Senior National Technical Advisor

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency dedicated to providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. With a mission to advocate for the protection of children's rights, UNICEF operates in over 150 countries, employing thousands of staff members who work tirelessly to improve the lives of children and their families. The organization focuses on various areas including health, education, child protection, and social inclusion, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.

Job Overview:
The Senior National Technical Advisor position at UNICEF Iraq is a consultancy role aimed at providing high-quality technical expertise and policy advisory support to UNICEF and government counterparts. The primary objective is to advance child-sensitive social protection, evidence-informed planning, and public financial accountability for children. The advisor will contribute to capacity development, policy analysis, coordination, and implementation support across four interlinked technical areas. This role is crucial as UNICEF Iraq scales up its support to the Government of Iraq to reduce child poverty, strengthen public investment in children, reform the national social protection system, and enhance evidence generation through the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2025). The advisor will facilitate the implementation of UNICEF’s child-sensitive Social Inclusion and Policy (SIP) portfolio, which includes developing a national child poverty measurement methodology, establishing a child poverty monitoring system, and tracking public spending on children. The advisor will also engage in high-level policy discussions and influence national authorities to foster ownership and sustainability of ongoing reforms, requiring deep political and institutional expertise and a robust professional network.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior National Technical Advisor will be responsible for a variety of tasks including:

• Representing UNICEF in high-level discussions with government stakeholders and attending key meetings at short notice.
• Conducting a Fiscal Space Analysis for Social Protection to identify sustainable financing opportunities.
• Supporting policy dialogue and generating high-level engagement through evidence-based presentations and advocacy products.
• Providing technical advice to support UNICEF’s engagement in the reform programme on Social Protection, ensuring coherence with partner agencies.
• Developing performance monitoring frameworks and indicators to assess social protection effectiveness.
• Engaging with relevant ministries to strengthen integrated service delivery systems.
• Advocating for the expansion of universal child benefits within the social safety net programme.
• Supporting the design and implementation of MICS 2025, promoting government engagement and alignment with national data needs.
• Collaborating with international experts to deliver capacity-building activities for government staff on the use of MICS data.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s or PhD) in Economics, Public Policy, Social Policy, Development Studies, or related fields. Additionally, a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in poverty analysis, public finance, or social protection is required. Demonstrated experience in supporting government counterparts in policy reform processes is essential, along with familiarity with UNICEF programming, MICS, and international donor-funded projects. Strong influencing skills, political insight, relationship-building capabilities, and collaborative advocacy experience are also necessary for this role.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree, either a Master's or a PhD, in relevant fields such as Economics, Public Policy, Social Policy, Development Studies, or similar disciplines. This advanced education is crucial as it provides the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to navigate complex social protection systems and contribute effectively to policy development and implementation.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in areas such as poverty analysis, public finance, or social protection. Candidates should have a proven track record of supporting government counterparts in policy reform processes, particularly in contexts similar to Iraq or the MENA region. Prior experience working with UNICEF or on international donor-funded projects is highly desirable, as it indicates familiarity with the organization's objectives and operational frameworks.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication with government stakeholders, UNICEF teams, and other partners involved in the social protection reform processes. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy role is expected to operate within a politically sensitive and rapidly evolving environment, requiring the consultant to work independently and engage regularly with government stakeholders. The position does not specify a deadline for applications, and it is important to note that individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered staff members under the United Nations and UNICEF policies. Selected candidates will be subject to rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. Additionally, candidates must ensure that their visa and health insurance are valid for the duration of the contract. The selected candidate must also confirm their fully vaccinated status against COVID-19, although this requirement does not apply to those working remotely.