COVID-19 Emergency Income Support Project

The rapid spread and escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic have disrupted the local economy, livelihoods, and resulted in a deep impact of incomes of the formal and informal sector. As part of the economic relief response, the government of Maldives rolled out various support packages to retain employees and mitigate the income loss faced by workers in the market.

One of the key initiatives under this response was the COVID-19 Emergency Income Support Program implemented with assistance from the World Bank. This project will assist the GoM to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and build better social protection systems to improve responsiveness and resilience in the future. Under the first component of the project, (a) financing the COVID-19 Support Allowance, has been implemented by the MoED in partnership with NSPA. During the program, which was carried out in 2020, over 20,000 affected individuals has been supported through an allowance. Although it is a temporary program, the data collected on beneficiaries will provide a basis for further government support, activation and reinsertion activities over time, with the objective of ensuring both the immediate welfare of beneficiaries and the rapid recovery of the economy and employment. As part of the second component, (b) the World Bank is providing technical assistance (TA) to the government over a period of two years, to strengthen its social protection systems and programs with the objective of making the safety net more adaptive to future economic crises and disasters.

The objective of this assignment

With improved economic sentiment within the economy and the extensive coverage of vaccine administration, the GoM aims to gear the project activities to incorporate essential upskilling, training and outreach programs, and to create a pathway for affected workforce to reintegrate back into the market.

As part of these activities, the GoM aims to create a support program for the self-employed individuals who are impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The aim of the program is to support and sustain MSMEs through financial assistance, intending for a sustainable labor market to preserve the employments, that has been affected onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Key activities within this project will include:

• Identification of eligible applicants for the support grant program for the self-employed
• Undertake trainings program for the support of self-employed individuals seeking to participate in the program
• Providing mentoring and advice on business activities.

Scope of service, Required Expertise & Qualifications, and Remuneration

Please refer to the Terms of Reference

Contract Duration

This is a 1-year contract ending December 2023, with the possibility of extension with pipeline donor projects. Upon signing of the contract, 3 months shall be counted as the probationary period. The contract shall be renewed based on performance, need, and funding.

This contract is expected to commence in January 2023.

The Ministry of Economic Development now invites interested eligible individuals to submit their Expressions of Interest (EoI). Interested individuals must provide a cover letter, their CV with information demonstrating that they are qualified to perform the services (description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills, etc.), academic certificates, and relevant reference letters, covering the Key Qualifications listed in the Terms of Reference. 

 Deadline

The expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by regular mail, emails, no later than 1600 hrs Maldivian time on 18^th January 2023.

Note: The request for expressions of interest shall be read in conjunction with the TOR for the respective post.

Shuhad Ibrahim

Project Director

COVID-19 Emergency Income Support Project

Ministry of Economic Development

Boduthakurufaanu Magu, Malé, Maldives

Email:  [email protected]