UNICEF Social Policy & Economics Specialist Job in Nairobi Kenya

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
 

Kenya Country Office

Vacancy Announcement   “KCO/SP/2014-081”  

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Duty Station: Nairobi

Social Policy & Economics Specialist, NO-D, POST#90590

Type of Contract: Fixed Term
              
Date of Issue: 05 December 2014

Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the above Fixed Term position in UNICEF Kenya Country Office (KCO), Nairobi.

Purpose of the Post:  Under the overall guidance of the Chief, Social Policy, accountable for effective engagement in social policy dialogue with the Government for programme development, advocating for increased public resource allocation and budgeting towards the social sector and sustainable decentralization of social services and local capacity building in support of the goal of universal coverage of essential social services and the creation of a protective environment for children. 

Conducts data collection and analysis to fill information gaps and to strengthen capacity for advocacy for children’s rights, and to support the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the World Fit for Children (WFFC) agenda

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Social policy dialogue and programme development 

• Participates in social policy dialogue and development with the Government, engages in and establishes constructive dialogue and partnerships between international and local stakeholders to support the development of social policies and programmes contributing to the progressive realization of children’s rights and strengthening of implementation and monitoring mechanisms at all levels of society, and ensures that the services reach out in innovative, effective ways to those most vulnerable pockets of children and families that have been previously left out.

Monitoring state and sub national budget resources

• Monitors and updates current information on state budgeting and spending patterns for social programmes and decentralization status of social services on an on-going basis to support advocacy for greater public resources and budget allocation for social development, the prioritization of resource allocation for children, and universal coverage of essential services for children, to ensure that they reflect the best interest of children.

Sustainable decentralization and capacity building

• Provides on-going support in making decentralization sustainable through adequate local support while keeping decentralized services both accessible and effective; 
• Collaborates with the central and local authorities to strengthen community-based capacity on quality data collection, analysis for policy development, planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring of social policy and programmes; 
• Develops programme plans of action for children at provincial and district/municipality levels; strengthens coordination between sectors and between different levels of government structures for policy implementation.

Data collection, analysis and results-based approach

• Collects systematically qualitative data for the sound and up-to-date assessment of the situation of children and women to provide the base-lines for result-based decisions on interventions and evaluations.  
• Develops information systems for monitoring child rights indicators, with emphasis on gender equality, community and child participation; 
• Provides timely, regular data-driven analysis for effective prioritization, planning, and development; facilitates results-based management for planning, adjusting, and scaling-up specific social policy initiatives; 
• Analyzes 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

Advocacy and communication

• Promotes and raises awareness on children’s rights with both the general public and with policy makers, effective information dissemination, mass media campaign, special events, and other means, to ensure local buy-in, commitment, and continued relevance of UNICEF programming.

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 Millennium 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.

UNICEF Programme Management

• Ensures that the social planning project enhances policy dialogue, planning, supervision, technical advice, management, training, research and support; and that the monitoring and evaluation component strengthens monitoring and evaluation of the social sectors and provides support to sectoral and decentralized information systems.

Required Qualifications: Advanced degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, International Finance, public relations, media, communication, or other relevant disciplines.

Experience:

• Eight years of relevant professional work experience.
• Developing country work experience
• Background/familiarity with Emergency.

Language: Fluency in English and local working language of the duty station. 

Competencies: 
 

Core Values (Required)
 

i) Commitment

• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

ii) Core Competencies (Required)

• Communication [III]
• Working with People [II]
• Drive for Results [II]

iii) Functional Competencies (Required)

• Leading and Supervising [II]                      
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts [II]
• Analysing   [III] 
• Relating and Networking [III]
• Persuading and Influencing [II]

Interested and suitable candidates should ensure they forward their applications along with their P11, curriculum vitae, P11 (CLICK HERE to download) (internal candidates should attach copies of their last two Performance Evaluation Reports), to:   

The Human Resources Manager
UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Email address: kenyahrvacancies@unicef.org

Please indicate Reference No. “KCO/SP/2014-081” in the email subject.

Closing Date: 18 December 2014

“Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply”
 

UNICEF practices zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse

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