Programme Specialist (Social Protection), P-4, Beirut, Lebanon, #98869

Under the close supervision of the Chief of Social Policy, the position is responsible for the overall coordination and management of the Social Protection output are of the Government of Lebanon/UNICEF Social Inclusion Programme. UNICEF aims to strengthen the scope, scale, targeting and efficiency of the national social protection system for an increasing number of poor and disadvantaged Lebanese children and their families while in tandem support the increasing need for social safety net benefits to refugee and Non-Lebanese children and their families constrained by limited livelihood and economic opportunities. The position leads the social protection programme planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programme activities in consultation with programme sections and Ministries, including capacity building of programme counterparts, partners and staff.

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Position

Under the close supervision of the Chief of Social Policy, the position is responsible for the overall coordination and management of the Social Protection output are of the Government of Lebanon/UNICEF Social Inclusion Programme. UNICEF aims to strengthen the scope, scale, targeting and efficiency of the national social protection system for an increasing number of poor and disadvantaged Lebanese children and their families while in tandem support the increasing need for social safety net benefits to refugee and Non-Lebanese children and their families constrained by limited livelihood and economic opportunities.

The position leads the social protection programme planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programme activities in consultation with programme sections and Ministries, including capacity building of programme counterparts, partners and staff.

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks

1. Knowledge Management for Programmes

• Ensure that social protection output area is supported by knowledge management through data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting as well as participation in "lessons learned" and other corporate-level databases supported by the Planning, Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation Section.
• Participate in information exchange through donor and media visits as well as in the development of training and orientation material.

2. Programme Development and Management

• Identify critical intervention points and measures by administering a consistent and transparent monitoring system; analyse national level multi-dimensional poverty and socio-political-economic trends and their implications for ongoing programmes and projects for disadvantaged Lebanese and Non-Lebanese children in Lebanon
• Draft changes to/or prepare programme work plans as required. Prepare program recommendations for inclusion in formal programme documentation, and new approaches, methods and practices.
• Establishes social protection programme workplans, monitors compliance and provides training, support and guidance to the programme team in order to meet objectives. Identifies human resources requirements and on-going staff development needs.
• Reviews and evaluates the technical, institutional and financial feasibility and constraints of programme/projects in collaboration with Government and other partners.
• Prepares relevant programme reports required for management, the Executive Board, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, etc.

3. Optimum Use of Program Resources

• Establish and supervise programme work plans and monitor progress and compliance.  Monitor the overall allocation and disbursement of programme funds, making sure that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated. Take appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds. Ensure programme efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation
• As a line manager, manage social protection resources by leading technical consultants.

4. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations

• Undertakes field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decides on required corrective action.
• Carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation and participate the major programme evaluation exercises in consultation with Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Operations and Field Operations and others to improve efficiency and quality of programme delivery. Ensure quarterly review with local government and stakeholders and participates in annual sector review meetings with national government counterparts, when required.  Ensure the timely preparation of annual program status reports.

5. Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach

• Adopt rights-based programmes approach in the formulation of social protection programme goals and objectives and development of strategies and implementation frameworks. Formulate consistent and effective planning, design, implementation, monitoring and/or evaluation of programmes and projects. Bring coherence, synergy and added value to the programming planning and design processes using a results-based management and inter-sectoral approach to programme planning and design.
• Prepare and submit viable recommendations on project implementation, alternative approaches, and optimal utilization of resources that contribute effectively to the fulfilment of the rights of children and women, and recommendations on programme, new initiatives and management issues to ensure achievement of stated objectives.

6. National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability

• Provide national government authorities with technical supports and guidance to develop policy as well as plan and organize training social protection programmes for the purpose of capacity building and programme sustainability in consultation with line Ministries and section colleagues.
• Ensure the building and reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners starting with taking a strategic approach to the identification of these partners and partnerships.

7. Rights Perspective and Advocacy at the Local Government, Community and Family Levels

• Conduct policy analysis from a children's and women's rights perspective and advocacy at the local government, community and family levels for elevating credibility in national policy debates. Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through active advocacy and communication.
• Supports the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting on projects supported by UNICEF with a specific focus on the most vulnerable communities, through a lens of Do No Harm and underlined by a philosophy of building community resilience.

8. Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration

• Develop partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development data and information, exchange information on programme/project status and implementation and movement/distribution of supplies. Linkage to the Regional Programme Knowledge Network to ensure the availability of current and accurate programme data.
• Establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of programming endeavours and to coordinate programme, financial and supply management requirements and accountability.
• Maintain close collaboration with Section Chiefs for effective overall coordination on programmes.
• Plans, develops and implements inter-sectoral programme(s) by collaborating with the government and other partners such as the World Bank, UNHCR, WFP and NGOs. Provide leadership in provision of technical advice, negotiation, advocacy and promotion of area/country level goals, leading to agreement on practicable and priority actions to be supported by UNICEF programme and country level cooperation.

Impact of Results

1. Social Protection programme management strengthened by effective knowledge management and system.
2. Situation Analysis prepared/updated, critical programme intervention point/measures identified, and programme work plans/recommendations prepared and incorporated. Programme reports prepared as required.
3. Programme resources optimally used for social protection.
4. Social Protection programme monitoring and evaluations effectively conducted to improve programme performance, and programme status report timely prepared. Gender/sex disaggregated data and inputs relevant to social protection programme provided as integral part of the country programming.
5. Rights and result based, gender-relevant and inter-sectoral programming approach fully incorporated into all phases of programme and projects processes.
6. Commitment and institutional capacities of the partners effectively gained and established.
7. Rights perspective and advocacy at the local, community and family levels incorporated in policy analysis for establishing and elevating UNICEF's credibility in national debates on social protection policy, systems and services.
8. Effective partnership and collaboration achieved and maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, programme development/management/coordination, information sharing and networking.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• An advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in Economics, Public Policy, Social Protection or Social Sciences
• A minimum of eight years of relevant professional work experience, including in the areas of Social policy and/or Child Protection. Special expertise in Social Protection system programming is required; preferably also in an humanitarian context
• Middle income country work experience is required.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required. Knowledge of Arabic and French is an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core Values 

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication - Level II
• Working with People - Level II
• Drive for Results - Level II

Functional Competencies

• Leading and Supervising - Level II
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts - Level II
• Analyzing - Level II
• Relating and Networking - Level II
• Persuading and Influencing - Level II 
• Creating and Innovating - Level II

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.