadmap for Next Steps
– Consolidated final report covering all activities (meetings, campaigns, sectoral analysis, partnerships). Within 30 days after the clearance of the deliverables received by ILO team (by no later than 30th of October 2026)
– Lessons learned, challenges and actionable recommendations at governorate level.
– Updated roadmap and proposals for sustaining/expanding
tripartite engagement.
IX. Travel arrangements (if applicable)
– All transportation within Basra governorate is under the responsibility of the consultant and will not be compensated by ILO.
– If travel outside Basra governorate is required, transportation costs and Daily Substantial allowance will be compensated by the ILO subjected to UN rules and regulations.
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