UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope

Country context:

Mali has been experiencing large scale instability and conflict since 2012. The deterioration of the security situation is the accumulation of problems not solved by the models and practices of political and economic governance that have prevailed for several decades. The responsibility of the state in the lack of active monitoring of the cohesion and effectiveness of the security forces (police and army), the mixed progress of the decentralization process, the inability of national actors to find political compromises to lay the solid foundations of an inclusive, effective, and peaceful model of governance are among the root causes of the difficulties that Mali is currently facing.

Added to this is the retreat of some Algerian Islamist groups in the Sahel, especially with the fall of the Libyan regime in 2011, which resulted in the proliferation of arms flows from Libya to the Sahel zone. Mali found itself at the forefront of Sahelian countries facing Tuareg rebel groups returning from Libya. These groups formed volatile alliances with other local groups and networks, some of which had the objective of religious fundamentalism mainly in northern Mali.

The economic and diplomatic sanctions (closure of land and air borders; suspension of all commercial and financial transactions) adopted by the ECOWAS following the 2020 and lifted in October 2020 are back again since January 2022 because of the failure for the country to respect the agreed duration of the transition period.

The humanitarian and social economic situation is worsening since. According to the most recent available data, more than 50,000 displaced persons have returned to their places of origin and are in need of assistance. Out of the 57 administrative “cercles” 19 cercles are severely affected by nutritional insecurity. 1.2 under-five million children living in 90% of the entire territory are threatened to be in urgent need of nutritional assistance.

The COVID-19 outbreak affects all the 20 regions in Mali, with 31,097 confirmed cases by end 734 deaths (death rate: 2.3%). The Covid-19 pandemic increased the risk of girls and boys dropping out of school temporally or permanently. The effects of the pandemic have also exacerbated protection risks and threats, including gender-based violence, due to the risk of collapse of income-generating activities and business insertion. Adding to this is the closure of 1,672 schools due to insecurity mostly in the central and northern regions, preventing 500,000 children from accessing education.

Strategic context:

Cash transfer has been used for at least a decade in Mali in both development and humanitarian contexts. In line with Grand Bargain commitments, UNICEF aims to expand the use of cash-based assistance where possible to support those most in need across the country. There is not a recent and comprehensive assessment of the feasibility of large-scale cash transfer Programme in Mali, but the current context seems to lend itself perfect for the purpose provided that dedicated technical capacity able to navigate the complex operating environment is in place internally and externally within sister agencies and implementing partners.

UNICEF’s cash transfer operations are currently growing in scale and in geographic focus. These operations target the most vulnerable people, notably the populations most affected by the COVD-19 pandemic, children in a situation of malnutrition or at risk of being malnourished, pregnant and lactating women, households with girls at risk of drop out from school, women’s savings groups and nutrition support groups, etc. As the people targeted are already vulnerable, the short- and medium-term objective is not necessarily to boost empowerment but to enable households to meet urgent and essential needs to serve as a lever for social safety nets.

UNICEF is also preparing to provide cash in extreme humanitarian conditions to relieve populations affected by displacement, epidemics, climate change and natural disasters. Given the near unpredictability of most of these situations and their potential and actual scale, the challenge remains how to be ready to deploy a multisectoral response with a cash component at any given time within the broader context of the Core Commitments for Children (CCC).

How can you make a difference?

1. Strategic support

2. Programme design

3. Programme implementation and monitoring

4. Capacity building

5. Coordination

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TDR Social Policy Specialist.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master) in development economics, poverty alleviation, social policy, social protection, public policy, other relevant social science disciplines. Recent trainings in the field of social cash transfers will be given due consideration.

Experience:

• At least five years of relevant professional work experience in designing, implementing, and managing cash transfer programmes in complex, high-risk conflict affected environment and social protection settings
• Strong knowledge of ongoing social protection policy debates and evidence is required.
• Key expertise in data and information management including data visualization skills
• Ability to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner.
• Ability to design and implement gender responsive social cash transfer programme is strongly recommended
• In-depth knowledge of the Sahel region or regions or comparable complexity is highly desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in French and English is required. Knowledge of another UN language or local language is an asset.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
• UNICEF / UN experience is highly desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

1. Builds and maintains partnerships
2. Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
3. Drive to achieve results for impact
4. Innovates and embraces change
5. Manages ambiguity and complexity
6. Thinks and acts strategically
7. Works collaboratively with

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Eligible UNICEF International Professional (IP) Staff Members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to a Temporary Appointment, which is dedicated to L3 (or L2) Response, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and their current tour of duty, and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.