UNICEF works in almost all countries, including some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children - to help save the lives of children, ensure development to their full potential and fulfil their rights. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up on children and their families.

For every child, dedication

The world has some 330 million children living in poverty. Millions more face additional deprivations related to access to the basics of life. Several are threatened by cycles of shocks, including those related to climate, conflicts and macroeconomic instability. Addressing the multiple and compounding deprivations children experience requires understanding the underlying drivers as well the effectiveness of policies and strategies to address them. Reducing child and household poverty and increasing access to social protection are core elements of SDG 1 (Elimination of Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) to ensure that no child is left behind. In addition, achieving the remaining child-related SDGs is necessary for ensuring the full rights of children to an adequate standard.

UNICEF has articulated its Social Policy priorities towards the SDGs in its Social Protection Strategic Framework, the Inclusive Recovery Roadmap and the Financing for Children Framework, the Urban Evaluation, the social protection commitment to the Core Commitments on Children (CCCs), and in Impact Result 3 of the Strategic Plan 2026–2029 on reducing number of children in multi-dimensional poverty by 100m.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF’s Chief Economist & Director of Social Policy provides global vision, technical guidance, and strategic leadership in support of UNICEF’s Strategic Plan and the SDGs. This role enhances UNICEF’s position as a global leader for children ensuring evidence-based advocacy, economic and policy advice, and analytical, programmatic, and operational leadership across all country contexts, including humanitarian and fragile settings.

The Chief Economist & Director of Social Policy leads and promotes global strategic partnerships and coalitions with International Financial Institutions and other relevant international organizations, inter-governmental forums, and notable platforms for public, private, and civil society stakeholders, all to advance the wellbeing of children. The role also provides technical leadership to strongly influence global public and private finance for children, enhancing UNICEF’s positioning in social policy and economic development. This position leads UNICEF role in social protection for children, helping to close coverage and adequacy gaps, including in fragile and humanitarian contexts. The role leads the Center of Excellence in Panama with satellite teams in Nairobi, Amman, Bangkok and in New York and  coordinates technical guidance and support to UNICEF country and regional offices and headquarters divisions in economic analysis, use of policy approaches to scale up investments in children and reduction of poverty among children. Additionally, the role is responsible for talent management for the social policy network within the organization, serves as the key advisor to UNICEF senior management on economic and social policy and social protection, and represents UNICEF in strategic high-level technical and decision-making forums, as well as strategic engagement with critical partners.

The key functional accountabilities of the Chief Economist & Director of Social Policy include:

1. Vision and Strategy:

• Shape and develop strategies to achieve the UNICEF Strategic Plan Target 2026-2029 across all five impact results, with particular emphasis on Impact Result 3 by contributing to 100 million fewer children in multi-dimensional poverty.
• Lead a rejuvenation of policy approaches to enhancing investment, scale and impact for children within UNICEF and with partners
• Lead strategy processes to strengthen UNICEF’s engagement at the macro policy level towards greater prioritization of drivers of child wellbeing by governments and international partners.
• Lead the development and coordination of High Level Target 3 of UNICEF’s Strategic Plan on reducing multi-dimensional poverty among children, integrating economic and social development principles to maximize impact, scale and sustainability.
• Lead development and coordinate UNICEF’s strategic vision for Social Policy , integrating critical components of child poverty, financing for children, social protection systems, cash assistance in humanitarian situations, and local governance.
• Provide oversight to the  Livelihoods pillar of the Center of Excellence on Child Poverty, in coordination with the Director of Generation Unlimited, enhancing the positioning and strategic programmatic direction of the livelihoods agenda for young people.
• Provide oversight to the humanitarian cash transfer team in GPD in collaboration with the Division of Administrative and Financial Management (DFAM) and the Emergency Operations Division (EMOPS).
• Develop strategies to support the organization’s current and future needs in economic analysis and policy approaches to achieving impact and scale for essential services for children.
• Integrate cross-sectoral priorities and economic principles in the social policy and social protection function, creating effective links with other programme areas in UNICEF, and engage across divisions to maximize technical and advocacy support to regions and countries.

2. Management of People and Resources:

• Provide leadership and direction by effectively managing human, financial and material resources in the Center of Excellence in Panama and the Global Social Policy Practice.
• Ensure accountability and fiduciary integrity in the budget execution of the Center of Excellence in Panama and the Global Social Policy Practice when leading divisional budget preparation exercises.
• Create a unified culture to achieve common divisional goals and objectives by motivating, coaching and supporting staff of the team.
• Develop strategies for workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, learning and career management of staff.
• Manage staff performance and development through regular feedback, mentoring and career planning.

3. Representation and Networking:

• Lead in convening the global social policy community to create knowledge and thought pieces, and engage with knowledge networks, including the policy research and analysis communities in the public and private sectors, United Nations agencies, academia and think tanks; leverage UNICEF’s convening power to increase outreach of cutting edge policy research and analysis; and provide thought leadership to the global community of development practitioners on policy solutions that have a proven impact on children.  
• Develop and capitalize on new and emerging opportunities for resource mobilization, especially innovative financing and partnership. 

4. Policy Development and Technical Leadership:

• Ensure that Social Policy priorities, including child poverty, social protection, financing for children, local governance, and the livelihoods agenda remain critical priorities for UNICEF, at the global, regional and country levels, as well as with critical partnerships.
• Provide leadership and technical support to all parts of the organization towards enhanced economic and social policy analysis of issues affecting child wellbeing globally as well as in specific contexts of vulnerability, including those experiencing macroeconomic instability, fiscal stress, high debt burden, inadequacy and ineffectiveness of budgets for child-related sectors.
• Through the Centers of Excellence, lead the provision high quality technical assistance support for child poverty reduction to countries in various contexts including in policy reform and programme design, at-scale financing of social services, workforce development and institution building, quality and timely humanitarian cash assistance, digital enhancements in service delivery, integration with cross-cutting imperatives such as gender equality and leaving no child behind, and  routine programme management support to UNICEF Country Offices.
• Advise senior management of UNICEF on policy choices, regulations and institutions that enable scale and impact for children.  
• Advise senior management of UNICEF on enhancing partnerships within the world of global finance in support an accelerated agenda for children in various country contexts.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Qualifications

• An advanced university degree from an accredited institution in economics or a related field is required. A doctorate degree is an advantage. A first level university degree may be exceptionally considered with two years of additional work experience. 

• A minimum of 15 years of relevant professional experience with demonstrated intellectual and managerial leadership in an international organization or corporation is required.
• Substantive experience in economic and social policy analysis, advocacy and technical assistance at both national and international levels, demonstrated through active engagement in global policy dialogues on economic and social development and/or a portfolio of publications in leading economic and social policy journals. Experience in social protection is an asset.
• Excellent knowledge of and familiarity with key issues in international development policy, economic and social policy, and knowledge management, as applicable to child rights. Peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals is an asset.
• Demonstrate ability to link research with policy, and policy with financing and institutions, towards at-scale impact for children, and engagement in policy debates and publications concerning child focused economic and social development.
• Excellent analytical, writing, public speaking, and advocacy skills in social and economic policy fields, with the ability to communicate complex economic and social policy concepts to non-specialist audiences and effectively influence stakeholders through rigorous analytical work. 
• Proven competence in managing teams dedicated to technical support and analysis. 
• Demonstrated familiarity in applying human rights-based approaches in development contexts.
• Fluency in English (required). Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

Personal Profile

• Recognized management skills in a multicultural setting, and the ability to achieve results by motivating people and influencing partners.
• Excellent leadership, managerial and people skills, with particular strengths in supporting, nurturing, motivating and engaging diverse teams and influencing partners.
• Recognized in development or international economics, and social policy fields.
• Results-oriented decision-maker with an aptitude to address operational challenges and for developing practical solutions.
• Innovator with risk management ability and a proven track record as a successful agent of change.
• Rigorous analytical and conceptual thinker.
• High sense of integrity, trust and confidence.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, including the ability to set out a coherent analysis in presentations.
• Strong diplomatic and communication skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships with clients and counterparts at the appropriate levels.
• Ability to represent UNICEF in international forums.

For every child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

Competencies

• Builds and maintains partnerships (level III)
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (level III)
• Drive to achieve results for impact (level III)
• Innovates and embraces change (level III)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (level III)
• Thinks and acts strategically (level III)
• Works collaboratively with others (level III)
• Nurtures, leads and manages people (level III)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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. 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.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Remarks:

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 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.

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. 

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.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

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

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.

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.