Regional Adviser Social Policy (Social Protection), P5, MENA Regional Office, Amman-Jordan, Post# 0043669 (Fixed Term Appointment)

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, Resilience

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

The Regional Adviser, Social Policy (Social Protection) reports to the Deputy Regional Director for general guidance and direction. The Adviser serves as an authoritative adviser to the Deputy Regional Director, the Regional Management Team, Country Offices and Government institutions/officials on strategies, policies, approaches, best practices, and knowledge on Goal Area 5 (Social Policy and Social Protection).

This includes programmes aimed at improving (a) public policies to reduce child poverty; (b) social protection coverage and impact on children (including humanitarian cash programming); (c) the transparency, adequacy, equity and efficiency of child-focused public investments and financial management; and (d) governance, decentralization, and accountability measures to increase public participation and the quality, equity, and coverage of social services. This encompasses both direct programme work with government and civil society partners in support of Country office teams as well as collaboration with regional teams working on education, health, nutrition, child protection, water and sanitation, and HIV. It also encompasses work in these areas across all settings (e.g.: development, humanitarian). 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities: 

1. Regional advisory services and technical support on strategic planning/discussion
2. Support to country offices on programme development and planning
3. Regional programme monitoring and assessment
4. Advocacy, networking, and partnership building
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
6. Regional knowledge leadership, advisory services, and technical support on strategic areas

• Lead generation of critical regional or multi-country evidence on all areas related to GA-5 to advance child rights in the region, across all settings.

• Advise key regional entities, NGO partners, UN system partners and other partners on policies, strategies, approaches and best practices on social policies and related issues, to support programme development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results.

• Participate in regional programme planning, preparation and review to provide advice on formulation, design, management, enhancement and communication of social policy (Social Protection) programmes including setting priorities and results-based management goals.

• Participate in key regional events, discussions and strategic platforms – such as Issue Based Coalitions – to influence policy discussions and agenda setting on social policy and social protection related issues, including in humanitarian settings.

• Develop and recommend regional programme policies, strategies and approaches.
• Lead and organize regional strategic discussions and planning on social policy (Social Protection) and related programming issues.

• Support to country offices on programme development, planning and implementation
• Collaborate with Regional Management/Country Office teams throughout all stages of social policy (Social Protection) programme planning to provide technical support and quality assurance to develop quality country programme and humanitarian action elements related to GA-5.  
• Provide technical advice to facilitate the preparation of the Country Office social policy (Social Protection) programme and humanitarian action recommendations and to ensure alignment of programmes goals with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans.
• Provide technical support and advisory services to COs on strategic results and initiatives from planning to design and implementation.
• Provide policy guidance and technical support to Country Office colleagues and partners as relevant to develop national policies and strategies for UNICEF assisted programmes (including in humanitarian settings).
• Contribute to the planning and updating of the situation analysis to ensure that current and comprehensive data on social policy (Social Protection) issues is available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy advocacy, intervention and development efforts on child rights and protection.
• Manages and coordinates technical support around child poverty, social protection, public finance and governance, ensuring it is well planned, monitored, and implemented in a timely fashion so as to adequately support scale-up and delivery. Ensures risk analysis and risk mitigation are embedded into overall management of the support, in close consultation with UNICEF programme sections, Cooperating Partners, and governments.
• Keep abreast of national/regional/international development priorities on social policy (Social Protection) to leverage UNICEF’s position and competencies with donors, national governments, communities and constituents to advocate and promote social protection interventions and policies.
• Consult and collaborate with national/global colleagues/partners/allies to develop a partnerships framework to address specific needs and to leverage resources for enhancing and scaling up social policy (Social Protection) programmes/projects. Evaluate/facilitate synergy, integration, coherence, and harmonization of programmes and projects with UNICEF Strategic Plans and priorities, donors’ development strategies/policies, national priorities/competencies and UN System development interventions/initiatives.
• Participate and support recruitment of Country Office technical staff working on Social Policy and Social Protection, including technical review and clearance processes.

2. Regional programme monitoring and assessment

• Ensures effective and efficient monitoring and evaluation of different country programmes within the region. Ensures that the social planning projects enhance 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.

• Collaborate with HQ Advisers, Regional/Country Monitoring and Evaluation Advisers/Officers to establish benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results on social policy (Social Protection) programmes.

• Participate in major monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sector reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine and to provide advice on required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Assess CO’s monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in programme management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.

• Submit and share assessments on social policy (Social Protection) and social protection programming in country offices, highlighting critical issues and suggestions for enhancing performance and delivery of sustainable results across all settings.

3. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• 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 Sustainable Development Goals.
• Collaborate with and advise country offices in the region to develop strategies and implementation plans and activities for maximum communication impact and outreach to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support resource mobilization for UNICEF and Country Office social policy (Social Protection) programmes and projects.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF (as delegated/designated) in key events/meetings and in inter-agency (e.g: Issue Based Coalitions) discussions and planning on child poverty, social protection, public finance and related issues to ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are clearly articulated and fully considered and integrated in RCP process in development planning, agenda setting and results reporting. Collaborate with regional inter-agency partners/colleagues RCP/IBC planning and preparation of related programmes and projects.

4. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Promote critical thinking and introduce technological and programme innovations, approaches and good practices in the region for sustainable social policy (Social Protection) programmes/projects initiatives through advocacy and technical advisory services.

• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, introduce and implement best and cutting edge practices in the region’s social policy (Social Protection) programme management and information systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Identify, assess, vet and disseminate a roster of qualified experts and highly recognized institutions for easy access and use by stakeholders

• Lead and develop policies and procedures; and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.

• Lead, plan and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders – particularly of Country Offices – to promote sustainable results on social policy (Social Protection) programming, advocacy and technical support

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

 Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.

Experience:

• A minimum of ten years of relevant professional experience is required.
• Experience of working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset.
• Experience in leading and managing technical teams and networks is considered a strong asset.
• Background and/or familiarity with humanitarian action is considered as a strong asset

Language:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (especially Arabic, or French) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate

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

i) Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

ii) Core Competencies (For Staff with Supervisory Responsibilities) *

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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 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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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 only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/”.

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). 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 staff members in the IP category, National Officers (NO) or General Service (GS) on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions 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.