Social Protection Specialist at UNICEF

Job no: 546034
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Level: P-4
Categories: Social and Economic Policy

Kenya is a country of many contrasts, from its landscape to demographics, and more so its social and economic inequalities. Despite economic growth, Kenya is one of the most unequal countries in the sub-region. Forty two percent of its population of 44 million, live below the poverty line.

Access to basic quality services such as health care, education, clean water and sanitation, is often a luxury for many people. Large segments of the population, including the burgeoning urban poor, are highly vulnerable to climatic, economic and social shocks. As such, progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in regards to social security, is mixed.

How can you make a difference?

Join our dedicated team in Kenya by working on the frontlines of effective engagement in social policy dialogue with the Government for programme development, advocating for increased public resource allocation and improving linkages between social protection and essential social services to ensure a protective environment for the most vulnerable children in Kenya including orphans. You will model approaches, conduct analysis and advocate for the sustainable social protection for children, including contribution to resilient building for households and communities.

This will involve:

1. Social protection policy dialogue and programme development
2. Monitoring and analysis of resources for social protection
3. Coordination of social protection and social protection with essential services for children
4. Data collection, analysis and results-based approach
5. Establishes effective partnerships
6. UNICEF Programme Management

KEY END-RESULTS:

• Constructive dialogue and partnerships are established between international and local social protection stakeholders, to provide effective protective environment for the most vulnerable children, including progressive compliance of principal policy documents and legislation regarding all aspects of child sensitive and integrated social protection systems.
• Current information on resources for social protection is monitored, analyzed and updated on an on going basis to support advocacy for expanded and equitable coverage of social protection.
• Capacity for co-ordination of social protection is enhanced at national and sub national levels.
  Coordination between social protection and essential services for children is increased and links between different levels of government structures for policy implementation are strengthened.
• Timely and quality data-driven analysis with consistent integration of sex-disaggregated data and input is provided for effective prioritization, planning, development, and results-based management for planning, adjusting, and scaling-up specific social protection initiatives.
• Effective partnerships with the Government and other agencies established to enable sustained and proactive commitment to social protection in particular for children.
• UNICEF social policy(social protection) programme effectively planned, implemented and managed in support of the country programme.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, International Finance, public relations, media, communication, or other relevant disciplines.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional work experience in programme development and management, advocacy and public resource allocation and social protection.
• Developing country work experience is an asset.
• Background/experience in emergency is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency is another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or the local working language of the duty station is an asset.

For every Child, you will demonstrate…

Our core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty,

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.