Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance), NO-C (For Ethiopian Nationals only), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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, hope

How can you make a difference?

Under the general supervision of the Social Policy Public Finance Output Manager, the Social Policy Specialist will support Social Policy work on public finance and will be responsible for monitoring federal and regional government budgets and expenditures, conducting economic analysis and writing technical papers to inform UNICEF advocacy for increased investment in children and child-friendly policies and budgets. Thus, the Social Policy Specialist is expected to possess solid technical skills in economics and economic analysis (preferably with knowledge of STATA), as well as knowledge of costing, investment cases, fiscal planning, and fiscal due diligence. In particular, s/he will be engaged in producing economic analysis of federal and regional government budgets, support costing and investment cases under the UNICEF flagship programmes, and effectively engaging with counterparts in support of UNICEF’s public and policy advocacy. The Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance) will report to the Social Policy Specialist (NO-D), and also work closely with the Chief of Social Policy, and will collaborate with other members of the team, other UNICEF sections and external partners.

1. Support to budget monitoring and tracking and advocacy for child-friendly government investments.

• Perform data collection and analysis of economic data and information with an emphasis on government budgets and expenditures across the various sectors at the national and sub-national level. Utilize this information along with sector performance data, conduct further research and write technical fiscal/economics papers to present evidence that informs economic policy with a focus on fiscal policy and monetary policy.
• Monitor at the national and sub-national level social sector budgets and expenditures to measure and analyse budgeting for children and women. Contribute to the elaboration of budget briefs to inform policy choices and present evidence for advocacy purposes.
• Contribute towards technical studies that are developed in the section under the public finance programme.
• Engage in relevant policy advocacy activities.
• Provide technical support to sector focal points on economic analysis and policy advocacy.

2. Public finance support for monitoring and delivery of UNICEF flagship results.

• Provide technical support for the development of costing exercises, cost-benefit analyses, cost effectiveness analyses, multi-criteria decision analyses, and child-friendly investment cases.
• Take part in the programme management of the public finance work plans in the context of the UNICEF flagship programmes. Conduct field visits to monitor and provide support at the sub-national level to ensure the delivery of public finance programme results. Identify any corresponding necessary programme response and make recommendations through established management mechanisms (e.g. regular programme or review meetings).
• Other duties as assigned by the Social Policy Specialist and/or Chief of Social Policy.

3. Support to capacity building efforts.

• Support the economic policy and analysis capacity building efforts for the Ministry of Finance, the sub-national Bureaus of Finance and other implementing partners by providing trainings and contributing to other tasks that build the capacity of implementing partners in the area of economic analysis and public finance, in conjunction with other team members.
• Support capacity development plans at federal, regional and where possible, woreda levels to strengthen coordination between sectors and between different levels of government structures for policy implementation.

4. Innovation and knowledge management.

• Analyse the macroeconomic context of social policy programmes and its impact on social development, emerging issues and social policy concerns, as well as implications for children, and proposes and promotes appropriate responses in respect of such issues and concerns, including government resource allocation policies and the effect of social welfare policies on the rights of children.
• Along with the rest of the section, support development of annual work plans. Support UNICEF field office M&E staff in implementing sub-national programmes relating to economic analysis, public finance, good governance and capacity building activities. Take part in Mid Term Review (MTR) and Country Programme formulation process as required.

5. Establishes and nurtures effective partnerships.

• Establishes effective partnerships with the Government, bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs, civil society and local leaders, the private sector, and other UN agencies to support sustained and proactive commitment to the Convention of the Rights of the Child and to achieve global UN agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the World Fit for Children (WFFC) agenda.
• Identifies other critical partners, promotes awareness and builds capacity of partners, and actively facilitates effective collaboration within the UN family.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in economics or economic sciences, econometrics, or public financial management. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in economic policy and analysis especially in the area of public finance management and state budget analysis. Work experience in economic data collection and analysis, performing literature searches and report writing; producing technical fiscal/economic papers with policy recommendations; policy advocacy; provision of trainings; and preferably working with national collaborators and civil society to implement economic and public finance programmes.
• A solid knowledge of Ethiopia PFM instruments, and proven experience working on similar analyses of the State Budget with focus on social sectors.
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Consolidated knowledge on economic analysis and a foundation on crosscutting themes such as equity and fiscal decentralization.
• Excellent knowledge of MS products including Excel, PowerPoint and MS Office, and good working knowledge of statistical packages such as Stata and writing statistical programming in Stata is preferred.
• Ability to complete tasks in a tight schedule and with limited supervision.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core Competencies

• 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)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing (3)
• Persuading & Influencing (2)
• Planning & Organizing (3)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.