UNICEF seeks a highly motivated Social Policy Specialist to lead Public Financial Management (PFM), decentralisation and child poverty coordination, advocacy and analysis to advance equitable public investments in the social sectors.
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For every child, the right to Opportunity
How can you make a difference
UNICEF Malawi’s Country Programme seeks to ensure that all children and adolescents survive, grow, learn and are protected, with particular attention to the most vulnerable and those at risk of being left behind. Reporting to the Chief of Social Policy, the Social Policy Specialist will lead technical guidance, operational support and coordination throughout all stages of programming to strengthen the Government of Malawi’s planning, financing, budgeting and expenditure management, and accountability of public financial resources to achieve better outcomes for children and vulnerable populations.
In a complex, risk-prone environment, responsibilities include strengthening public financial management, budget analysis and social sector financing, enhancing transparency, accountability, and oversight of public finances at both the national and subnational level (decentralization), and producing cutting-edge and tailored evidence on social sector financing, including analytical data on the situation of children and coverage and impact of child-focused services. These actions will include strategic high-level engagement and coordination with government counterparts, development partners, and contractors to ensure country programmatic outcomes are met.
UNICEF seeks a highly motivated Social Policy Specialist to lead Public Financial Management (PFM), decentralisation and child poverty coordination, advocacy and analysis to advance equitable public investments in the social sectors.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
Social Policy Specialist
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.
- Work Experience: A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience is required. Proven experience in upstream Public Finance Management is required, specifically having worked on planning and budget preparation with line ministries (especially in social sectors), the Ministry of Finance, and/or other relevant Public Sector entities. Proven knowledge and experience of Malawi’s National Social Protection system and wider social service sector financing. Proven knowledge and experience of the decentralization process – specifically how public resources are planned, allocated, transferred, managed and accounted for at both the national and local government levels to improve service delivery. and any other related fields.
- Skills: Project and budget management skills. Experience effectively supervising team performance through goal setting, regular feedback, and performance management processes. Demonstrated experience collaborating with high-level development and government partners on public financial management and decentralization issues. Strong analytical skills, including the ability to use data and evidence to assess the situation of children, analyze service coverage and impact, interpret public financing data and trends, and inform social policy and country programme decisions. Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively convey public financial management policy recommendations and engage stakeholders. Ability to perform under pressure; ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.
Desirables:
- Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
- Previous experience with UNICEF or another UN agency is considered as a strong asset. Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset. Proven experience in working within a Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF)/Programme-Based Budget (PBB) system, including the selection and monitoring of inputs, outputs, and outcomes. Proven experience in preparing costing models, investment cases, surveys, or other evidence generation activities to support improved investments in Social Protection and other Social Sectors. Demonstrated capacity to generate evidence, monitor progress, and prepare high-quality analytical reports on public finance reforms and social sector investments.
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
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
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people
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 candidates 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.
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: 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.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.