Temporary Appointment - Social Policy & Economic Specialist, (NO-3), Kigali, Rwanda #134765

The candidate will be 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. This encompasses both direct programme work with government and civil society partners as well as linkages and support to teams working on education, health, child protection, water and sanitation, and HIV.

UNICEF, guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, works together with partners in 190 countries and territories to promote and advocate for the protection of the rights of every child.

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.

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For every child, Protection

To learn more about UNICEF career and the work in Rwanda, please visit our website https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/RWA/ and UNICEF Careers | UNICEF Careers.

How can you make a difference? 

1. Context

The UNICEF Rwanda Country Programme 2025-2029 aims to support the Government in meeting its commitments to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights in line with the Convention of the Rights of the Child and the 2022 recommendations from the Committee on the Rights of the Child. It is aligned with the Government’s priorities, as identified in the National Strategy of Transformation II 2024-2029 (NTS 2) recently endorsed by the government.  The office raises approximately USD 12 million annually from public and private donors and increasingly contributes to leveraging funds for the government in social sectors. In an increasingly competitive environment, the RCO needs a full-time Social Policy professional to support in advocating for adequate public and private resources towards social sectors that are necessary for meeting the children immediate needs and unleashing their full future potential.

1. Purpose of the position

The candidate will be 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. This encompasses both direct programme work with government and civil society partners as well as linkages and support to teams working on education, health, child protection, water and sanitation, and HIV.

1. Key Expected Results

Key functions/accountabilities for this appointment are as follows:

Enhancing use of public financial resources for children

• Undertakes budget analysis to inform UNICEF’s advocacy and technical assistance to Ministries of Finance and social sector ministries with a focus on identifying efficiencies and cost effectiveness within social sectors that can inform policy decisions on child-focused investments at a time where spending within social sectors is declining.
• Supports the identification of policy options for improved domestic financing of child-sensitive social protection interventions as well as other sectors heavily reliant on external financing.
• Undertakes and builds capacity of partners for improved monitoring and tracking of public expenditure.

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

• Supports the collection, analysis, and user-friendly presentation of data on multidimensional and monetary child poverty for effective policy decision-making.
• Provides timely, regular data-driven analysis for effective prioritization and scaling-up of specific social policy initiatives to reduce child poverty. 
• Analyzes the macroeconomic context and its impact on social development, promotes appropriate responses in respect of such issues and concerns.

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 so as to devise child-focused service delivery that aligns with 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.

Strengthened advocacy and partnerships for child-sensitive social policy.

• Supports correct and compelling use of data and evidence about children and coverage and impact of child focused services.
• 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 existing commitments and to achieve global UN agendas.
• Identifies other critical partners, promotes awareness, and builds capacity of partners, and actively facilitates effective collaboration within the UN family.

UNICEF Programme Management

• Manages and coordinates technical support around child poverty and public finance and governance. Ensuring 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 in the planning, management, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of the country program, enhancing policy dialogue, supervision, technical advice, training, research, and support through the social planning project. It also strengthens the social sectors' monitoring and evaluation and supports sectoral and decentralized information systems.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education and experience:

• 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. Two years of relevant post-bachelor’s work experience may be substituted for an advanced degree for internal staff.
• A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience is required. This includes work on public financial management.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset.
• Background and/or familiarity with emergencies are considered as a strong asset.

Knowledge and skills

• Strong background on budget finance and analysis of budgets
• Statistical and quantitative skills desirable
• Good at navigating policy reform space, and developing succinct policy analysis

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English (verbal and written) required.
• Knowledge of another language of the humanitarian operation (Kinyarwanda and Swahili) or UN language, especially French, is an asset.

5. Competencies of a Successful Candidate (Based on UNICEF professional competency profile)

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.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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. 

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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

[CO/ HQ specific: visa residence requirements: i.e.: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.]

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.