Purpose
In a senior advisory role, you will contribute to building social protection programmes and creating child, gender and HIV/AIDS sensitive social protection systems in Eastern and Southern Africa which address both economic and social vulnerability of children and their families, particularly in the context of poverty, livelihood instability and HIV/AIDS. You will advise to and liaise with UNICEF’s partners, provide guidance and technical leadership for colleagues at the Regional Office and in Country Offices supporting the planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and scaling up of social cash transfer programmes, social insurance and other social protection mechanisms in Eastern and Southern Africa in line with UNICEF’s global and regional social protection framework and strategy.
Key Expected Results
Technical support and capacity building: In close collaboration with HQ and other regions, provide support to Representatives, and CO staff on developing, implementing and evaluating policy development, frameworks, strategies and programs for social protection with a focus on building national 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 and their families.
Knowledge management: Keep abreast of latest methods, ideas and research findings in social protection, with particular focus on children affected by AIDS and their families, through close contact and exchanges with professional organizations, universities, research institutes. Digest and disseminate this 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 NDPs, PRSP, and CCA/UNDAFs. Promote and support systematic data collection on social protection interventions including innovative research methodologies and impact evaluations.
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.
Strategic Leadership and representation: Collaborate closely with regional bodies and 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.
Advocacy and leveraging: Contribute to increasing the financial resources available for social protection activities in the region by advising on leveraging with governments and donors, supporting country offices on the preparation of project proposals and, in close consultation with PARMO and the HQ Child Protection and Policy Divisions in PD, coordinate with donors active in these areas in the region.
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, specifically HIV and AIDS, Child Protection, Young Child Survival and Health, Nutrition, Education, programme communication, planning and M&E.
Qualification
Advanced university degree, preferably a PhD, in Economics or other relevant field in the social sciences*. Ten to thirteen years of relevant work experience in the development, implementation, management, research, analysis and evaluation of social protection programs, including social cash transfer programs in developing countries, some of which should, preferably be in the Eastern and Southern African region. Experience in policy development, advocacy and social mobilization is also essential.
Fluency in English and another UN language. Knowledge of the working language of one or more countries of the region is an asset.
*A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Competencies
Communication: demonstrates the ability to communicate effectively to varied audiences.
Leading and Supervising: demonstrates the ability to demonstrates the ability to lead a diverse team and supervise the work of others; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.
Drive for Results: Consistently achieves high-level results, managing and delivering projects on-time and on-budget.
Analysing: demonstrated ability to analye and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources.
Deciding and Initiating Action: Identifies urgent and potentially risky decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates organization-wide activities.
Formulating Strategies and Concepts: Sets, develops and revises organizational strategy and develops clear visions of the organization’s future potential.
Relating and Networking: Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities.
Applying Technical Expertise: demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership, expert advice, and technical support.
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. If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children’s rights organization, would like to hear from you.
Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies, quoting E-VN-2011-001946. Applications must be received by 06 November 2011.
Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.
In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
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