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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

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Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, commitment.

The East Asia and Pacific Regional Office Social Policy section prioritises the analysis of EAPR public financial management systems in order to identify programming opportunities for UNICEF and partners. It also supports the impact evaluation of child sensitive social protection programmes and assesses the adequacy of cash transfer programmes to respond to emergencies. The section supports income consumption as well as multidimensional poverty analyses and vulnerability assessments and provides advice on the implication for child rights and equity.

How can you make a difference? 

The Regional Adviser, Social Policy reports to the Deputy Regional Director for general guidance and direction. The Adviser serves as an authoritative adviser to the Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director, the Regional Management Team, Country Offices and Government institutions/officials on strategies, policies, approaches, best practices and knowledge on social policy.

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, and (e) development and promotion of a research agenda, as well as mapping of relevant academic and think tanks across the region. This encompasses both direct programme work with government and civil society partners as well as linkages and support to other Programme teams.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description  Regional Adviser Social Policy Level 5 GJP.pdf

Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks

1. Regional advisory services and technical support on strategic planning/discussion

• Advise key national government officials, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners on policies, strategies, approaches and best practices on social policies and related issues, to support programme development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Participate in regional/country programme planning, preparation and review to provide advice on formulation, design, management, enhancement and communication of social policy programmes including setting priorities and results-based management goals.
• Participate in key regional events and strategic discussions to influence policy discussions and agenda setting on social policy related issues.
• Develop and recommend regional programme policies, strategies and approaches. Lead and organize regional strategic discussions and planning on social policy and related programming issues.

2. Support to country offices on programme development and planning

• Collaborate with Regional Management/Country Office teams throughout all stages of social policy programming to provide technical support to programme preparation, implementation and monitoring for results.
• Provide policy guidance and technical support to national external partners and internal colleagues to develop national policies and strategies for UNICEF-assisted programmes.
• Contribute to the planning and updating of the situation analysis to ensure that current and comprehensive data on social policy issues is available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy advocacy, intervention and development efforts on child rights and protection.
• Manages and coordinates technical support around child poverty, social protection, public finance and governance, ensuring it is well planned, monitored, and implemented in a timely fashion so as to adequately support scale-up and delivery. Ensures risk analysis and risk mitigation are embedded into overall management of the support, in close consultation with UNICEF programme sections, Cooperating Partners, and governments.
• Keep abreast of national/regional/international development priorities on social policy to leverage UNICEF’s position and competencies with donors, national governments, communities and constituents to advocate and promote social protection interventions and policies.
• Provide technical advice to facilitate the preparation of the Country Office social policy programme recommendations and to ensure alignment of programmes goals with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans.
• Consult and collaborate with national/global colleagues/partners/allies to develop a partnerships framework to address specific needs and to leverage resources for enhancing and scaling up social policy programmes/projects. Evaluate/facilitate synergy, integration, coherence, and harmonization of programmes and projects with UNICEF Strategic Plans and priorities, donors’ development strategies/policies, national priorities/competencies and UN System development interventions/initiatives.

3. Regional programme monitoring and assessment

• Ensures effective and efficient monitoring and evaluation of different country programmes within the region. Ensures that the social planning projects enhance policy dialogue, planning, supervision, technical advice, management, training, research and support; and that the monitoring and evaluation component strengthens monitoring and evaluation of the social sectors and provides support to sectoral and decentralized information systems.
• Collaborate with HQ Advisers, Regional/Country Monitoring and Evaluation Advisers/Officers to establish benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results on social policy programmes.
• Participate in major monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sector reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine and to provide advice on required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Assess CO’s monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in programme management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Submit and share assessments on social policy programming in country offices, highlighting critical issues and suggestions for enhancing performance and delivery of sustainable results.

4. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Establishes effective partnerships with the Government, bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs, civil society and local leaders, the private sector, and other UN agencies to support sustained and proactive commitment to the Convention of the Rights of the Child and to achieve global UN agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Collaborate with and advise country offices in the region to develop strategies and implementation plans and activities for maximum communication impact and outreach to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support resource mobilization for UNICEF and Country Office social policy programmes and projects.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF (as delegated/designated) in key events/meetings and in inter-agency (Regional Collaborative Platforms and Issue-based Coalitions) discussions and planning on social policy and related issues to ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are clearly articulated and fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting. Collaborate with regional inter-agency partners/colleagues UNDAF planning and preparation of related programmes and projects.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Promote critical thinking and introduce technological and programme innovations, approaches and good practices in the region for sustainable social policy programmes/projects initiatives through advocacy and technical advisory services.
• Promote partnerships in thought leadership and research by developing a roster of leading academic institutions and think tanks based in the region.

• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, introduce and implement best and cutting edge practices in the region’s social policy programme management and information systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Identify, assess, vet and disseminate a roster of qualified experts and highly recognized institutions for easy access and use by stakeholders

• Lead and develop policies and procedures; and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.

• Lead, plan and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results on social policy programming, advocacy and technical support

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

Minimum requirements:

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.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of ten years of relevant professional experience is required.
• Experience in analyzing, developing, and implementing social policies with government agencies, inter-governmental bodies, non-profits, international organizations and academic institutions.
• Proficiency in various research methodologies to gather and analyze data relevant to social policies. 
• 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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.