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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, the right to a Voice

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the respective supervisors, the Social Policy Officer provides technical support and assistance in all stages of social policy programming and advocacy, from strategic planning and programme design to implementation, monitoring, evaluation and delivery of sustainable results. The incumbent contributes to strengthening social protection systems and improving outcomes for vulnerable children and families through evidence generation, policy engagement, programme management and partnership development.

Key Responsibilities

The selected candidates will contribute to:

• Strengthening evidence generation and use of data on child poverty and vulnerability for policy and programme action.
• Supporting the development and implementation of child-sensitive social protection policies and programmes.
• Enhancing the effectiveness and equity of public financing for children.
• Supporting local government capacity strengthening for planning, budgeting, monitoring and accountability.
• Building and maintaining partnerships with government, development partners, civil society and other stakeholders
• Supporting programme management, monitoring, reporting and risk-informed implementation.

Additional Functional Focus

Position 1: Social Policy Officer (Cash Transfers), Oromia Field Office

• Support implementation, monitoring, verification and risk assurance of developmental and humanitarian cash transfer programmes.
• Coordinate with regional government counterparts and sectoral programmes to strengthen integrated social protection responses.

Position 2: Social Policy Officer (Systems Strengthening), Addis Ababa

• Support strengthening government social protection systems at federal, regional and sub-regional levels.
• Contribute to improvements in data management, risk management, shock-responsive systems, beneficiary verification (KYC), payment reconciliation systems and accessibility initiatives.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  GJP-Social Policy Officer Level 2 (1).pdf

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

Minimum requirements

• Education: Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Economics, Social Science, Political Science, Public Policy, International Relations, Social Policy and any other related fields is required.
• Work Experience: At least 2 years of relevant work experience in Social Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation, International Development, Social Protection, Public Finance, Child Poverty, Policy Analysis, Data Analysis, Governance, Decentralization and any other related fields is required.
• Skills: Demonstrated skills in policy analysis, public policy, public administration, governance, monitoring and evaluation, and data analysis, with the ability to assess complex issues, generate evidence-based insights, and support informed decision-making are required. Strong experience in budgeting, advocacy, programme management, and stakeholder engagement, including effective resource management, partnership building, and the successful delivery of programme objectives are also required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Experience working in developing country contexts and emergency response settings, with knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), donor coordination mechanisms, and proficiency in UN and local languages are desired.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts 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…

(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 promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable.

Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks. 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 are conditional on the selected candidates' willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female applicants are highly 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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.