National Consultancy, Social Policy Consultant (full-time), UNICEF Colombo, 4 months (to provide support particularly social protection)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

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.

For every child, h****ow can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the supervisor, the Social Policy Consultant will provide technical and managerial support and assistance in all stages of social protection programming and related advocacy, from generating evidence, strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results. This includes programmes aimed at improving (a) public policies to reduce child poverty and vulnerability; (b) social protection coverage and impact on children, including during the emergency response; and (c) governance, decentralization and accountability measures to increase the coverage, equity and quality, of social services. This encompasses both direct programme work with government, other UN agencies and civil society partners as well as linkages and support to teams working on nutrition, education, health, child protection, water and sanitation, and DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction).

Activities and Tasks:

• Support the section in managing a nutrition-sensitive cash transfer programme, including providing support to the design and delivery of the programme, overall coordination, data management and other tasks as required;
• Support the section in its engagement in development of social protection policies, legislation and programmes with attention to increasing coverage of and impact on children. Help identify, generate and present evidence to support this goal in collaboration with partners;
• Support strengthening of the social protection system, promoting capacity building and providing technical support to partners to improve the design of social protection programmes and improve linkages with other social protection interventions as well as complementary services and interventions related to nutrition, health, education, water and sanitation, child protection and DRR;
• Support coordination between UN agencies on social protection (through the UN Social Protection Results Group), and the monitoring and research around social protection impact on child outcomes;
• Support the identification of policy options for improved domestic financing of child-sensitive social protection interventions;
• Assist the section in its collaboration with the central and local authorities to strengthen capacity on analysis for policy development, planning, implementation of essential social services, with emphasis interventions for reduction of poverty and vulnerability;
• Support correct and compelling use of data and evidence on the situation of children and coverage and impact of child-focused services – in support of the social policy programme and the country programme overall.

Work Relationships

The completion of the above tasks will be the responsibilities of the consultant. UNICEF will however assist the consultant to meet with different counterparts/stakeholders. UNICEF Zone Offices will facilitate visit to agencies/institutions in their respective zones, if necessary.

Deliverables/Outputs

Work plan to be submitted on the first working day of every month during the contract period;

Monthly report on the implementation of the work plan to be submitted on the last UNICEF working day of each month during the contract period, accompanied by deliverables produced during the month

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

Bachelor’s in Economics, Political Science, Public Policy, International Relations, or another relevant technical field.

Years of experience: A minimum of two (02) years of relevant professional experience is required. Experience working in the development field (research, advocacy, project management) is considered as a strong asset.

Specialist skills/Training:

• Excellent writing and editing skills (required);

• Strong communications, public speaking and presentation skills (required);

• Proven research, data analysis and analytical skills (required);

• Solid grasp of the socio-economic situation of Sri Lanka, including understanding of social protection and public finance management contexts (required);

• Training and experience with statistical analysis software (Stata, SPSS, E-views, RStudio) (desirable and major advantage);

• Experience organizing/coordinating capacity building programmes (desirable and major advantage);

• Experience with data dissemination and engagement through social media (desirable).

Competencies required: Drive to achieve results for impact (1), Works collaboratively with others (1), Builds and maintains partnerships (1), Thinks and acts strategically (1), Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1), Innovates and embraces change (1).

Languages required: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language (Sinhalese or Tamil) is considered an asset.

Duration : 4 months (tentative start date is 01 September 2022)

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a resume and other relevant documents

Please complete your profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system. https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html

Please indicate your ability, availability and fee/rate (in LKR) to undertake the terms of reference above. (Indicate an all-inclusive fee (including lump sum travel, IT accessories, Internet and subsistence costs, as applicable) to undertake the tasks in the Terms of reference. Office 365 license will be provided by UNICEF, as applicable)

Applications submitted without a fee/rate will not be considered

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background 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.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

If you think this position might be for you, please take the time to review our Country Office Mutual Agreements before you apply.

If you believe you can team member that can uphold these everyday, then we look forward to receiving and reviewing your application.