Social Policy Specialist (Stakeholder Engagement)

Title: Social Policy Specialist (Stakeholder Engagement)
Job no: 578015
Contract type: Temporary Appointment (364 days)
Duty Station: Kyiv
Level: NO-3
Categories: Social Policy

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

UNICEF Ukraine

Join the Social Policy Team at UNICEF Ukraine! - YouTube

How can you make a difference? 

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, 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.

Background:

Ukraine is facing escalating poverty and inequality due to the ongoing conflict and its severe socioeconomic impacts. Pre-existing demographic and structural challenges have been compounded by the war, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups such as women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). This has intensified the need for comprehensive social sector reforms to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Ukraine’s social protection system, strengthen its capacity to support vulnerable populations, and promote economic growth and social cohesion.

The Government of Ukraine has prioritized social protection reform in its recovery plan, supported by the UN Transitional Framework and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). These reforms aim to establish a more coherent, flexible, and responsive system capable of addressing both immediate needs and long-term structural challenges. UNICEF has been a key partner in these efforts, providing technical and financial support, and leading the Social Protection Reform Office under the Ministry of Social Policy (MoSP) to drive reforms and coordinate efforts with other stakeholders.

Recognizing the importance of strengthening social protection systems, the UK government has launched the SPIRIT programme to support more inclusive, effective, and efficient social systems and services - laying the foundations for longer-term reform and recovery aligned with Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. One of the mechanisms of the SPIRIT programme to achieve these goals is to set up a Social Recovery Office (SRO) led by UNICEF working hand in hand with the Ministry of Social Policy to:

• Support Ukraine’s vision for a sustainable, resilient and rights-based recovery underpinned by inclusive, effective and efficient social protection systems for the most vulnerable and war-impacted groups;
• Improve coordination, strengthen technical capacity, and catalyse evidence-based reforms in line with Ukraine Plan commitments across social protection, services and inclusion priorities
• Develop roadmap, generate learning/commissioning evidence, and establishing formal coordination structures to improve alignment, maximise efficiency, and open doors for closer cooperation and partnership across the Government of Ukraine, Development Partners, Civil Society, Private Sector, and the wider International Community.

Job organizational context:

Under the SPIRIT Programme, a Social Recovery Office led by UNICEF has been set up to work directly with the Ministry of Social Policy.

Purpose for the job:

Under the general guidance of the supervisor, the Social Policy Specialist is responsible for providing technical support to the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all stages of social policy programing and related advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results. This includes programmes aimed at improving (a) public policies to reduce child poverty; (b) social protection coverage and impact on children; (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.

The social policy specialist will be responsible for deepening collaboration with key stakeholders, especially within the relevant ministries, and provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and policy influence within the scope of assignment.  S/He may also serve as focal point and resource for colleagues on specific thematic areas of strategic relevance for partnership development. They will also be expected to coordinate, manage and plan activities/events in a systematic and organized manner; and lastly, manage an effective system for incoming information, including correspondence and decision memos.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Strengthened advocacy and partnerships for child-sensitive social policy:

• 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.
• Acts as a focal point for identifying strategic entry points within the Government, other critical partners, promotes awareness and builds capacity of partners, and actively facilitates effective collaboration within the UN family.
• Contributes to strategies for engagement and the development of communications products to enhance UNICEF’s visibility and influence with existing and prospective partners and key stakeholders by providing analysis of the current environment and trends and formulating recommendations for strategy approaches and message development. Works closely with UNICEF’s colleagues to ensure that policy advocacy and outreach is strongly grounded in the experience and insights of the programmes that UNICEF’s supports. Contributes written inputs for communications instruments that best inform and influence decision makers.

 UNICEF Programme Management and Operations support:

• 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.
• 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.
• Prepares, distributes and maintains office event calendars ensuring key organizational and partner events, priorities and deadlines are reflected and updated as required.
• Lead the preparations of logistics for events involving senior management participation and the internal and external reporting of the event.
• Ensure that UNICEF senior management relevant to the meeting are prepared for meetings and missions by drafting talking points, by researching relevant information; and by establishing contacts (within and outside UNICEF) on the subject matters to be discussed.
• Ensure coordination with the UNICEF Communications section and production of communication materials for externally facing events.

Improving data on child poverty & vulnerability for increased use for policy and programme action

• Analyzes the macroeconomic context and its impact on social development, emerging issues and social policy concerns, as well as implications for children, and proposes and promotes appropriate responses in respect of such issues and concerns, including government resource allocation policies and the effects of social welfare policies on the rights of children.

Strengthening social protection coverage and impact for children

• Supports the development of social protection policies, legislation and programmes with attention to increasing coverage of and impact on children, with special attention the most marginalized. Identifies, generates and presents evidence to support this goal in collaboration with partners.
• Promotes strengthening of integrated social protection systems, providing technical support to partners to improve the design of cash transfers and child grants and improve linkages with other social protection interventions such as health insurance, public works and social care services as well as complementary services and intervention related to nutrition, health, education, water and sanitation, child protection and HIV.

Improving use of public financial resources for children

• Supports the identification of policy options for improved domestic financing of child-sensitive social protection interventions.
• Undertakes and builds capacity of partners for improved monitoring and tracking of public expenditure to support transparency, accountability and effective financial flows for essential service delivery, including through support to district level planning, budgeting and public financial management as well as facilitating community participation.

Strengthening capacity of local governments to plan, budget, consult on and monitor child-focused social services.

• Where national decentralization processes are taking place, collaborates with central and local authorities to improve policies, planning, budgeting, consultation and accountability processes so that decisions and child-focused service delivery more closely respond to the needs of local communities.
• Collaborates 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.

Impact of Results:

The strategic and effective advocacy, planning and formulation of social policy programs/projects/events and the achievement of sustainable results, contributes to achievement of goals and objectives to create a protective environment for children and thus ensure their survival, development and well-being in society. Achievements in social policy programs and projects in turn contribute to maintaining/enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide program services for mothers and children that promotes greater social equality in the country.

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

Minimum requirements:

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.  

Work Experience: 

• A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience is required.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in Ukrainian and English is required

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 
• Experience working in a government structure is considered as a strong asset.
• Background and/or familiarity with social protection reforms is considered as a strong asset.
• Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is 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 

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 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 people with disabilities 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.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

This position is based in Kyiv and the incumbent will be expected to work on-site. However, depending on the security conditions and advisory, s/he will be required to relocate within Ukraine.

Application Deadline: 24 January 2025 FLE Standard Time