Social Policy Specialist (Development)

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency that works in over 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development to its staff. UNICEF has a strong focus on building careers and fostering a culture of belonging and growth, supported by an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Job Overview:
The Social Policy Specialist (Development), NO-C, is a pivotal role based in the UNICEF Field Office in Quetta. This position reports to the Chief Field Office, P-5, and receives technical guidance from the Chief of Social Policy. The primary function of this role is to provide an analytical and evidence-based understanding of the political, social, cultural, and economic context in the province, which impacts the programming environment. The specialist will support UNICEF in advancing children's rights by implementing, monitoring, and evaluating social policy programs. This includes strategic planning, formulation, and delivery of sustainable results, with a focus on gender and disability mainstreaming. The role also involves improving the use of public financial resources for children, strengthening social protection coverage, and enhancing data on child poverty and vulnerability for policy and program action.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Social Policy Specialist (Development) include:

• Conducting analysis of the development context and emerging issues in the province to position UNICEF effectively in advancing children's rights.
• Improving the utilization of public financial resources for children.
• Strengthening social protection coverage and its impact on children.
• Enhancing data collection and analysis on child poverty and vulnerability to inform policy and program actions.
• Leading advocacy efforts and building partnerships for child-sensitive social policy.
• Managing the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of social policy programs.
• Supporting the evaluation and research functions at the Provincial Coordination Office (PCO).
• Leading initiatives related to gender equality and disability inclusion in programming.

Required Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in fields such as Economics, International Development, Political Science, Social Science, Social Policy, Public Policy, International Relations, or Socio-Economic Development. Additionally, candidates should have a minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience in areas such as social policy, social protection, child poverty, public finance, governance, policy analysis, or program planning. A solid understanding of the development context in Pakistan, particularly its decentralized governance structure, is essential. Candidates must also demonstrate skills in stakeholder coordination, humanitarian engagement, effective communication, policy writing, and information dissemination.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as Economics, International Development, Political Science, Social Science, Social Policy, Public Policy, International Relations, or Socio-Economic Development. This advanced education is crucial for understanding the complexities of social policy and its implications for children's rights and welfare.

Experience:
Candidates are expected to have a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in social policy, social protection, child poverty, public finance, governance, policy analysis, or program planning. This experience should ideally include work in developing countries, particularly in fragile settings and humanitarian contexts, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced in these environments.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory for this position, with candidates expected to be fluent in both written and spoken forms. Additionally, knowledge of another official UN language (such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
This position is a temporary appointment for a duration of 364 days. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, persons with disabilities, and individuals from underrepresented groups. The organization offers a range of benefits, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Candidates must comply with medical clearance and vaccination requirements as mandated by UNICEF. The recruitment process includes rigorous background checks, and UNICEF does not charge any processing fees at any stage of the recruitment process.