Policy Specialist (Advocacy -Child Rights and Business) (P-3), Temporary Appointment (9 months), Programme Group Business Engagement and Child Rights Team (BECR), Brussels, Belgium # TBD, Req: 570787

Under the supervision of the CRB Manager, the Policy Advocacy Specialist will be responsible for developing technical reports, recommendations and input on effective ways of strengthening child rights standards, reporting and due diligence in business-related sustainability and human rights mechanisms, paying close attention to synergies between processes.

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, an opportunity

The work to strategically leverage the role of the business sector to achieve, accelerate and scale up results for children is a core strategy of UNICEF programming, advocacy, and private sector agenda.

The Business Engagement and Child Rights (BECR) Team in Programme Group (PG) oversees the following work:

• Maximizes the role of business as a stakeholder, a consideration, and a strategy in programming, by leveraging of the multiple ways in which business can impact on, contribute to, and influence child rights outcomes.
• Engages with and on the world of business in a way that is driven by and aligned with the child rights agenda, programme priorities in support of delivering results for children.

Strategically the BECR Team’s work focuses on providing global leadership and coordination on the following:

• Preventing, mitigating and transforming adverse business impact on child rights through policy work, evidence generation and by influencing the business environment (referred to as Child Rights and Business, or CRB)
• Leveraging programme-led technical collaborations and engagement with business through strategy development, engagement scoping and opportunity cultivation
• Integration of Business Engagement strategies through policy, guidance and technical tools and systems
• Build institutional knowledge and capacity on the different UNICEF business engagement strategies and workstreams across UNICEF (HQ, RO and co), particularly among programme, planning and advocacy networks, and across National Committees.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of the post

Under the supervision of the CRB Manager, the Policy Advocacy Specialist will be responsible for developing technical reports, recommendations and input on effective ways of strengthening child rights standards, reporting and due diligence in business-related sustainability and human rights mechanisms, paying close attention to synergies between processes.

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

• Deliver on existing CRB commitments on positioning child rights in EU CSDDD and accompanying measures.

Deliver on existing UNICEF commitments on EU regulatory processes, such as the CSDDD and accompanying measures to ensure that child rights are highlighted and reinforced throughout. This involves developing and write up practical, technical recommendations and options on how children’s rights considerations can be integrated including in the design and implementation of the human rights due diligence mechanisms and supporting measures (eg guidance, etc).

• Technical support and guidance for UNICEF ROs and COs

On how to strategically engage with EU Delegations, governments and private sector on the implementation of EU regulation in the business and human rights space. This involves the provision of ongoing technical support as well as developing and rolling out guidance for ROs and COs drawing on existing good practices and models for EU engagement, consultations with relevant partners, BHR stakeholders and UNICEF colleagues as well as the roll out of the guidance through webinars and knowledge sharing platforms and moments

• Organize and support advocacy by UNICEF and National Committees on child rights in broader mHRDD processes and advance new opportunities relevant for ROs and COs

Develop technical recommendations, options, key messages on how children’s rights considerations can be integrated into national corporate sustainability directives and regulations. This requires liaising and working closely with relevant HQ, RO and CO colleagues to ensure existing and new opportunities linked to mHRDD and national BHR regulatory processes delivers for children.

• Position and seek UNICEF integration into technical advocacy initiatives and events

Organized by strategically relevant partners (UN agencies, BHR organizations, government donors, regional bodies). This involves organizing webinars and events to keep interested parties within UNICEF, the EU, other regional bodies, governments and interested business institutions engaged, informed of key child rights issues and progress. The role will also provide substantive content support on emerging (and critical) CRB-wide themes such as climate, environment and just transition.

• Support resource mobilization and strengthen UNICEF’s external positioning with private and public donors.

Drive content development, proposal writing and donor engagement (incl. follow-up) to support resource mobilization in support of CRB including at CO-level. This requires working closely with relevant Natcom and HQ, ROs, and COs to develop tailored and targeted proposals, and engaging with relevant UNICEF parts before and during donor engagement.

• Facilitate internal capacity building and knowledge exchange.

Duties include coordinating regular information exchange and experience sharing meetings; regularly liaising with Natcoms, ROs and relevant COs; responding to requests for technical support; and capturing case studies of impactful advocacy efforts and initiatives at country-level.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in social sciences, development, business, international law, human rights, child rights or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in business and human rights, children’s rights and business, sustainability or related area including at the international level.
• A technical background in child rights or human rights approaches to business impact required.
• Demonstrated experience of leading and coordinating advocacy efforts is required.
• Experience and demonstrable skills in producing, editing and uploading online content.
• Ability to work independently and to meet tight deadlines.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

• The following would be considered as assets:
  • Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
  • Experience of UNICEF & UN.
  • At least two years of experience with a focus on child rights or associated programming.
  • Specific experience on advocacy with international or regional institutions, or on business and human rights topics.
  • Experience of EU policy and regulatory development.
  • Experience of working with an independent human rights institution for children.
  • Experience of developing or implementing practical human rights reporting and due diligence mechanisms for children, especially for business

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

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.

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. 

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates from any cultural background, religion, gender, nationality, and physical condition are encouraged to apply.

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). 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 cancelled.

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.

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.