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. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, hygiene/sanitation 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.

The Social Policy programme section of UNICEF 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. 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 Improving data and evidence on child poverty & vulnerability for increased use for policy and programme action is one of the key components of UNICEF’s overall support to the Government of Mozambique under the Social Policy Section.

Under the direct supervision of Chief Social Policy and Social Policy Specialist, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Supports the program in managing databases on key child indicators and ensure they are up to date in consultation with all Programme Sections.
• Supports the program in the collection, analysis and user-friendly presentation of data, including strengthening national capacity to collect routinely, report and use data for policy decision-making.
• Provides timely, regular data-driven analysis for effective prioritization and development; facilitates results-based management for planning, adjusting, and scaling-up specific social policy initiatives to reduce child poverty.
• Provides technical support and/or do quality assurance of key research conducted by UNICEF Mozambique CO in all phases of the assignment (by supporting programme sections with the review of TORs, ensuring they have clear objectives, methods, target audience, dissemination plan and materials).
• Supports building and sustaining close working partnerships with government counterparts and national and provincial stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate program implementation and build capacity of stakeholders.