Social Policy Officer, NOA, position# 134604, Temporary Appointment, Cairo Egypt (Internal & External)

The Social Policy Officer would provide technical support and facilitation in all stages of social policy programming and related advocacy, with a primary focus on the design, oversight, and quality assurance of UNICEF’s Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) portfolio by ensuring the effective use and strategic integration of HCT and the development of a dedicated child cash grant as both an emergency response modality and consolidated cash programming within the office.

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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Hope  

Humanitarian and nexus funding in UNICEF Egypt portfolio is critical in the light of the protracted crisis in several surrounding countries (e.g. Gaza, Sudan, etc.). To date significant investments have been mobilized and others are in the process of being negotiated. Moreover, we observed a significant increase in donor conditionalities, as well as donor appetite for being regularly involved, briefed, visiting projects, etc. All this translates into significant additional workload for Egypt CO. The Partnerships Officer, under the supervision of the Chief Partnerships, Private and Public Sector, is expected to play a key role in this area, supporting both internal program coordination and donor outreach ultimately aiming at mobilizing resources for children and effectively implementing the ones already secured.

How can you make a difference? 

UNICEF Egypt’s current objectives are guided by its Country Programme Document (CPD 2023–2027), which aligns with Egypt’s Sustainable Development Strategy (Vision 2030) and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The Country Programme focuses on ensuring that every child in Egypt survives, thrives, and reaches their full potential in an inclusive and protective environment. It prioritizes five key outcome areas: Health and Nutrition, Education and Learning, Child Protection, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and Social Policy and Child Rights Monitoring — all underpinned by cross-cutting priorities of equity, gender equality, inclusion, and resilience.

The Social Policy Officer would provide technical support and facilitation in all stages of social policy programming and related advocacy, with a primary focus on the design, oversight, and quality assurance of UNICEF’s Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) portfolio by ensuring the effective use and strategic integration of HCT and the development of a dedicated child cash grant as both an emergency response modality and consolidated cash programming within the office.

 The Key objectives of this post include:

• Advancing the Technical Use of Humanitarian Cash Assistance (HCT):

Facilitating the technical execution and quality implementation of HCT and child-focused cash grants as a rapid and flexible response for the most vulnerable children and families, ensuring robust monitoring and reporting.

• Managing and Strengthening Data Systems:

Coordinate effective management and security of HCT programme data systems, through  facilitating data sharing protocols, ensuring data quality, and strengthening the capacity of relevant partners and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in beneficiary data management and analysis for accountability and programme adaptation.

• Strengthening National System Linkages:

Providing technical analysis and support to reinforce and expand the capacity of existing national social protection systems, frameworks, and delivery mechanisms to be shock-responsive.

• Policy, Law, and Legal Frameworks:

Supporting technical dialogue and preparing evidence-based policy proposals in relation to legal frameworks to enable the comprehensive, equitable, and sustainable programme implementation, particularly addressing barriers to access for vulnerable children and their families.

• Coordination, Partnerships, and Donor Reporting:

Actively facilitating strategic coordination with key Government counterparts, and representing UNICEF in relevant cash working groups.

Key functions/accountabilities:

1. Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) Programme Design and System Integration

• Facilitate the technical design and quality assurance of child-sensitive Humanitarian Cash Transfers (HCTs), including the dedicated child cash grant, ensuring all modalities are a rapid, dignified, and flexible response for the most vulnerable children and families.
• Provide technical assistance for 'Cash-Plus' integration, supporting sector teams (Education, Health, Nutrition, Child Protection, WASH, SBC/ADAP) to seamlessly link HCTs with essential complementary services to maximize positive child outcomes.

2. HCT Data Management, Monitoring, and Accountability

• Coordinate the effective management and security of HCT programme data systems (both UNICEF's internal systems, such as HOPE, and those used by partners). This includes facilitating data sharing protocols, ensuring data quality, and strengthening the capacity of relevant partners and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in beneficiary data management and analysis for accountability and programme adaptation.
• Support robust monitoring, evaluation, and research around HCT efficiency, impact on child outcomes, and programmatic results, ensuring the compelling use of evidence for programme adjustments and scale-up.
• Strengthen Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) mechanisms (including feedback and complaints) within HCT operations, analyzing operational challenges to propose context-specific solutions, such as the responsible and secure use of digital payments.

3. System Strengthening and Legal Frameworks

• Facilitate the strategic alignment of HCT design and implementation with national social protection systems, frameworks, and delivery mechanisms to promote shock-responsiveness.
• Support technical dialogue and analysis to review laws and legal frameworks to enable the comprehensive, equitable, and sustainable delivery of service.

 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—specifically the impact of HCT and cash grants—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.
• Actively facilitates strategic coordination with key Government counterparts, and represents UNICEF in relevant Cash Working Groups (CWG) and inter-agency forums to harmonize cash assistance efforts and promote system strengthening.
• Identifies other critical partners, promotes awareness and builds capacity of partners, and actively facilitates effective collaboration within the UN.

5. UNICEF Programme Management

• Helps manage and coordinate technical support around social policy 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.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Social Policy Officer NOA_TA -4 Nov- fINAL.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education:

  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 one year of relevant professional experience is required.

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

•  Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

 Specific skills Required: 

• Technical Expertise in Cash Transfers & Social Protection: Solid understanding of design, implementation, and monitoring of Humanitarian Cash Transfers (HCTs) and shock-responsive social protection systems.
• Vulnerability Analysis: Deep understanding of poverty analysis, vulnerability assessment, and the application of cash modalities, including child cash grants.
• Data Systems and Quantitative Analysis: Proven capacity to manage, coordinate, and interpret complex data systems related to cash assistance (e.g., beneficiary registration platforms like UNICEF HOPE or national MIS). Strong quantitative and analytical skills to synthesize data, assess impact, and translate findings into clear, evidence-based narratives for programme adaptation.
• Knowledge of the national development context: Familiarity with Egypt’s social protection framework, national policy priorities, and the institutional landscape of key government ministries, development partners, and social-sector programmes.
• Partnership and coordination skills: Experience in working collaboratively with government institutions, UN agencies, civil-society organizations, and academic partners.
• Communication and presentation skills: Excellent ability to communicate complex analyses in clear, compelling, and accessible language for diverse audiences, including policy briefs, reports, and presentations.

Desirables:

• While only a minimum of one year of relevant professional experience is required, three or more years of professional experience would be preferred.
• An Advanced University Degree in a relevant field such as Public Policy, Development Economics, or International Relations would be preferred.
• Specific experience of working within the government.
• Proven ability to effectively coordinate internally with other sections and externally with partners and stakeholders, supporting 'Cash-Plus' integration by seamlessly linking HCTs with internal sector teams (CP, SBC, CSD, etc.) and effectively collaborating with CSOs and UN agencies.

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 promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable male 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.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: 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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.