Regional Adviser Social Policy, P-5, LACRO, Panama City, Panama #17371

Regional Adviser Social Policy P-5 for UNICEF's Regional Office in Latin America and Caribbean located in Panama City, Panama. The Regional Adviser Social Policy reports to the Deputy Regional Director and serves as an authoritative adviser to the Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director, the Regional Management Team, 24 Country Offices and Government institutions/officials on strategies, policies, approaches, best practices and knowledge on social policy.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

For every child, an advocate

The Regional Adviser Social Policy for Latin America and the Caribbean reports to the Deputy Regional Director and serves as an authoritative adviser to the Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director, the Regional Management Team, 24 Country Offices and Government institutions/officials on strategies, policies, approaches, best practices and knowledge on social policy.

How can you make a difference?

• Provide regional advisory services and technical support on strategic planning/discussion
• Support country offices on program development and planning
• Regional program monitoring and assessment
• Policy advocacy, networking and partnership building
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

1. Regional advisory services and technical support on strategic discussions around child poverty, child-sensitive social protection, public investment in children and decentralized and local governance - Advise key national government officials, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners on policies, strategies, approaches and best practices on social policies and related issues, to support program development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results. Participate in regional key events and strategic discussions to influence policy discussions and agenda setting on social policy related issues. Develop and/or recommend regional program policies, strategies and approaches. Lead and/or organize regional strategic discussions and planning on social policy and related programming issues.
2. Support to country offices on program development and planning - Collaborate with Regional Management/Country Office teams throughout all stages of social policy programming to provide technical support to program preparation, implementation and monitoring for results. Provide policy guidance and technical support to national external partners/internal colleagues to develop national policies/strategies for UNICEF assisted programs. Contribute to the planning and conduct/update of situation analysis to ensure that current and evidence based data on social policy issues are available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy advocacy, intervention and development efforts on child rights and protection. Keep abreast of national/regional/international development priorities on social policy to leverage UNICEF’s position and competencies with donors, national governments, communities and constituents to advocate/promote social protection interventions and policies. Provide technical advice to facilitate the preparation of the Country Office social policy program recommendations and to ensure alignment of programs goals with the overall UNICEF’ Strategic Plans 2018-2021.
3. Regional program monitoring and assessment - Ensure effective and efficient monitoring of different country programmes within the region. Collaborate with HQ Advisers, Regional/Country Monitoring and Evaluation Advisers/Officers to establish benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results on social policy programs. Participate in major monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual sector reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine and to provide advice on required action/interventions to achieve results.
4. Advocacy, networking and partnership building - Establish 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 agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals. Collaborate with/advise country offices in the region to develop strategies and implementation plans and activities for maximum communication impact and outreach to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support resource mobilization for UNICEF and Country Office social policy programs and projects. Participate and/or represent UNICEF (as delegated/designated) in key events/meetings and in inter-agency (UNDG LAC) discussions and planning on social policy and related issues to ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are clearly articulated and fully considered/integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting. Collaborate with regional inter-agency partners/colleagues UNDAF planning and preparation of related programs and projects.
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building - Promote critical thinking and introduce program innovations, approaches and good practices in the region for sustainable social policy programs/projects initiatives through advocacy and technical advisory services. Keep abreast, research, benchmark, introduce and implement best and cutting edge practices in the region’s social policy program management and information systems. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned. Identify, assess, vet and disseminate a roster of qualified experts and highly recognized institutions for easy access and use by stakeholders. Lead and/or develop policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programs and projects. Lead/plan/implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results on social policy programing, advocacy and technical support.

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

• An advanced university degree in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, International Finance, Public Relations, Media, Communication or other relevant disciplines.
• A minimum of twelve years of relevant professional work experience in all aspects of programme management, and/or advisory support, in the technical area or programme sector resulting in recognized expertise in the technical area.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered a strong asset.
• Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of French or Portuguese will be considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty,

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.