Social Policy Specialist

Job Title: Social Policy Specialist

Organization: UNICEF

Job no: 566653
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Duty Station: Lusaka
Level: NO-3
Location: Zambia
Categories: Social Policy

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Equity and Inclusion

UNICEF Zambia is a medium-sized Country Office, with just over 100 staff. The Country Programme 2023-2027 promotes the rights of every child and reaches the most disadvantaged children in Zambia. UNICEF works with the Government of the Republic of Zambia to improve social policies and systems, and on the ground to make sure that these systems reach all children, with a particular emphasis on the most vulnerable.

The UNICEF Programme of Cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) is designed to address and mitigate the threat of poverty the country's children face while responding to the needs with interventions addressing the multiple causative factors.

To find out more about UNICEF's work in Zambia, please visit https://www.unicef.org/zambia/.

How can you make a difference?

The successful candidate will be responsible for providing technical support to the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all stages of social policy programing and related advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results. This includes programmes aimed at improving (a) public policies to reduce child poverty; (b) social protection coverage and impact on children; (c) the transparency, adequacy, equity and efficiency of child-focused public investments and financial management; and (d) governance, decentralization and accountability measures to increase public participation and the quality, equity and coverage of social services. This encompasses both direct programme work with government and civil society partners as well as linkages and support to teams working on education, health, child protection, water and sanitation, and HIV.

In the Zambia country office Social Policy section, the incumbent of the post will lead the public financial management result area and manage the grants and staff under this output.

Key function, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks

• Improving data on child poverty & vulnerability for increased use for policy and programme action
• Strengthening social protection coverage and impact for children
• Improving use of public financial resources for children
• Strengthening capacity of local governments to plan, budget, consult on and monitor child-focused social services.
• Strengthened advocacy and partnerships for child-sensitive social policy
• UNICEF Programme Management

The detailed Job Description can be viewed by clicking on this link:  23221 Social Policy Specialist Level NO3 .pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.  

Experience

• A minimum of five years of professional work experience in a social policy-related field (public financial management, social protection, data and evidence, research, decentralisation) in government, non-governmental, international, civil society, academic or private sector institutions/organisations is required.  

Experience in programme management-related responsibilities such as project management, grant management, and supervision of technical staff is an asset.

• Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset.
• Background and/or familiarity with emergency is considered as a strong asset.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for personnel with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates living with a disability are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Advertised: 16 Oct 2023 South Africa Standard Time
Deadline: 06 Nov 2023 South Africa Standard Time

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