Project Coordinator-Social Pro

1.  Type of Assignment:              National UN Volunteer  

2.  Type of Assignment Place:     Family Duty Station

3.   Assignment Title:                  Project Coordinator – Social Protection Pilot and Studies

4.  Link with UNV Strategic Framework :  Youth

5.  Duty Station, Country:            Beijing, China

6.  Duration (in months):             12

7.  Expected Starting Date:          Mid October 2017

8  Host Agency/Host Institute:     UNICEF China

9.  Organizational Context/Project:      

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.  UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children’s rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children.  UNICEF insists that the survival, protection and development of children are universal development imperatives that are integral to human progress.

UNICEF and China have a long history of collaboration.  In 1947, China became the first country in Asia to welcome a partnership with UNICEF, and our first programme provided emergency relief services to children.  Between 1948 and 1951, our work in China included child feeding, as well as training to build capacity for maternal and child health care, sanitation and first aid.  This training programme later influenced China's “barefoot doctor” rural healthcare system.  Our partnerships in China resumed in 1979.  Since that time, we have contributed to many of China's most significant developments for children.

UNICEF China and its government partners work to improve the lives of the most vulnerable children.  Every child has the right to survive, develop, be protected and participate in family and society.  UNICEF collaborates with many partners to help make those rights a reality in China.  We work by developing demonstration models and approaches in rural poor and urban marginalized communities.  Once an approach has been shown to be effective, we support the government to replicate and expand the approach with its own budget.

We also play an important role in advancing research and assembling scientific evidence about children in collaboration with Chinese universities, research centres and policy-making institutions.  We support the government to use this data, along with the findings from our pilot programmes, to develop evidence-based policies and laws.

In the recent past, many important achievements for children in China have been based on innovative models and pioneering research supported by UNICEF.  For more than thirty years, our programme of cooperation with the Government of China has helped to improve the lives of children and women in all provinces.

We also partner with the private sector by providing ideas and opportunities for improving the lives of children in China.  Children's rights and welfare are integral to a corporation's social responsibility to the communities in which it works.  We are helping the private sector to develop child's rights business principles, engage on protecting child rights, and mobilize to make children's lives better.

Our work focuses on seven areas: health and nutrition; education; child protection; water and sanitation; HIV and AIDS; social policy; and emergency preparedness and response.  Today, the single most important focus of our work is to reduce disparities and help bring about equity for children.

Finally, as a global child rights organization, UNICEF also helps to give a voice to and advocate for children, so that their rights are given the highest priority by all sectors of society.  As China's development moves ahead rapidly we are increasingly focused on engaging all citizens in China in the mission of promoting and protecting children's rights.

Brief Portfolio Description:

Social Policy and Reform for Children (SPARC) of UNICEF China promotes child-sensitive and integrated social protection system, and supports the Government of China to improve the system so that it is more equitable and inclusive to benefit all children in China. Support is provided to the enhancing of the awareness of the government partners with regards to the importance and effectiveness of child-sensitive social protection to tackle poverty, and to the strengthening of the capacity of government partners to reach the most disadvantaged children through improved and new social protection strategies. Work is undertaken with national partners to generate knowledge and tool to ensure that China’s evolving social protection strategies and instruments take account of child poverty in all its dimensions, and to pilot and test how to better integrate cash assistance with other social services through social organizations’ participation. 

·         Proven analytical and research skills in the area of social assistance and social work and poverty; Experience working with social work organizations an asset;

·         Strong oral and written communication and presentation skills;

·         Strong relationship building skills with internal and external counterparts;

·         Strong organizational skills;

·         Creative thinking and ability to take initiatives;

·         Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;

·         Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;

·         Promotes a learning environment within and outside the team;

·         Computer skills: Command of standard office software packages; Internet research.

Education:

·         Degree in Social Policy, Social Work, Sociology, or a related field.

Professional experience:

·         At least 1 year relevant work experience, preferably at the national or international level in the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of development projects;

·         Previous experience in/with the UN, including solid knowledge of UN/UNICEF programme and operations, policies and procedures an asset.

Language Requirements:

·         Full professional proficiency in English and Chinese, written and oral.

Living Conditions:

The duty station of the national UNV is in the UNICEF China office located in Beijing, where high-quality public infrastructure and health services are available. It is the foremost political and cultural metropolis in China.  The city has excellent health services available.

In general, rent for apartments in central locations is high relative to other regions in China, but quality is good. Beijing is well served by many shopping malls, large supermarket chains and international brands. Buses and subways are the most common form of mass transportation. Metered taxis are widely available and domestic and regional travel by train and airplane is popular. 

Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers

The National UN Volunteer receives a standard volunteer living allowance (VLA), which is intended to cover their accommodation and basic living expenses. In China, the VLA is 4,875 RMB per month. The NUNV is entitled to an excellent health, life and disability insurance package.  A modest Settling-in Grant and end of assignment allowances will also be provided along with travel to and from the duty station. The NUNV is entitled to 2.5 days personal leave per month and UN official holidays.

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from all qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, ethnicity, culture, religion, age and sexual orientation.