Social Policy Specialist, P3, Fixed Term, Yangon, Myanmar, MAM23003 (This post will be temporarily out posted in Bangkok)

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 109,809 USD and 143,786 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, a fair chance

UNICEF Myanmar

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Strategic Office Context

Children in Myanmar are experiencing an unprecedented crisis. Multiple challenges, including escalating conflict and violence, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate-related disasters, and a collapse in public services following the military takeover in 2021, have left an estimated 14.4 million people, including 5 million children, in need of humanitarian assistance. An estimated 53 per cent of children were living below national poverty line in 2022, up to 31 percent in 2017.

In response to Myanmar's political and humanitarian crisis, UNICEF has invested in lifesaving humanitarian assistance to ensure continuity of critical services at scale, while promoting long-lasting, durable community-based systems and solutions for children’s survival, growth, and development. We work in coordination with an extensive and diverse network of partners, including United Nations agencies, national and international NGOs, private sector partners and local organizations to efficiently deliver services for children and families. UNICEF has a strong field presence through its main offices and seven field offices, namely Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw, Lashio and Taunggyi in Shan, Sittwe and Maungdaw in Rakhine, Myitkyina in Kachin, Hakha in Chin and Hpaan in Kayin.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Myanmar is looking for a dynamic Social Policy Specialist (Data & Evidence) to join the Social Policy and Child Rights Monitoring (SPCRM) programme. The team covers a broad portfolio of interventions centred around two strategic priorities. First, we work to generate credible data and research on the situation of children and women in Myanmar to help formulate, implement and monitor programmes and budgets. Second, we promote and deliver child-sensitive and inclusive social protection programmes, including humanitarian cash assistance and with a particular focus on children with disabilities. The Social Policy Specialist (Data & Evidence) will serve as the output manager for activities related to data and evidence generation in close collaboration with other members of the team.

Under the general guidance of the supervisor, 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) public policies to reduce child poverty; (b) social protection coverage and impact on children; (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 partners as well as linkages and support to teams working on education, health, child protection, water and sanitation, and HIV.

Key functions and accountabilities of the position (detailed job description attached):

1. Improving data on child poverty and vulnerability for increased use for policy and programme action
2. Strengthening monitoring and research on the situation of children
3. Strengthening advocacy and partnerships for child-sensitive social policy
4. Supporting effective and efficient programme planning, management, and coordination

Detail job description here; SJP updated_ Social Policy Specialist (Data & Evidence) P3, MAM23003.docx

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.
• Experience in the areas of socioeconomic research and analysis, statistical analysis and child poverty
• Good technical understanding of both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques and research methods.
• Solid analytical skills with an ability to analyse complex socioeconomic data and research findings to identify trends, patterns, and insights that can inform programme decisions.
• Experience in managing teams and/or supervising staff is considered an asset.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with an ability to convey complex information in a clear and concise manner to a variety of audiences.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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...

• 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)

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, all eligible and suitable candidates under all diversity profiles 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.

Please note the following conditions which are specific to this post. It is requested that only candidates who can comply with these conditions apply:

• This post will be temporarily outposted in Bangkok while the entry visa to Myanmar is being processed, and the successful candidate initially will be assigned in Bangkok.
• The visa application normally takes between 6 – 12 months, and is occasionally rejected.
• Once the entry visa to Myanmar is approved, the incumbent will be expected to relocate to Yangon/Myanmar. The timelines of the move will take into consideration both the programmatic needs and the staff member’s personal needs.
• While Bangkok is a family duty station, Yangon is a non-family duty station. Once the incumbent moves to Yangon, the family members residing in Bangkok, if any, are unable to remain in Bangkok unless they have legal residency in Thailand independently of UNICEF.
• In the case of visa rejection, the incumbent will be strongly encouraged to apply to other posts outside Myanmar, with a TOD (tour of duty) waiver and organizational assistance, while they continue to work from Bangkok. The TOD for this post is aligned with Yangon (3 years), and if the incumbent is unable to find any post within 3 years, they will placed in the next mobility exercise.
• In the event that the successful candidate happens to already be based in Myanmar with valid service visa, it is expected that the candidate be immediately assigned to Yangon/Myanmar.