United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund Social Policy Specialist (Social Protection), NO-C Jobs in Nigeria

 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 favouritism. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, nutrition, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil 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.

Social protection is a human right as enshrined in various international Conventions and is a social and economic necessity. It can be defined as `a set of policies and programmes aimed at preventing or protecting all people against poverty, vulnerability, and social exclusion throughout their life-course, with an emphasis towards marginalized groups. At UNICEF, Social Protection system strengthening continues to be a key strategy in supporting Governments to address inequity and improve social inclusion.

In Nigeria, and similarly across the globe, the onset and impact of COVID-19 set off unprecedented ripple and multiplier effects, permeating all layers of society, and exposing the systemic weaknesses in social protection regimes.

These combined with existing critical challenges in the social protection system such as low expenditure, weak institutional technical capacities, weak adequacy of grants and benefit, and complex, administrative, and institutional mechanisms for beneficiary registration, identification, and payments. All these together inevitably reinforce high out of pocket spending on essential services such as health and education for the poor and most vulnerable populations.

The Government of Nigeria is committed to social protection as clearly and comprehensively articulated in various policy documents and development plans.

The National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) and the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2021 – 2025) are the most notable documents that currently guide the social protection agenda in Nigeria.

While progress is being made towards institutionalizing social protection for all in Nigeria, this needs to be strengthened with a legal framework,a budgetary commitment and a reinforcement of the shock-responsive component of programme design and implementation at national and State levels.

It is against this background that UNICEF seeks Social Policy Specialist to support the Social Protection programme component of the country office; with emphasis on system strengthening for improved social protection coverage of children in Nigeria.

Purpose of the Assignment

Under the general guidance of the supervisor, the incumbent 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 as provided above.

This encompasses both direct programme work with government and civil society partners as well as linkages and support to 

Major Responsibilities

Develops 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 social and behavioural change communication.

Undertakes improved monitoring and research around social protection impact on child outcomes and use of data and research findings for strengthening programme results.

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.

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.

Requirements
Education:

Candidates should possess 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 five years of relevant professional work experience is required.

Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset.

Background and/or familiarity with emergency is considered as a strong asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required.

Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund Social Policy Specialist (Social Protection), NO-C Jobs in Nigeria