Social Policy Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

UNICEF works in the world's toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere.

Context

Under the direct supervision of the Social Policy Specialist and the general guidance of the Deputy Representative, the National UN Volunteer Specialist is accountable for providing technical support and assistance in all stages of social policy programming and related advocacy at the local level, from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results. These responsibilities encompass (a) improving public policies to reduce child poverty; (b) enhancing social protection coverage and its impact on children; (c) ensuring transparency, adequacy, equity, and efficiency of child-focused public investments and financial management; and (d) implementing governance, decentralization and accountability measures to increase public participation and improve the quality, equity, and coverage of social services. Additionally, the role involves direct programmatic work with government and civil society partners, as well as facilitating linkages and providing support to teams working on education, health, child protection, , and climate change.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Social Policy Specialist NOC or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Social Policy Officer will: Summary of key functions/accountabilities: 1. Improving data at the local level on child poverty & vulnerability for increased use of local policy and programme action • Supports the collection, analysis, and user-friendly presentation of data at the local level on multidimensional and monetary child poverty, including strengthening local capacity to collect routinely, report, and use data for policy decision-making. • Provides timely, regular data-driven analysis for effective prioritization, planning, and development at the local level; facilitates results-based management for planning, adjusting, and scaling up specific social policy initiatives at local level to reduce child poverty. • Coordinate with UNICEF program staff to support the provision of background documents and the collection of data for research and studies and other research activities. • Support the planning and conduct of capacity building and learning events to disseminate the results of research, studies, and other research activities at the end of field work and at appropriate times during the programming cycle. • Update the UNICEF’s evidence platform: Evidence Information Systems Integration (EISI) from the planning phase till the reporting phase, for research, studies, evaluations, capacity building, partners’ major data collection activities, and data and analytics products, in collaboration with the M&E Officer, the Social Policy Specialist, and program sections. • Organize and deliver peer learning and knowledge sharing sessions related to data and research. • Support the development and production of analytical summaries, synthesis, fact sheets, and briefs, based on final data sets and completed reports by the MCO, for use by a broad range of stakeholders. 2. 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 at local level, with special attention on the most marginalized. Identifies, generates and presents evidence to support this goal in collaboration with partners. • Supports improved monitoring and research around social protection impact on child outcomes, and use of data and research findings for strengthening programme results. 3. Strengthening capacity of local governments to plan, budget, consult on and monitor child-focused social services. • As national decentralization processes are taking place, support and collaborate 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. • Developing and putting in place systems and capacities (database, HR, tools and processes) for developing and updating island profiles for the Kudhinnaa Gaathun islands/cities. • Undertakes and builds the 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. 4. 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. • Identifies other critical partners, promotes awareness and builds capacity of partners, and actively facilitates effective collaboration within the UN family. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day) • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. Results/expected outputs: • As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • The efficient and effective technical, administrative and operational support provided to the development and implementation of strategic and effective advocacy, planning and formulation of social policy programmes/projects 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 programmes and projects in turn contribute to maintaining/enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide programme services for mothers and children that promotes greater social equality in the country. • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment. • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.