Child Protection Specialist- Financing for Scale, P-4, Fixed Term Position, Global Programme Division, Child Protection & Migration COE at UNICEF

This position is based in Nairobi, one of UNICEF’s global Centres of Excellence, and sits within the Child Protection Programme and Migration practice, under the Violence Prevention and Response Systems (VPRS) Unit and also supports Harmful Practices Unit. The unit supports countries to strengthen child protection systems, prevent and respond to violence against children, and scale high‑impact violence prevention solutions through policy reform, systems strengthening, workforce development and financing.
You will support strategic planning and policy reform, integrate child‑sensitive public finance approaches into national systems, and lead financing assessments, costing and investment cases that demonstrate the value and impact of child protection interventions. The role advances domestic resource mobilization and innovative financing, strengthens public financial management, and supports the development of costed workforce strategies for social service systems. You will also contribute to capacity development, global engagement and advocacy, helping position child protection and violence prevention within national and global financing agendas.

Minimum Requirements

• Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Administration, Social Policy, Public Finance, Social Sciences, Social Work, International Relations, Political Science, Law, or a related field is required.
• Work Experience: A minimum of eight years of progressive, professional work experience in public financial management, and sector financing, in the applied, national and international social development settings is required.
• Skills:
• Excellent analytical and public financing skills
• Experience with costed plans, public finance, and resource mobilization
• Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills
• Capacity to translate technical knowledge into provision of accessible technical assistance and to provide capacity development of partners and staff.
• Demonstrated capacity in strategic communication, including public speaking and effective engagement in key international events, advocacy platforms, or high-level policy dialogues, is an asset
• Experience in written analysis/documentation of public policy work
• Publication record in areas related to economic policy, child protection or violence prevention preferred
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
• Hands-on experience and proven results in using PFM evidence to concretely generate change at the national level is required
• Experience in budget analysis, costing and developing investment cases, PERs and PETS in key sectors for children an asset
• Solid professional field experience in multiple country contexts with demonstrated technical leadership on child protection systems strengthening, social service workforce strengthening (including development and implementation of costed workforce strategies and financing plan), care reform and disability inclusion policy, advocacy, and programme design and implementation required
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

Builds and maintains partnerships

• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others
• Nurtures, leads and manages people