Public Finance and Governance Associate

Volunteering Finance & Economy

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

This UN Volunteer assignment will support the investment and governance portfolio of UNICEF China’s Social Policy section within the China–UNICEF Country Programme 2026–2030. The programme promotes child-centred social policy so that more children, especially those facing poverty, exclusion or unequal access to services, benefit from social protection and services that support children and families.

Fiscal policy, public expenditure and investment decisions shape the resources available for children and the quality of services they receive. The portfolio connects analysis of national and local public finance with policy dialogue on equitable resource allocation, sustainable financing, public service delivery and accountable governance. Relevant areas include child-related expenditure, central–local fiscal relations, transfer payments, childcare and family benefits, and the implications of demographic change and fiscal pressures for essential services.

The assignment will also support research on development financing, including the links between sovereign debt, fiscal space and investment in human capital. It will help translate evidence from China and international experience into practical inputs for policy discussion and knowledge exchange. The Associate will work with UNICEF colleagues and support engagement with relevant finance and planning authorities, sector ministries, research institutions and development partners, under the supervisor’s guidance.

Special attention will be paid to how these policies and financing arrangements are implemented within the context of China's rural revitalization agenda. This includes examining how public investment, local governance systems, and service delivery mechanisms can better support children and families in rural areas, reduce disparities in access to essential services, and contribute to inclusive and sustainable rural development.

The role offers an opportunity to apply economic and financial analysis to children’s rights and well-being, while developing practical experience in research, programme support and policy communication.

Under the direct supervision of the Social Policy and Economic Specialist from UNICEF China, the UN Associate Volunteer will:

1. Public expenditure analysis.

- Collect, clean and organize national and subnational budget and expenditure data. - Support analysis of allocations, execution, trends, adequacy, equity and efficiency in selected child-related services. - Examine how fiscal policies, public investment and financing mechanisms support service delivery and child well-being, particularly in the context of rural revitalization and local governance. - Document sources, definitions and limitations, distinguishing budget estimates from actual spending and nominal changes from real changes.

2. Development financing and investment.

- Undertake desk research on development finance, sovereign debt and fiscal space, including China’s international development financing where relevant to the workplan. - Compile country examples and evidence on how financing arrangements and public investment affect essential services, human capital and children’s well-being. - Assist with costing, financing-gap estimates and simple scenarios using methods agreed with the supervisor.

3. Rural revitalization and local governance.

- Support research and policy analysis related to China's rural revitalization agenda, with a particular focus on implications for children and families. - Contribute to the documentation of innovative approaches, case studies and lessons learned from China and international experience to inform policy dialogue and knowledge exchange.

4. Research and policy communication.

- Review Chinese- and English-language literature and policy documents. - Prepare draft analytical notes, charts, presentations, case studies and briefing materials for technical review. - Summarize findings clearly for non-specialist audiences and assist with translation and checking of relevant technical content.

5. Programme and partnership support.

- Help prepare technical meetings, consultations and knowledge-sharing events. - Compile background materials, record discussions and follow up on agreed actions. - Maintain activity and deliverable trackers, and contribute factual inputs to progress reports and coordination with researchers and programme partners.

UNICEF values: Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability.

UNICEF competencies required for this post are: • Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness. • Works collaboratively with others. • Drives to achieve results for impact. • Thinks and acts strategically. • Manages ambiguity and complexity. • Builds and maintains partnerships.

Essential • Sound foundational knowledge of public economics and fiscal policy, with the ability to explain how financing and expenditure choices affect development outcomes. Applicants should demonstrate practical knowledge in the above fields and an interest in applying it to children’s well-being. • Ability to locate and critically assess policy documents and data, conduct structured literature reviews, and prepare clear analytical summaries. Strong attention to accuracy, source documentation and the distinction between evidence and interpretation. • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data cleaning, calculations, summary tables and charts, and in Word and PowerPoint for concise reporting and presentations. • Clear written and oral communication, effective teamwork, sound organization and the ability to deliver agreed tasks under supervision. Respect for confidentiality, cultural diversity and the rights of children.

Desirable • Experience involving China’s fiscal system, international development financing or social sector expenditure. • Familiarity with central–local fiscal relations, transfer payments, public financial management, policy costing, expenditure reviews, debt sustainability or investment appraisal. • Experience using Stata, R, Python, Power BI or comparable tools for analysis or visualization; familiarity with reproducible analytical methods. • Experience with a government institution, university, think tank, development institution or international organization, and interest in child rights, social protection or family-friendly policies.

The duty station of the national UN Volunteer is located in Beijing. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator.

The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

Apply now

Added 14 hours ago - Updated 4 hours ago - Source: unv.org