Policy Specialist-Partnerships and Advocacy (P4), PG Child Protection - Migration Issue Hub - Geneva, Switzerland (Temporary Appointment 364days)

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 168,113 USD and 216,746 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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.

Organizational Context and Purpose

UNICEF’s work for and with children and youth on the move is guided by UNICEF’s Agenda for Action for Children Uprooted, the Global Programme Framework on Children on the Move, and Core Commitments for Children in humanitarian action. UNICEF aims to address the root causes that uproot children, combat xenophobia and discrimination, and ensure inclusive access to basic services without discrimination based on a child’s migratory status. UNICEF works with UNHCR, IOM and other key stakeholders and networks such as the UN Migration Network to prevent and mitigate harmful migration practices, such as child immigration detention or family separation, and ensures migrant and displaced children are heard, involved, protected and empowered to reach their potential.

A dedicated focus on children on the move is critical to meet the SDGs commitment to leave no one behind. UNICEF’s Strategic Plan (2022-2025) reflects children on the move across Goal Areas and as an important cross-cutting priority, supporting recent global commitments such as the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and Global Compact on Refugees. The new Strategic Plan commits UNICEF to a renewed focus on inclusion of children on the move into education, child protection and social protection systems to tackle root causes for forced displacement or unsafe migration, discrimination, and exclusion.

For every child, a child, Dedication

The Policy Specialist will support the development and operationalization of UNICEF’s agenda for action for children uprooted through influencing policy developments and establishing and leading partnerships across governmental, inter-agency and other fora. This post will serve a critical function to liaise with Geneva-based divisions (PFP, EMOPS), partners (IOM, UNHCR, ILO, UN Migration Network, IASC, IDMC) and UN Member States to advance key partnerships, drive policy discussions and ensure UNICEF and children and youth on the move are central and visible in global migration discourse, policy processes and investment decisions, negotiations, and events.

The Geneva-based policy specialist will support the Global Lead (Migration and Displacement) to ensure UNICEF representation across relevant migration governance fora and refugee- and IDP-focused processes, networks and technical working groups; to support coherence on migration and displacement issues across UNICEF’s policy, advocacy and communications; and to develop and maintain organization-wide communities of practice on migration and displacement issues.

How can you make a difference?

Strategic policy advice and technical support:

• Contribute to the development of policy tools and standards to promote a coherent, rights-based approach to migration and refugee issues across sectors.
• Provide time sensitive policy support on issues related to migration and displacement, including drafting reports, policy papers, briefing notes and talking points.
• Provide inputs into country and regional strategy documents and activities related to migration and displacement to ensure policy, advocacy and program coherence.
• Support capacity building activities, migration deep-dives, data and evidence generation, peer-learning activities and developing internal communities of practice, with a thematic focus on immigration detention and ATD, the impact of labour migration on children and families, and child-sensitive return and reintegration, among other priority topics
• Provide technical support at country/regional level for GCM/GCR implementation, analyze and provide regular updates on GCM and GCR implementation, and support the adoption of relevant UN resolutions and processes regarding monitoring, follow up and review.
• Develop guidance to strengthen the Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund’s (MPTF) child sensitivity marker, including the development of child-focused indicators.

Strategic advocacy and partnership building:

• Support the Global Lead (Migration and Displacement) to develop and maintain strategic partnerships and global relationships, including through:
  • Representing UNICEF externally on migration and displacement related issues as needed, including with UN agencies, donor organizations, youth and migrant/refugee organizations, member states and other stakeholders.
  • Supporting UNICEF’s involvement in the implementation of the Global Compact for Refugees and Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
  • Supporting the development of strategic partnerships, including with IOM and UNHCR, and other Geneva-based UN agencies, as required.
  • Contributing to UNICEF’s advocacy for migration and displacement related issues, leveraging major global and regional forums and processes (e.g. the International Migration Review Forum, the Global Refugee Forum).
• Represent UNICEF at technical level in interagency migration and displacement governance structures and coordination fora, including the UN Network on Migration Executive Committee, MPTF Steering Committee, Interagency Group on Safety of Life at Sea, Interagency Coordination Group Against TiP, OESC Alliance Expert Coordination Team, and IDP platforms.
• Lead UNICEF’s engagement with the Geneva-based Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) and the International Dialogue on Migration (IDM).
• Identify critical advocacy opportunities for Country/Regional Offices and National Committees, working closely with PFP, PPD and Regional Offices.

Coordination and collaboration:

• Assist with internal support and coordination within the Migration Issue Hub, including ensuring coherence and synergy with the communications and advocacy lead on migration and displacement.
• Support global consistency and strategic guidance across UNICEF’s migration-related responses, advocacy, and communication.
• Support UNICEF regional and country offices to understand and leverage the MPTF and liaise with and support UNCTs interested in submitting proposals to the MPTF.
• Support the Global Lead in coordinating strategic documentation and dissemination of good practices and lessons learned, and in developing communities of practice bringing together staff with relevant intra and cross-sectoral technical expertise for program support, strategic consultations and capacity development.
• Collaborate closely with UNMGCY and other youth and migrant/refugee organizations to ensure meaningful engagement of youth and advocate for youth to have a seat at the table in migration and displacement governance structures, discussions and fora.
• Provide leadership of and/or coordinate UNICEF’s contributions to the UN Network on Migration’s workstreams on ATD, returns and reintegration, access to services including COVID-19 response and recovery and climate and migration.
• Collaborate with research and data divisions, PFP and UNICEF’s Office of Research/Innocenti to advance UNICEF’s policy, program and advocacy including work on the impact of labour migration on children and families.

To qualify as a champion for every child, the candidate must have…

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, International Law, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Migration Studies, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of professional work experience in international development and developing country work experience or field work in migration governance and displacement, social policy, human rights and international relations is required.
• Background/familiarity with public policymaking, political advocacy and at intergovernmental decision-making required.
• Prior work experience with Geneva-based migration agencies and networks, such as the UN Migration Network, an asset.
• Specific technical knowledge highly desirable:
  • Rights-based and results-based approach to programming in UNICEF, child rights and/or child protection in the context of migration.
  • Public policy and international legal frameworks related to migration, international human rights law, international refugee law, law and policy related to trafficking and smuggling, international law of the sea and/or the Migrant Workers’ Convention.
  • UNICEF programme policy, procedures and guidelines, including the UNICEF Global Programme Framework for Children on the Move and UNICEF's 6 Point Agenda for Action.
  • Existing global migration governance arrangements, key Geneva-based migration agencies and experience of working in an interagency context and regional and multi-lateral processes.
  • Strong working knowledge and familiarity with the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and Global Compact on Refugees.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

“UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

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