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Consultancy to Write a Policy Brief on Financing Gender-Transformative Social Protection in Asia

with Oxfam

BTDC-ID: 40903
Closing Date:

Expected Outputs

Consultancy to Write a Policy Brief on Financing Gender-Transformative Social Protection in Asia

Announcement Description

Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. Across regions, from the local to the global, we work with people to bring change that lasts.

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

Across much of Asia, fiscal systems continue to rely heavily on regressive consumption taxes while public revenues remain insufficient due to weak progressive taxation, generous tax incentives, illicit financial flows, and corporate tax avoidance. At the same time, rising public debt and fiscal consolidation measures have constrained investments in health, education, care services, and social protection. These policy choices disproportionately affect women, who absorb the consequences through increased unpaid care responsibilities, insecure informal employment, and reduced access to essential public services.

While there is a growing body of literature on social protection financing, taxation, care economies, and gender-responsive budgeting, these issues are often examined in isolation. Existing publications largely focus on the technical aspects of financing social protection or tax systems, with limited attention to how fiscal policy, feminist economics, unpaid care work, informal employment, debt, and climate resilience intersect.

This policy brief seeks to fill that gap by reframing social protection as a question of political and fiscal choice rather than fiscal scarcity. It will be organised around three central questions:

  • Where does the money come from?
  • Who pays?
  • Who benefits?

The publication will demonstrate how taxation, public spending, debt management, and budgeting directly influence gender equality and the realization of economic and social rights. It will also position social protection as a productive public investment that strengthens economies, supports care systems, builds climate resilience, and advances gender justice.

Expected Outputs

Consultancy to Write a Policy Brief on Financing Gender-Transformative Social Protection in Asia

  • Career Category: Consultancies
  • Location: Phnom Penh
Summary

Start date: 1st September 2026

Assignment location: Remote, home-based

SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will be responsible for researching, drafting, and finalizing a 20-page regional policy brief that analyses how fiscal policy shapes social protection financing in Asia and proposes feminist solutions for creating fiscal space to finance universal and gender-transformative social protection systems.

The assignment will include a comprehensive literature review, policy analysis, consultation with AFC member organizations, incorporation of regional case studies, and development of actionable policy recommendations.

Specific tasks related to this scope of work are outlined as follows:

  • Conduct a desk review of regional and global literature on social protection financing, fiscal policy, feminist economics, care systems, taxation, debt, gender-responsive budgeting, and fiscal justice.
  • Review policy experiences, evidence, and country-level analysis from AFC member organizations across 11 Asian countries, incorporating relevant case studies and examples.
  • Develop a policy brief that:
  • Examines the fiscal choices that shape social protection financing across Asia.
  • Analyses the gendered impacts of taxation, debt, austerity, and public expenditure.
  • Demonstrates why financing care is central to sustainable and inclusive social protection.
  • Highlights how climate change and economic crises reinforce the need for stronger public financing.
  • Identifies feminist policy solutions to expand fiscal space for universal and gender-responsive social protection.
  • Consult with AFC members to ensure that their evidence, advocacy experiences, and recommendations are reflected throughout the publication.
  • Revise the draft based on feedback received from Oxfam in Asia, AFC members, and submit a publication-ready final version.

Eligibility

  • Essential Criteria
  • The research team is comprised of members with advanced university degree in Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, Gender Studies, Political Economy, Social Policy, International Development, or a related field.
  • Demonstrated experience conducting policy research and producing high-quality publications on social protection, public finance, fiscal policy, taxation, gender equality, feminist economics, or related areas.
  • Strong understanding of feminist political economy, fiscal justice, gender-responsive budgeting, and social protection systems in Asia.
  • Proven experience developing policy briefs, research reports, or advocacy publications for international NGOs, research institutions, UN agencies, or development organizations.
  • Experience working with civil society organizations, feminist movements, or regional networks in Asia.
  • Excellent analytical, research, and writing skills, with the ability to communicate complex policy issues in a clear and accessible manner.
  • Demonstrated ability to synthesize evidence from multiple countries and develop actionable policy recommendations.
  • Excellent command of written and spoken English.
  • Desired Criteria
  • Familiarity with the political economy and fiscal policy landscape across Asia.
  • Experience facilitating consultations or participatory research processes with diverse stakeholders.
  • Knowledge of issues related to unpaid care work, climate justice, labour rights, or gender-responsive public finance.
  • Previous experience working with Oxfam, the Asia Feminist Coalition, or other feminist or rights-based organizations is an advantage.
  • Experience developing advocacy products intended to influence government, regional institutions, and development partners.

Submission Requirements

Interested candidates are invited to submit:

  1. A technical proposal describing how the research will be conducted
  2. Financial offer
  3. CV (s)
  4. A written example of a policy brief developed

Deadline 20th August 2026

Application to be submitted to: the link

Any questions, remarks, or requests for clarification can be sent to Myrah Nerine email before the submission deadline in writing.

*** To access the full version of the ToR, please click on the link

Attachment:
  • ToR_Policy Brief_Financing Social Protection in Asia
 

Contact Details

Office Address
  • No 113C, Mao Tse Tung Blvd., Sangkat Boeng Keng Kang Ti Muoy, Khan Boeng Keng Kang, Phnom Penh, Cambodia