TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT : Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance for Children – PF4C), (NO-3), Lilongwe, Malawi #121453 (Open to Malawian Nationals Only)

The Malawi Country Office offers an exciting and rewarding career opportunity for you to join our dynamic team within the Social Policy section where you will be responsible for providing technical and programmatic support and assistance in all stages of Public Finance for Children (PF4C) programming and related advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results.

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, Empowerment...

UNICEF Malawi Country Programme (2019-2023) is aligned with the Government of Malawi’s Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS III) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The programme supports the Government of Malawi to meet its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights in line with international conventions and standards. The country programme is guided by the principles of children’s rights, equity, gender equality, inclusion and resilience, and supports evidence-based, integrative and innovative programming. The vision is that ‘all girls and boys in Malawi, especially the most disadvantaged and deprived, realize their rights’.  The programme focuses on: early childhood (parenting, high-impact social services, early stimulation and learning), middle childhood and adolescence (learning, multi-sectoral services, active citizenship), communities (decentralized services and systems, community ownership, social norms), programme effectiveness (monitoring, evaluation, HACT, Innovation, Social Protection and Social Policy and External Communication.  The programme is based on ‘leaving no child behind’, realizing ‘rights for all children in Malawi’.

The Social Policy Specialist (PF4C) contributes to Malawi Country Office’s (MCO) efforts to leverage greater, more effective, and equitable public investments in the social sectors (health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), social protection, nutrition and child protection). These efforts are aligned to MCO’s PF4C Strategy as well as UNICEF’s global and regional strategies on Public Finance for Children (PF4C) and Local Governance. The appointment will be on temporary appointment modality.

How can you make a difference?

The Malawi Country Office offers an exciting and rewarding career opportunity for you to join our dynamic team within the Social Policy section where you will be responsible for providing technical and programmatic support and assistance in all stages of Public Finance for Children (PF4C) programming and related advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results.

In your role, you will be under the overall guidance and supervision of the Social Policy and Economics Specialist. This job therefore, presents a unique and significant opportunity for a qualified, vibrant, motivated and committed person to contribute to the overall achievement of transformative results for children with professional excellence and by delivering on the following key responsibility areas, but not limited to - you are however encouraged to read the attached and detailed job description  Job Description TA NOC Social Policy Specialist (PF4C)_1Aug22 - FINAL.pdf  in order to  view the full role and its requirements:

• Strategic planning, policy influencing and monitoring and evaluation activities for Child Protection and Social Protection financing interventions with the Ministry of Gender, Child Development and Social Welfare
• Modelling for policy impact analysis and costing as well as preparation of investment cases and advocacy materials for Child Protection and Social Protection, with a specific focus on the Social Cash Transfers Programme
• Identifying and implementing system strengthening activities in the area of upstream PFM at national and sub-national level
• Generating and analyzing evidence on child poverty and vulnerability to inform Government and UNICEF programming
• Advocating for more efficient, effective and sustainable financing for social sector service delivery with Government, Parliament and other relevant stakeholders

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

Education:

An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field. 

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of relevant professional social policy related work experience is required.
• Proven experience in upstream Public Finance Management is required, more specifically having worked in planning and budget preparation within line ministries (in the social sectors) or Ministry of Finance.
• Proven experience in working within a MTEF/Programme-Based Budget system (selection and monitoring of inputs, outputs and outcomes) is required.
• Proven experience in the preparation of costing models, investment cases, surveys or other evidence generation activities to support improved investments in Child Protection and Social Protection is required.
• Proven knowledge of the Social Cash Transfers Programme and of other social protection interventions within Malawi’s National Social Support Programme II is required.
• Experience working on programme or project evaluation is considered as a strong asset.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered a strong asset.

Technical knowledge and skills:

• Knowledge of Public Finance Management procedures, processes and standards is required, specifically for upstream PFM (planning and budgeting) in MTEF/PBB settings.
• Knowledge of Child Protection and Social Protection policies, programmes and interventions in Malawi is required.
• Knowledge of Government sectoral financing and management processes and procedures is required.
• Knowledge of STATA or other statistical analysis programmes is required.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills are required, particularly in the area of macroeconomics, public finance management and financing of social sectors.
• Strong drafting skills are required. The person will be requested to draft clearly and concisely to support the production of UNICEF’s own products (Budget briefs, etc.) as well to support quality assurance and improvements to reports produced for UNICEF or with UNICEF’s financial support.
• The capacity to work in an international team, with different profiles and in a multi-cultural setting is required.

Language:

• Fluency in English, both strong verbal and written skills, is essential.
• Fluency in Chichewa is a strong asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS).

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.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

The position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

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’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable females are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID).

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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 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/.

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

The vacancy announcement is open to all candidates – both internal and external candidates.

UNICEF Malawi is seeking individuals who are motivated to make a real difference and serve the children of Malawi with resourcefulness, resilience, creativity, and professional excellence.