Job Vacancies at UNICEF

How can you make a difference?

• The Social Protection Specialist will be reporting to the Social Policy Manager who is at Level 4. In 2020, the UN in South Africa managed to obtain funding for accelerated development and implementation of the country’s social protection agenda. This is a cross-agency initiative and in the spirit of intra-UN cooperation, the designated post will service both UNICEF and UNWOMEN. The SDG Fund for Social Protection will initially fund this position, thus giving expression to our shared desire to collaborate to increase the impact of our work. The programme has an established platform within the UN and succeeded in putting together a broad coalition of relevant government and extra-government role-players in the social protection ecosystem.
• Under the general guidance of the supervisor, the incumbent is responsible for providing technical support to the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all stages of social protection programming 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; and (c) any accountability measures to increase public participation and the quality, equity and coverage of social services; (d) strategies for greater access to social security for women operating in the informal sector. 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, women in informality and HIV. 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Strengthening social protection coverage and impact for children
• Improving data on child poverty and vulnerability for increased use for policy and programme action
• Strengthened advocacy and partnerships for child-sensitive social policy
• Coordinate cross-agency activities in the SDG Fund for Social Protection 
• To qualify as a/an [champion or advocate] for every child you will have…

An advanced university degree (Master’s level) in one of the following fields is required: Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.
*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree. (This is optional)

• A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience is required. 
• Experience of working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset.
• Experience in navigating the social protection ecosystem in the country

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

UNICEF Competency Framework:

• 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)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2); Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Functional Competencies:

• Analyzing (3)
• Persuading & Influencing (2)
• Planning & Organizing (3)

 How to apply…

Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit their application to the following link: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=540373 by 14 June 2021