Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance Management), NOC, FT, Niamey, Niger #123500

Under the general supervision and guidance of the Chief Social Policy, the Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance Management) provides advice and technical assistance to support the UNICEF Niger country office to continue working towards the realization of children’s right. Specifically, the Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance Management) will contribute to expanded financing and improved transparency of child-sensitive social interventions in Niger by performing public finance monitoring and analysis and leveraging these for policy advocacy and programming.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, hope

The Social Policy Section of the UNICEF Niger Office supports the implementation of the Social Inclusion component (Outcome 6) and provides support to the sectoral components (Health, Nutrition, Water-Hygiene-Sanitation, Child Protection and Education) of the NIGER-UNICEF 2023-2027 cooperation program. The program is aligned with the objectives of Niger’s Economic and Social Development Plan (PDES 2022-2026).

The Social Inclusion component of the NIGER-UNICEF cooperation program is in line with Axis 7 of the Government Policy Declaration, Axis 1 of the PDES 2022-2026, the framework of public finance reform as well as the decentralization policy in the education, health, water and environment sectors. The strategies implemented are: (1) political advocacy and social dialogue for the reduction of multidimensional child poverty, especially for the most disadvantaged and excluded; (2) advocacy for greater, effective and equitably distributed public resources and other innovative financing for the social sectors, (3) support for effective and equitable decentralization of social services through inclusive, participatory and transparent local governance; (4) advocacy and implementation of inclusive social protection programs for children and other marginalized groups, aimed at productive recovery and community resilience, building on Niger’s solidarity mechanisms and values.

The Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance) is part of the Social Policy Section of the UNICEF Niger Office. The position reports to the Chief of Social Policy Section and works closely with the Social Policy Specialists based in Niamey, as well as in the UNICEF Zonal Offices (Agadez, Maradi and Tahoua). Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Chief of Social Policy Section, the Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance) provides advice and technical assistance for the realization of children’s rights. Specifically, the Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance) will contribute to greater fiscal space and financing opportunities as well as improved transparency of social policies and programs for children in Niger by conducting public finance analysis and monitoring and public-private finance leveraging.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the general supervision and guidance of the Chief Social Policy, the Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance Management) provides advice and technical assistance to support the UNICEF Niger country office to continue working towards the realization of children’s right. Specifically, the Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance Management) will contribute to expanded financing and improved transparency of child-sensitive social interventions in Niger by performing public finance monitoring and analysis and leveraging these for policy advocacy and programming.

Specifically, the Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance Management) performs:

1. Public finance reforms:

• Analyzes macroeconomic context and its impact on children and provides support to budget transparency reforms.
• Participates in the revision of Chart of Accounts, updating/expanding financial management information systems, support to program-based budgeting, revision of inter-governmental fiscal transfer formulas, development of medium-term expenditure frameworks.
• Collaborates with, provides hands on support to and builds the capacity of decision-makers to improve policies, planning, budgeting and accountability processes.
• Participates in thematic working groups and actively contributes technical inputs to collaborative research.

2. Public finance analysis:

• Collects, analyses and presents financial data and information for influencing public finance management reforms and as input into the broader country programme, via preparing budget briefs, thematic spending analyses, public expenditure reviews, value for money analyses, benefit and expense incidence analysis, costing exercises, fiscal space analyses, financing studies, investment cases and others.
• Engages and establishes constructive dialogue and partnerships with international agencies and national bodies to ensure that the national public finance agenda remains child-sensitive and equity-oriented.

3. Public finance planning, budgeting and monitoring:

• Builds capacity of partners for improved social sector financing, budgeting and oversight processes at national and subnational levels, including via revising budget circulars, developing expenditure tracking and monitoring tools/templates, and providing training that support the integration of social sector financing issues into plans and budgets.
• Supports the identification of policy options for expanded financing and improved transparency of child-sensitive social interventions, which includes as appropriate domestic resource mobilization and innovative financing options.

4. Cross-cutting social policy areas:

• Establishes effective partnerships with the government, bilateral and multilateral donors, 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, achieve global UN agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals and strengthen UNICEF’s leading positioning for their implementation as they relate to social policy.
• Analyzes national context, including key socio-economic trends, and their impact on social development, emerging issues and concerns. Uses evidence and data to help the country office predict, prepare for and mitigate risks and adjust programming course.
• Supports the correct and compelling use of data and evidence including 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.
• Assesses how specific vulnerabilities are tied to multifaceted aspects of poverty and the contribution social protection has on reducing exclusion, to mainstream inclusion, particularly as it relates to gender, disability and migration. Works towards gender-responsive-transformative, disability-inclusive and migrant-inclusive systems by integrating the inclusion lens into public finance reforms, policies and programmes.
• Develops approaches to identify social and behavioural change needs and undertakes interventions for the meaningful accountability to affected populations and community engagement.
• Monitors current technological trends, new modalities of working applicable to social policy and public finance versus current and emerging needs to assess their role and match their potential applicability to social policy for enhanced outcomes for children

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

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Finance, Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant field.
• A minimum of five years of professional work experience in public finance reforms, public finance and social policy analyses and/or social spending processes is required.
• Experience in programme design and management and policy advocacy is required.
• Experience working in developing countries / contexts is considered as a strong asset.
• Background and/or familiarity with emergencies and humanitarian contexts is considered as a strong asset.
• Fluency in French is required. Knowledge of English or another official UN language is considered as an asset

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 others 

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be 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 canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

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 who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.