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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.

For more information about our programme, please visit our website:www.unicef.org/esaro/

How can you make a difference?? 

Summary of results-based key functions/accountabilities:

1. Advisory services and technical support for impact
2. Knowledge generation and management for change
3. Capacity Building
4. Communication, Networking and Partnership

1- Advisory services and technical support

Result: Regional and Country Offices expand, lead and deliver high quality standard programmes in the area of social protection due to strong technical leadership, oversight and guidance that leads to concrete change for children

- Provide technical leadership for the scaling up of UNICEF's social protection work in the region in line with the strategic direction of the regional Social Policy programme (which this post shapes). Provide specific technical support, quality assurance and oversight to assure high quality in all aspects of social protection work conducted by Country Offices and the Regional Office in Eastern and Southern Africa.

• Lead the region’s technical agenda – such as through analysis, publication, and overall knowledge use – on social protection that results in improved programming and expanded coverage of social protection.

2- Knowledge generation and management

Result: Up-to-date technical expertise is developed, expanded, and disseminated throughout the Organization, and shared with regional/national institutions/partners, in order to contribute to strategic advocacy for change.

- Serve as regional focal point of technical expertise in the area of social protection. Monitor developments in the technical area, as well as political and social developments, at the national and regional levels. Contribute to the regional Social Policy knowledge management by analyzing, interpreting and disseminating available data, information, and trends to inform the strengthening and expansion of social protection in the region.  Expertise needed relates to the full spectrum of social protection work, from the political to the operational.

- Build and maintain regional analysis based on priorities as well as a database with key indicators as necessary, related to social protection.

3- Capacity Building

Result: Country Offices, Regional Office staff and national partners lead social protecton programme development, implementation and management processes due to continual, effective capacity building.

- Provide technical inputs for capacity development efforts of UNICEF staff in country offices and, upon Country Offices' request, of their partners, in social protection. Provide technical guidance on the design, content and delivery of staff training courses or workshop in the area of social protection. Leverage knowledge and advocacy opportunities to build awareness, interest and commitment to social protection.

4- Communication, Networking and Partnership

Result: Effective communication, partnerships, representation and networking are forged to develop harmonized programme interventions and expand programmes and networks

- Enhance UNICEF’s regional technical leadership role by forging internal and external partnerships in the development of harmonized programme interventions, through representation in regional fora with partners and stakeholders.

- Develop innovative strategies for advocacy across the region for greater and more effective investments in social protection. 

- Build strategic alliances with various international and regional partners, civil society, and academic partners, active in the area of social protection. Bring Africa voices into UNICEF advocacy plans and localize technical support. Leverage donor interests and influence.

- Share, promote, and create learning on social protection across the region, with other regions, HQ and externally to showcase genuine, sustained impact for children at scale.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced university degree in Economics, Public Administration, Social Policy, or Social Protection is preferred, though all other social and economic policy areas are considered.
• Work Experience: Minimum of eight years of progressive, professional work experience in social protection in the applied, national and international development settings.

Hands-on experience and proven results in using social protection evidence to concretely generate change at the national level is required.

Experience in operational programme design, policy drafting, system strengthening, financing analysis, policy advocacy, links to other sectors, and capacity-building are all an asset.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English required, another UN 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 

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. AtIn 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.

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.