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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.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, hope, care and love

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The United Nations General Comment No. 19 emphasizes the obligations of States Parties with respect to Article 4 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child for inclusive, timely and sufficient resource mobilization and budget allocations to guarantee the rights of children and adolescents. Within UNICEF, Public Finance for Children (PF4C) outlines efforts to influence the transparency, adequacy and effectiveness of public investments in children. Thanks to this work, UNICEF can better influence the use of public policies and spending to reduce the equity gaps, addressing the needs of boys and girls, including the poorest and most marginalized. Key objectives of PF4C include, among others, understanding and monitoring levels of public investment in children at the national level, influencing public policy decisions on spending on social services for children versus other areas, and reducing investment disparities between different geographic areas and population groups. Additionally, within the work in the region, PF4C brings together sectoral and cross-sector initiatives to influence budgetary frameworks and public financial management processes for the benefit of children.

The Social Policy Unit in the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (LACRO) contributes to UNICEF’s strategic results on child poverty, social protection, public finance and local governance. This position will also routinely liaise with social policy officers, technical staff in other Programme sections, selected country offices (based on demand), as well as networking with subject experts externally. The post contributes to the specific GA5 Results to end child poverty through increased and enhanced financing to scale up child-sensitive inclusive social progammes.

While significant progress has been made in understanding the importance of public investment in children in the region, there is still room for improvement. It is crucial to continue making economic arguments that support interventions for children, preferably with national empirical evidence, to raise awareness within treasury and finance ministries about the priority that this population group represents, considering their unique needs and circumstances. When it comes to quantifying public budgets allocated for children, the results vary. While some countries have robust and regularly updated measurements, others have yet to undertake this task. In most cases, there is not enough information to determine, with a sufficient degree of confidence, the budgetary efforts in support of children and adolescents. Finally, even when national measurements are crucial, from a regional perspective, it is desirable to establish standards and tools that support comparable measurements, contributing to strengthening monitoring, to better understand the aggregate-level public investment efforts in childhood.

The Public Finance for Children agenda is currently being implemented in all LAC countries where UNICEF is working with governments, Parliaments, and civil society organizations to advance child rights through public finance in all contexts. This agenda includes the following key pillars:

1. Contributing to the fulfilment of child rights, in line with the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) – improving the nation’s investment in children.
2. Adequately leverage resources for child-related policies and programs (public/private/domestic  international financing flows).
3. Enhance spending efficiency and effectiveness, reduce leaks, through adoption of results-based budgeting and improving sector level Public Finance Management (PFM), including at sub-national level.
4. Promote equitable resource distribution, through finance systems, including on the expenditure side, with a focus on disadvantaged groups and areas.
5. Support subnational government as budget managers and in their role of responsibility in the delivery of social services – improving data, participation, planning and budgeting and delivery.

In particular, the Regional Office aims to assist countries in their endeavours to make the case for investing in children; generate evidence and advocate for equitable and inclusive social spending; strengthen capacities to improve public spending for children and contribute to resource mobilization.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the general guidance of the supervisor, the Regional Social Policy Advisor, and with a focus on sectoral aspects of public finance, the Social Policy Specialist (PF4C) supports country offices in their efforts to leverage greater, more effective, and equitable domestic public investments results in children, working with health, nutrition, education, child protection, WASH / Climate, and cross-sectoral areas. Provides technical, knowledge management and staff capacity development support, in close collaboration with colleagues to remove PFM-related bottlenecks and barriers to deliver at-scale, equitable and sustainable results for children. This post leads the technical support to sectors across all Goal areas and cross-sectoral areas (e.g., gender, inclusion, early childhood development, adolescents) on financing-related medium-term results. This post contributes to technical assistance and policy dialogue, advocacy and communication, evidence and knowledge management, innovation, and partnership changes strategies of public finance related results in Goal Area 5.

Under the guidance of the Regional Advisor, Social Policy LACRO, the Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance for Children) will be responsible for the following functions:

1. Technical guidance, technical assistance and capacity building on strategic, priority sector-focused public finance initiatives:

• Provide technical guidance, quality assurance  and inputs, including through select technical assistance missions, to UNICEF country offices on budget analysis and advocacy for investing in children. Focus is on integrating sector­ based efforts and social policy efforts aimed at influencing overall budget processes and actors to achieve UNICEF LACRO program results across the Goal Areas and cross-sectoral areas.
• In partnership with teams, develop new, and adapt existing, methodologies and tools to support equity-based public finance approaches within key child-focused sectors, sub-sectors or on integrated multi-sectoral issues, including health, nutrition, education, child protection, WASH, Climate, social protection, gender, inclusion, early childhood development, and adolescents. 
• Provide direct technical support to UNICEF country offices to apply sector based public finance tools and approaches to effectively diagnose and respond to sectoral public finance bottlenecks to service delivery, to support improved child-focused investments at country level.  
• Contribute to capacity development on PF4C and LG aspects, as requested.

2. Knowledge management and research:

• Create and foster knowledge management for sector-focused public finance tools and approaches including within the public finance Community of Practice or Global Technical Team; organize webinars based on demand to facilitate peer-based learning across sectors.
• Intelligence scanning on sector development financing and public finance management trends. Draft issues briefs on programmatic implications for investing in children.
• Work with partners on action research on strategic financing issues.
• Synthesize good practices and lessons learned in UNICEF’s LACRO sector public finance work and ongoing UNICEF programmatic activities and disseminate through UNICEF and partners’ knowledge platforms including conferences, webinars, technical blogs, and other relevant formats.
• Support research aimed at filling critical gaps in data and tools and disseminate through quality journal and other publications.

3. Partnerships, Communication and Resource Mobilization

• Build and support the development and strengthening of UNICEF’s LAC regional partnerships and strategic alliances on sector related public finance issues, including with UN and IFI partners, research institutes and think tanks related to public finance.
• Foster the role and voice of UNICEF as a leader on public finance for children through representation in global and regional fora and as a resource person to country high profile events where requested.
• Raise the profile of public finance issues in UNICEF LACRO global communication and advocacy initiatives, as well as in inputs to the communication products of the senior management where appropriate.
• Develop and keep updated regional advocacy messaging around priority sector-based public finance issues.
• Input to proposals, concept notes and building relationships with resource partners for UNICEF’s LACRO work on public finance.

Impact of Results

The strategic approach and effective achievement of the following results:

• Updated organizational capacity and knowledge on effective public finance interventions, in different sectors and in different contexts.
• Enhanced UNICEF’s contribution to regional knowledge on effective public finance for sectoral and multi-sectoral interventions.
• Increased visibility and recognition of UNICEF as a credible partner in helping government better mobilize and utilize public financial resources for realizing child rights in countries and in the region.

contributes to the scaling up of key programmes for children in multiple sectors in the LAC region, and to the Social Policy and Social Protection section’s ability to better guide and support UNICEF country offices in leveraging public financial resources for greater and more equitable results for children, including on inter-sectoral approaches and practices.

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, or another relevant technical field. 
• Work Experience: A minimum of eight years of relevant professional work experience is required in applications and advisory related to Public Finance and sector financing, preferably in the region, Technical working experience in macro-economic analysis, budget analysis, social sectors’ financing, costing and/or planning and budgeting processes, Ability to develop messages and promoting advocacy to influence policy dialogue on public finance related issues, Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, Multitasker, team player,  results-oriented professional that can work independently.  
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Spanish is required.  Knowledge of Portuguese or French is considered as an asset.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 

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 

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 female and man 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.