Social Policy Officer, NO-2, Fixed term Appointment, Cotabato

Contract

This is a NO-2 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-2 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, a fair chance

UNICEF is an active partner of the Philippines, working for the realization of the rights of every child and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. UNICEF is focused on improving the lives of the country’s most vulnerable children.

UNICEF Philippines has two offices. One office is based in Manila and a field office in Cotabato City, the second largest city in Mindanao, Southern Philippines, with some 300,000 population. The city is the regional administrative centre of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and over 80 percent of the population is Muslim. Mindanao is both conflict-affected and prone to frequent earthquakes and typhoons.

Visit this link for more information on UNICEF in the Philippines https://www.unicef.org/philippines/

How can you make a difference?

The Social Policy (SP) Officer is primarily responsible for the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and administration of the local governance component of the Field Office, within the overall country programme. The local government component includes capacity support to the new Government, principally the Ministry of Interior and Local Government and the provincial (5) and municipal (120) units, compiling information on state budget and spending patterns and decentralization status of social services to support universal coverage of essential services for children, and for strengthening capacities within the UNICEF field office.

The SP Officer is also accountable for effective technical and programme support to facilitate the application and adaptation of UNICEF policies and strategies to achieve strategic priorities and objectives and expansion of UNICEF assisted local governance interventions, including the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals agenda.

Under the general guidance of the supervisor, and technical guidance of the Social Policy Chief, the post shall undertake the following tasks:

1. Timely sectoral analysis, input and support contribute to the Situation Analysis and its periodic update for effective project planning, development, and management.

• Contributes to the preparation of the Situation Analysis by compiling, analysing and evaluating information and providing the technical input and support to local governance interventions and its periodic update.
• Contributes sectoral input to the Country Programme Document and all related documents (e.g., Country Programme Recommendation, Plans of Action, Country Programme Summary Sheet).
• Contributes to the consultation and coordination with key partners at all levels.

2. Sustainable decentralization and capacity building

• Where the national decentralization process is taking place, collaborates with the national and local authorities to assist in planning, policy discussion and service delivery closely responding to the needs of local communities.
• Provides on-going support in making decentralization sustainable through adequate local support while keeping decentralized services both accessible and effective.
• Collaborates with the central and local authorities to strengthen community-based capacity on quality data collection, analysis for policy development, planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring of social policy and programmes.
• Develops programme plans of action for children at provincial and city/municipality levels; strengthens coordination between sectors and between different levels of government structures for policy implementation.

3. Quality technical contributions are made to the development and implementation of Integrated local governance strategies and approaches through participation and collaboration with internal and external partnership.

• Works with other UNICEF sectors, particularly Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education and Child Protection and programme communication to ensure integration of the local governance component with other sectors.
• Contributes to build on intersectoral experience and establish partnerships to promote innovative approaches to address immediate and underlying determinants of weak local governance.

4. Work plan and objectives are strategically established, implementation support is effectively provided, and planned results are timely delivered through application of technical expertise in local governance.

• Exercises technical and programme management leadership for the development and implementation of the results-based sectoral work plan and objectives as well as for administration and monitoring of sectoral project activities, consistent with the defined project strategic priorities and approaches.
• Ensures objectives and targets are timely achieved, through full coordination between activities and collaboration with implementing partners, by providing guidance and support to staff of the Field Office.

5. Project implementation progress is monitored and evaluated for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery and sustainability.

• Undertakes field visits for monitoring and assurance of programmes, as well as participates in periodic programme reviews with government counterparts and other partners. Identifies necessary action for programme adjustments.
• Provides technical advice and support to government officials and implementing partners in the planning and management of the local governance interventions and ensures their sustainability. Support maintenance of information system for monitoring gender sex aggregated data.

6. Technical support is provided to government and NGOs at various stages of the project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, including capacity building of government personnel and beneficiaries.

• Provides technical support to government and NGOs in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation stages of the programmes/projects.
• Identifies training needs; designs and conducts training and orientation activities for government personnel and beneficiaries and other relevant partners, for the purpose of capacity building, sustainability of programme/projects and expansion of coverage of services.

7. The capacities of Field Office staff are strengthened through effective capacity building support in the development, implementation, and management of the local governance component.

• Designs and implement a staff training/development programme to upgrade the capacity of the Field Office staff with regard to competencies for technical requirements as well as for the programme development, implementation, and management of local governance component.
• Conducts relevant orientation, workshop, training, and staff learning/development activities, including relying on technical partnership with collaborating agencies to provide state –of the –art -technical information to staff.

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

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Economics, Social Development, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, International Finance, Public Administration/Management, or other relevant disciplines.
• Advance University education is an advantage
• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in development work is required.
• Experience of field work in local governance, decentralization, urbanization, social development, and human rights
• Background and/or familiarity with emergency is considered as a strong asset. Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required.
• Knowledge 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).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

How to apply

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an online candidate profile in http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ by 31 January 2022 Only applications sent through the e-recruitment portal under will be considered.

By applying through our Talent Management System (TMS) you agree to our privacy statement which is in line with the Philippines’ Data Privacy Act. You are strongly advised to read carefully through the privacy statement before submitting your application.

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 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.