Shock-Responsive Social Protection Specialist, P4, Kyiv, Ukraine

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 123,810 USD and 159,628 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.

For every child, hope

UNICEF Ukraine

We are looking for new people to join the UNICEF team! - YouTube

BACKGROUND

One year into the current international armed conflict in Ukraine, UNICEF and partners continue to provide immediate support on the ground for children in need, with a focus on child protection, health, WASH, nutrition, learning, cash interventions and social protection efforts. Concurrently, UNICEF is actively engaging Government institutions and relevant stakeholders to develop comprehensive strategies for addressing the multiple and compounding deprivations experienced by children affected by the ongoing conflict, while paving the way for recovery to ensure that every child in Ukraine lives free from poverty.

The intense escalation of armed violence following the hostilities started on 24 February 2022 in Ukraine has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis. Characterized by mass movement of populations throughout the country and to the neighbouring countries and a growing number of causalities, the conflict is impacting all dimensions of life: impeding access to basic services, disrupting economic activities and livelihoods, and destroying essential public infrastructure – including schools, hospitals, bridges, water and sanitation facilities, and residential buildings. The conflict is a crisis for children, with risks to their lives and well-being growing daily.

This conflict, on top of the devastating socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the military escalation in 2014, is leading to widespread poverty and further increasing humanitarian needs across the country. Displacement has torn apart families, with children and women displaced from their homes as they flee the violence. Even before the latest escalation of violence, 2.9 million people required humanitarian support in the conflict-affected oblasts. According to OCHA, roughly 18 million people have been affected by the current conflict, of whom over 3.2 million are children (UNICEF HAC). With livelihoods cut short and needs piling up, 67 per cent of the total affected population need urgent humanitarian assistance.

In response, UNICEF rapidly mobilized organization-wide support. However, the deteriorating situation and complex operating environment requires strengthened capacity and sustained efforts to further expand our presence and work in those parts of the country that can be safely accessed, to strengthen our social protection and humanitarian leadership, and to continue scaling-up our humanitarian action including cash interventions and social protection.

How can you make a difference?

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Social Policy, the Shock-Responsive Social Protection Specialist will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Support the development of social protection policies, legislation and programmes with attention to increasing coverage of and impact on children and their families, with special attention the most marginalized. Identifies, generates and presents evidence to support this goal in collaboration with partners;
2. Facilitate enabling policy, legal and framework for social protection to support the needs of children in times of crisis;
3. Support coordination strengthening across authorities and stakeholders for efficient and effective humanitarian and social protection sector responses to children’s needs;
4. Promote strengthening of integrated social protection systems, providing technical support to partners to improve the design of social protection programmes, including cash benefits;
5. Undertake improved monitoring and research around social protection and use of data and research findings for strengthening programme results.

IMPACT OF RESULTS

The strategic and effective advocacy, planning and support in the implementation of social protection systems contributes to the achievement of planned goals and objectives, creating a protective environment for children, thus ensuring their survival, development, and well-being in society. Through UNICEF support on shock-responsive social protection, children's wellbeing is improved and children and their families are ensured not to fall (deeper) into poverty and vulnerability in an emergency situation. Achievements in social protection in turn contribute to maintaining/enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to support the provision of programme delivery that contributes to greater outcomes and impacts for children, including in emergency. Upholding children’s rights in Ukraine contributes towards the results under Goal Area 5 of UNICEF’s strategic plan and towards the results in other areas (health, education, water and sanitation, nutrition).

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

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) and a minimum 8 years (6 years with University degree) relevant professional experience in government, UN, bi/multilateral donor agencies, development agency, civil society or private sector

Experience

• A minimum of eight years of professional experience in social protection and/or cash-based transfer programming
• Experience working closely with Governments on issues related to social protection and/or humanitarian issues
• Proven experience providing support to coordination groups
• Proven experience working on social protection in emergency contexts
• Proven knowledge in the area of humanitarian cash transfers is an asset;
• Ability to focus on delivering results in a dynamic environment with multiple priorities;
• Previous experience in working with UNICEF or other UN system agency or organizations is an asset;
• Experience working in hardship locations or shock-prone countries context is considered as an asset.

Language

• Fluency in English is required.

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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

CORE COMPETENCIES

• drive to achieve results for impact (I)
• manages ambiguity and complexity (I)
• thinks and acts strategically (I)
• building and maintains partnerships (I)
• innovates and embraces change (I)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. 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.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable women are encouraged to apply.

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

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

Eligible UNICEF International Professional (IP) Staff Members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to a Temporary Appointment, which is dedicated to L3 (or L2) Response, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and their current tour of duty, and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.