Social Policy Specialist (Gender Responsive Social Protection), P4, EAPRO

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 128,723 USD and 165,961 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, commitment!

Access to social protection systems and services is vital for promoting gender equality.

In East Asia and the Pacific, women often face unequal access to social protection, largely due to the vast informal economy in the region. This imbalance prevents many women from benefiting from crucial forms of social protection, such as maternity benefits and old age pensions. Such exclusions are even more pronounced for women from marginalized social groups and those with disabilities.

Social protection is an effective tool for poverty alleviation, and has a high potential in fostering gender equality, and promoting disability inclusion. Studies highlight the profound impacts of social protection in areas such as reducing income poverty, enhancing maternal and child health, improving nutrition, and increasing adolescents' access to social services. It also bolsters positive gender-related attitudes and empowers women and adolescents and children with disabilities in decision-making. By broadening the reach and refining the structure of social protection programmes, like child benefits, we can notably influence the welfare of the most vulnerable households.

Unfortunately, in Asia and the Pacific, only about a quarter of those with severe disabilities have access to such protection, and the participation of women in the design and implementation of social protection programmes is minimal. In the Southeast Asia region, ASEAN and other stakeholders have raised the necessity to optimize gender-responsive social protection and care infrastructure, such as equitable, quality, accessible and affordable early childhood education, childcare, healthcare, and care and social services for persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities

How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the Regional Advisor (Social Policy), you will be responsible for advising the Regional Adviser, Social Policy on the design, management, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all stages of social protection programing and related advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results, with a focus on gender. This includes programmes aimed at improving (a) public policies to reduce child poverty; (b) social protection coverage and impact on children, including Social Protection in Emergency; (c) the transparency, adequacy, equity and efficiency of child-focused public investments and financial management; and (d) 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 climate change. You will work as part of the Social Policy team and with close collaborate with the Regional Gender Advisor and other advisers in the regional office

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Improving data on child poverty & vulnerability for increased use for policy and Programme action, including gender disaggregated analysis
2. Strengthening gender responsive social protection coverage and impact for children
3. Improving use of public financial resources for children
4. Strengthening capacity of local governments to plan, budget, consult on and monitor child-focused and gender responsive social protection services.
5. Strengthened advocacy and partnerships for child-sensitive and gender responsive social protection policy
6. UNICEF Programme Management

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.

• Proven training on gender (specific university studies, or other training such as Gender Pro or other certified training on gender)

• A minimum of eight years of relevant professional work experience is required, with proven professional experience on social protection

• Experience in design, management or assessment of gender responsive social protection programs and intervention is considered as a critical asset
• 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 is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language in East Asia & Pacific Region is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and 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…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

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 male candidate and those national of programme countries 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.