ORGAN IZATIONAL CONTEXT FOR THE ROLE 0F POLICY ANALYST, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY SERVICES

The Social Security Board (SSB) is a statutory body whose mission is to provide a customer-centered and financially sustainable Social Security Program that provides lifetime coverage to its beneficiaries. Achieving this mission requires SSB to deliver a dynamic social insurance program that will provide a guaranteed level of protection: effectively, efficiently, inclusively.

The demand for SSB’s programs and services continues to increase, even more so amid national and global economic, socio-economic, and demographic changes and challenges. To thrive and continue to achieve its mission, SSB must institute effective socio-economic and demographic strategic policy interventions and reform measures and continuously engage in evidence-supported governance and decision-making.

The Policy, Research and Actuarial Services (PRAS) division is responsible for advancing social security reform and evidence-based policymaking and it is under this division that the Social and Economic Policy Services falls.

The Policy Analyst, Social and Economic Policy Services, assists SSB to be more dynamic and responsive to evolving needs of the public and the institution by examining specific policies and recommendations to evaluate their efficiency, suggest improvements and provide the roadmap to execution of key recommendations. (S)he scrutinizes policies to determine whether they align with the SSB’s current and future objectives as Belize’s premier social protection institution. The recommendations (s)he analyze are those found primarily in the SSB’s annual actuarial reports, whose impacts will affect the parameters of process, activity, and the sustainability of the institution to ultimately increase the number of and improve the lives of beneficiaries.

1. Actuarial Report Recommendations:
2. Familiarize oneself of the importance of actuarial valuations to the SSB.
3. Review short-, medium- and long-term recommendations identified in Annual Actuarial Performance Analysis of the Social Security Scheme with a view creating theories of change to:
   1. Identify the steps involved that would move recommendations to results. These include uncovering the resources (human, financial, technical etc.), activities (legislative, business process, scheme changes etc.) and timelines, in essence the outcomes that need to occur to achieve the outputs (recommendations).
   2. Monitor for progress and delays of deliverables to ensure the change process (from the recommendations) is adaptable the threats and/or opportunities that arises.

2.       Social and Economic Research & Monitoring:

1. Macro-level monitoring for changes in the social and economic demographics for Belize; to assess their impact on the continued feasibility, relevance, and sustainability of the SSB.
2. Report on developments in the legislative and regulatory spheres, of standards, practices and policies at the national, regional, and international levels that may impact on the continued feasibility, relevance, and sustainability of the SSB.
3. Prepare policy briefs for relevant
4. Conduct periodic impact assessments of relevant Social Security sections, schemes, and programs against the changes in the socio-economic environment, to offer predictive and prescriptive advice to relevant stakeholders.

3.       Employment, Labour and SSB Dynamics:

1. Micro-level research to anticipate the impact of (domestic) labour market developments and socio-economic changes on the effectiveness of the administered programs to provide adequate, sustained coverage and benefits to the
2. Provide periodic analysis and reports on (external) employment and labour dynamics, identifying emerging trends that may impact the operations of the SSB.

4.      Other activities in the Social and Economic Policy Services:

1. Liaise with other social protection counterparts, as necessary, for work towards Belize’s Social Protection floor.
2. Research any other socio-economic and political issues that can inform the development of SSB’s operations.
3. Draft documents while ensuring clarity, coherence, specificity, and alignment of SSB’s policies with other relevant organizational or government policies and regulations.
4. Participate, excel in, and apply the principles and lessons learnt from on-the-job
5. Communicate via a range of channels, including briefs, reports, and presentations to internal and external stakeholders, to share information regarding the work done by the RPD department.
6. Provide progress reports as required by the department’s
7. Work on ad hoc matters as they arise, in accordance with the responsibilities of the RPD, as set out under the PRAS Division.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

1. University degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree) in Economics, Public Policy, Social Protection, or other social science  related
2. Five (5) years’ collective experience in two or more of the following areas:
   1. Social sector, including social protection systems,
   2. Theory of Change,
   3. Policy review, design, and brief writing,
   4. Socio-economic policy planning,
   5. Demographic data collection, analysis, and monitoring,
   6. Project management.

Qualities which are considered assets(s):

1. Detail-oriented approach.
2. Strong sense of ethics.
3. Enthusiasm for collaboration.
4. Desire to learn new things.
5. Analytical and problem-solving mindset.

Functional and Technical Competency Requirements (Specialized Skills, Knowledge, Abilities and Expertise):

1. Organizational and time-management skills to effectively plan and prioritize work in line with SSB divisional and organizational needs and
2. Superior writing, proofreading, and editing
3. Skilled in preparing and delivering impactful in-person and online presentations to audiences at varying organizational levels, backgrounds, and
4. Ability to communicate concepts, practices, principles, ideas, information of economic and socio-economic importance in unambiguous and relatable terms and at the literacy level of the target
5. Ability to work with diverse teams; with a strong ability to contribute positively to a team environment.
6. Demonstrated knowledge of the Belizean, regional and global
7. Awareness of regional and international development challenges and their impact on the Belizean
8. Working knowledge and understanding of social security
9. Statistical knowledge with demonstrated skills in socio-economic, and political monitoring.

In fulfilling the key responsibilities and achieving the expected results of the role, the Policy Analyst:

1. Reports directly to the Manager, Social and Economic Policy Services.
2. Represents SSB at conferences and meetings, and other related
3. Remains current on developments, changes and trends in legislation, regulations, international standards, and research relevant to SSB and its programs and services; remains current on developments in the field of social protection, social security, and related
4. Embrace the vision and mission of SSB and work within SSB’s Accountability
5. Performs as an active member of the department, building and maintaining effective working relationships within and outside the PRAS