Social Policy Officer, NO-1, Mexico City, Mexico, Re-Advertisement (no need to re-apply)

Contract

This is a NO-1 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-1 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, an advocate.

As part of UNICEF´s mandate to protect and enhance the rights and well-being of all children, we seek to support the mobilization, allocation and utilization of domestic public financial resources to enhance social outcomes and reduce poverty and inequality. UNICEF's focus on results for children highlights the importance of considering the entire public finance chain from national policies and plans and the budget cycle through the implementation and service delivery at local level. This requires understanding the public finance roles and responsibilities of sector ministries and subnational governments, as well as central finance ministries to better identify public finance challenges and/or opportunities for impact on delivery of services or investments in children.

UNICEF recognizes the importance of subnational governments and government resourcing. Local governments often play a critical role in delivering essential policies and services for children. In México, between 23 and 25 percent of total federal public spending is distributed to the states through transfers, contributions and inter-governmental agreements. Likewise, subnational governments at state level depend mostly on federal transfers, which represent between 70 and, in some cases, up to 80 percent of their total income; these percentages increase at the municipal level, limiting their spending capacity in certain areas.

For UNICEF Mexico, it is of vital importance to focus on the rights of children and adolescents among government priorities, particularly in budgetary decisions, to have a sufficient, efficient, effective, equitable and transparent allocation of resources that guarantees the fulfillment of children and adolescents’ rights.

For more information related to the work of our organization in Mexico, please visit our website: UNICEF Mexico and our latest Annual Report 2022: Informe Anual 2022 UNICEF México

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Social Policy Officer (NO-2), you as the next Social Policy Officer (NO-1) will be accountable for providing technical support and assistance in the policy analysis and policy dialogue to enhance public investment for children, with a focus on enhancing capacities at subnational level, so that priority states can invest more effectively in priority programmes and services relevant to children and adolescents. This encompasses both direct programme work with government and other key partners, such as academia and civil society, as well as linkages and support to teams working on education, nutrition, child protection at federal and subnational level.

Your main responsabilities will be:

1. Analysis and policy dialogue to improve public investment for children at subnational level
2. Strengthening capacity of local governments to plan, budget, consult on and monitor child-focused social services
3. Data collection, analysis, and support to key policy discussions during the election process

If you are interested in learning more about this position and the key-end results and accountabilities, read the Complete Job Description TORs-TA NO1 Social Policy- Jul 4 2023 (2).pdf

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

Education:

• A university degree, preferably, in one of the following fields is required: Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of one year of professional experience is required in analyzing public expenditure at national and subnational levels, including subnational public finances legal frameworks.
• Policy dialogue experience is required.
• Experience working with and building large datasets is considered a strong asset.
• Experience working in the analysis of public investment associated with children and adolescents or sectors relevant to them, such as education, health and or social protection is considered a strong asset.
• Experience in an international organization is considered an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Spanish
• Intermediate level of English is required, but complete fluency is preferred.

Desired Skills:

• Capacity to communicate complex topics and numbers with a clear narrative.
• Strong organizational, planning, and prioritizing skills and abilities.
• High sense of confidentiality, initiative, and good judgment.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong office management skills.
• Strong analytical skills and high attention to detail.
• Experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other UNICEF software such as SharePoint.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

• UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS).
• The technical competencies in UNICEF´s Competency Framework

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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff****, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with . UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. disabilities

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.
• Candidates must be citizen of Mexico to be considered eligible for this post.
• The Social Policy Officer (NO-1) will be based in UNICEF’s Mexico City Country Office. However, this position will require visiting UNICEF field offices in other states of the country as well as meeting key stakeholders and policy makers as required.

Apply now and JOIN US as the next Social Policy Officer at UNICEF Mexico!