Social Policy Specialist - Data and Evidence (NO-3) Fixed Term Appointment, Lusaka, Zambia

Contract

This is a NO-3 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-3 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, Equality

The UNICEF Programme of Cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) is designed to address and mitigate the threat of poverty the country's children face, while responding to the needs with interventions addressing the multiple causative factors.

To find out more about UNICEF's work in Zambia, please visit https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/ZMB/SitePages/About-us(1).aspx

How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the Chief of Social Policy & Research, the incumbent is responsible for providing technical support to the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all stages of social policy programing and related advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results. This includes programmes aimed at improving (a) operational research and implementation of research results; (b) public policies to reduce child poverty; (c) the transparency, adequacy, equity and efficiency of research and evaluation assignments; (d) the strengthening of national surveys to broaden indicator base and improve data and monitoring of situation of children; and (e) research and evaluation quality assurance, governance, decentralization and accountability measures to increase public participation and the quality, equity and coverage of social services. This encompasses both direct programme work with government and civil society partners as well as linkages and support to teams working on education, health, child protection, water and sanitation, and HIV.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Technical Leadership in Research & Evaluation / Advisory Capacity and Policy Development Research and Evaluation (R&E) policies, strategies, and approaches for the country are developed and advocated. UNICEF members are advised on R&E strategy and policies. 2. Knowledge management Up-to-date technical expertise in maintained, expanded, and disseminated throughout the Organisation and partners, and shared with regional institutions/partners. 3. R&E capacity building National partners lead national R&E development, implementation and management processes due to continual, effective capacity building at a high quality standard in area of expertise due to strong technical leadership. 4. Technical Leadership and Quality assurance Provide technical supervision in the design, implementation, analysis, documentation and dissemination of critical operational research and evaluation studies in core UNICEF sectors. 5. Representation UNICEF is effectively represented and research programme goals and strategies are widely advocated with high level and senior government officials, multi-lateral agencies, bi-lateral agencies, NGOs, other UN Agencies, and donors. 6. Communication, Networking and Partnership Effective communication, partnerships, representation and networking are forged to develop harmonized programme interventions and expand programmes and networks. 7. UNICEF Programme Management Manages and coordinates technical support around child poverty, social protection, public finance and governance ensuring it is well planned, monitored, and implemented in a timely fashion so as to adequately support scale-up and delivery. Ensures risk analysis and risk mitigation are embedded into overall management of the support, in close consultation with UNICEF programme sections, Cooperating Partners, and governments.

Supports and contributes to effective and efficient planning, management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the country programme. Ensures that the social planning project enhances policy dialogue, planning, supervision, technical advice, management, training, research and support; and that the monitoring and evaluation component strengthens monitoring and evaluation of the social sectors and provides support to sectoral and decentralized information systems.

Detailed Job Description can be viewed here: ZAM19003 Social Policy Specialist - Data and Evidence.pdf

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

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience is required. Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset. Background and/or familiarity with emergency is considered as a strong asset.
• Fluency in English 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).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Core Competencies

Communication (II) Working with people (II) Drive for results (II)

Functional Competencies:

Leading and supervising (II) Formulating strategies and concepts (II) Analyzing (III) Relating and networking (II) Persuading & Influencing (II) Planning & Organizing (III)

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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.

For every Child, you demonstrate:

UNICEF's core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

Remarks:

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