Social Policy Officer

• Act as manager of the MUNA initiative in support to the Social Inclusion and Child Rights Monitoring Specialist
• Coordinate, under the supervision of the Social Inclusion and Child Rights Monitoring Specialist, effective implementation of the MUNA initiative in nine prioritized provinces and provide timely technical inputs and assistance to identify lessons learned and needed adjustments.
• Provide technical assistance and inputs to the Social Inclusion and Child Rights Monitoring Specialist to contribute in reaching the political and technical agreements needed with provincial and local level counterparts for the implementation of MUNA and in the identification of potential implementing partners from civil society and key actors from the private sector.
• Support the articulation with other areas from the CO (health, child protection, education, Communication, B4R) in the implementation of the MUNA initiative and lead the Central MUNA team.
• Collaborate in and supervise the elaboration of guidelines, practical tools and documents for the implementation of the capacity building activities with local and provincial counterparts.
• Provide technical assistance to local authorities to improve policies, planning, budgeting, consultation, and accountability processes to assure the definition of local action plans and reports timely submitted as part of the MUNA initiative requirements.
• Collaborate with the central and local authorities to strengthen capacity on quality data collection, analysis for policy development, planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring of essential social services, with emphasis on community participation and accountability.
• Support the definition of a community of practice between local governments as part of the MUNA initiative.
• Support the monitoring of the MUNA initiative implementation, including the definition of indicators and the review of progress reports.

• Supports correct and compelling use of data and evidence on the situation of children and coverage and impact of child focused services – in support of the social policy programme and the country programme overall.
• 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.
• Identifies other critical partners, promotes awareness and builds capacity of partners, and actively facilitates effective collaboration within the UN family.
• Help supervisor maintain effective relationships with member states, UN agencies, NGOs, host government and other partners, in order to keep them informed on important, strategic operational UNICEF issues.
• Work closely with PSE to promote the inclusion of programmatic priorities in partnerships with private sector, particularly regarding MUNA-related activities.

• Helps manage and coordinate technical support around MUNA, 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.
• Supports and contributes to effective and efficient planning, management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the country programme. 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.

• Education:  A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.  Master’s degree on these areas is considered a strong asset.
• Experience: A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience is required, including at least two years of relevant professional experience working with subnational governments on social policies.  Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset.

• Fluency in Spanish and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered as an asset.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/568780