Policy Specialist, Finance for Development, P-4, Policy Unit, OGIP, NYHQ, NY, USA, #111622

The Policy Specialist leads OGIP’s intelligence and frontier functions in the area of financing for development by soliciting issues for inquiry; conducting analyses; translating these into internal recommendations, external policies and products for dissemination; leading internal and external engagement throughout the process and developing a compelling work program to advance the organization’s thinking in the designated area.

UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, an advocate.

The Office of Global Insight and Policy (OGIP) was established in 2019 to assist UNICEF in interpreting, and engaging in, a rapidly changing world. OGIP serves as an internal think-tank, providing UNICEF with intelligence on a range of issues with implications for children and its work, equipping the organization to more effectively shape the global discourse, and preparing it for the future by scanning the horizon for frontier issues and ways of working.  

OGIP has three overarching functions. Though its intelligence function, OGIP conducts analysis on a range of external issues based on soliciting needs across the organization, identifies implications, translates into options or recommendations, and socializes with relevant parts of the organization. Through its global discourse function, OGIP generates critical assets, including The State of the World's Children (SOWC) report, as well as commentary and briefings, to enable UNICEF to more effectively drive the global conversation vis-a-vis children and leverage its normative influence. And through its frontiers function, OGIP analyzes new issues and ways of working to incorporate into UNICEF's core business and next strategic plan where appropriate, and to drive the organization forward.

The finance for development workstream examines how financing can accelerate SDG goals and child development including for humanitarian action, ongoing development needs and risk mitigation, as well as addressing future challenges such as sustainable environment and mitigation of climate risks. It also examines new and innovative approaches and mechanisms for finance for development, including mechanisms that increase capacity for mobilizing additional resources to support development policies and contribute to development outcomes. Additionally, this workstream examines micro-level finance, including the role of household expenditure for children, costing and cost effectiveness of interventions and policies as well as returns on investment in social policies that target children and their families.

How can you make a difference?

As the Policy Specialist, Finance for Development, your functions will include:

• Identifying areas for enquiry related to financing for development through horizon scanning and soliciting inputs via consultations with UNICEF offices and partners.
• Leading stock taking, evidence generation, and analysis of issues and trends related to financing for development and identifying implication of these for UNICEF's work and children more broadly.
• Monitoring the global discourse and policy debate in financing for development and advising on policy advocacy and partnership opportunities.
• Fostering strong partnerships with leading institutions and external analysts in financing for development and collaborating closely with other UNICEF divisions, Country and Regional Offices and National Committees to develop a common understanding of relevant policy challenges and their implications.
• Supporting exploration of critical policy issues and the development of potential solutions, and options for UNICEF's engagement and positioning. 
• Providing policy advice and recommendations to UNICEF and external stakeholders on financing for children based on intelligence, analysis and horizon scanning.
• Actively supporting the strategic shift of the organization, inclusion of finance for development into key internal strategic documents, development of global policies and stakeholder investments.
• Supporting the Policy Chief and the OGIP Director preparation of briefs, background notes, Op-Eds and other products required by the Office of the Executive Director.
• Managing consultants and TA staff under his or her supervision in a way that fosters positive working environment, efficacy and drive for results.

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

• An advanced university degree in a relevant area such as economics, international development, or related field.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience in finance for development, budgetary allocation, financial flows, business investment and aid modalities.
• Extensive knowledge of humanitarian and development financing, government and ODI budgets, as well as the field of innovative finance.
• Research and analytical background including advanced analytical, communication and writing skills and ability to translate complex ideas into accessible and reader-friendly formats and text.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with other actors in the finance for development field, including researchers, government officials and other agencies.
• Familiarity with UN inter-agency processes related to financing for development.
• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious & effective working relationship both within and outside an organization.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate¦

UNICEF's core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are:

• Formulating Strategies and Concepts
• Analyzing
• Relating and Networking
• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Applying Technical Expertise
• Planning and Organizing

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Remarks

The VA is open to internal and external candidates.

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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/ 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.