Senior Programme Specialist (Social Protection), P-5, Nairobi, Kenya

Job Number: 494631 | Vacancy Link
Location: Reg Serv Division, Nairobi Regn'l
Work Type : Fixed Term Staff

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 60 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Position

To provide technical leadership, expert advice, analysis and technical support to countries in Eastern and Southern Africa on social protection programming and the scale up of child-sensitive social protection interventions in the region. In particular, the Senior Specialist will provide oversight, quality assurance and technical support Governments and Country Offices for strengthening national child sensitive social protection systems, including social cash transfers and other social protection mechanisms, which address both economic and social vulnerability of children and their families, including in the context of HIV/AIDS.

Key Expected Results

1.Technical support and capacity building: Provide support to Country Offices on developing, implementing and evaluating policy development, frameworks, strategies and programs for social protection with a focus on building national and sustainable social protection systems. This includes a) support and recommendations on programme strategic planning; situation analyses; and mid-term reviews to accelerate achievement of results; b) create/expand a roster of institutions and experts to provide technical support at country and regional levels; c) identify capacity building needs, provide in-country technical assistance, and organize trainings and other means of addressing gaps; and d) ensure that COs have the capacity to protect and reduce the risk and vulnerability faced by vulnerable children, adolescents and their families, in both development and emergency situations.

2.Knowledge management: Keep abreast of latest methods, ideas and research findings in social protection across sectors, including HIV/AIDS, health, education, and nutrition, through close contact and exchanges with UNICEF Office of Research, as well as external, professional organizations, universities, research institutes. Digest, disseminate and raise the profile of this evidence and knowledge among staff in UNICEF and other agencies and partners, through the maintenance and updating of a knowledge base on social protection. Ensure COs have access to this knowledge in order to develop evidence based advocacy and interventions for UNICEF supported programming and broader strategic planning and budgeting instruments such as National Development Plans, Poverty Reduction Strategic Plans, and CCA/UN Development Assistance Frameworks, etc. Promote and support systematic data collection on social protection interventions including innovative research methodologies and impact evaluations.

3.Strategic Partnerships: Provide technical leadership and support the convening role of the regional office by liaising with regional bodies (such as AU, SADC, EAC), bilateral agencies, governmental and non-governmental organizations and other UN agencies at the regional level to promote strategic programming and planning approaches to social protection in both development and emergency situations.

4.Strategic Leadership and representation: Collaborate closely with regional bodies and civil society networks to strengthen exchange of programme information, strategies and experience; cooperate on regional and subregional projects and activities; and improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness through coordinated actions. Represent UNICEF at social protection meetings, seminars and advocacy events.

5.Advocacy and leveraging: Contribute to increasing the financial resources available for social protection activities in the region by advising on leveraging resources with governments and donors, supporting country offices on the preparation of project proposals and, in close consultation with PPD and the HQ PD- Social Inclusion and HIV/AIDS divisions, as well as coordinate with donors active in these areas in the region.

6.Regional Office Management: Manage the regional office work in social protection. Participate in the preparation of all regional reports, budget reviews, regional analyses, and regional office work planning exercises. Contribute to inter-sectoral coordination and collaboration with other regional office sections, including Child Protection, education, health, HIV/ AIDS, nutrition, Humanitarian and Resilience, Communications, and, planning and M&E.

Qualifications of the Successful Candidate

-Advanced university degree in Economics or other relevant field in the social sciences.
-Ten years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the development, implementation, management, research, analysis and evaluation of social protection programs, including social cash transfer programs in developing countries.
-Experience in policy development, advocacy and social mobilization is also essential.
-Fluency in English and another UN working language required. Knowledge of the working language of one or more countries of the region is an asset.
-Experience in the region will be considered an asset.

Competencies of the Successful Candidate

Core Values
-Commitment
-Diversity and Inclusion
-Integrity

Core competencies
-Communication - Level III
-Working with people - Level III
-Drive for results - Level III

Functional Competencies
-Leading and supervising- Level II
-Formulating strategies/concepts- Level II
-Analyzing- Level III
-Relating and networking- Level III
-Deciding and initiating action- Level III
-Persuading and influencing- Level II

HOW TO APPLY:

To view our competency framework: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
To apply: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=494631

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.

Opening Date 13 Apr 2016 E. Africa Standard Time
Closing Date 4 May 2016 E. Africa Standard Time