Social Policy Officer (Public Finance for Children – PF4C)

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission 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. UNICEF is known for its passionate culture and attractive compensation and benefits package, emphasizing the importance of equity and inclusion in its operations.

Job Overview:
The Social Policy Officer (Public Finance for Children – PF4C) plays a crucial role in implementing UNICEF Ukraine's agenda focused on equitable, transparent, and child-centered public finance and local governance. This position involves providing technical assistance, analytical support, and coordination for efforts aimed at strengthening budget planning, public investment management, and fiscal decision-making that enhance the well-being of children and families in both humanitarian and recovery contexts. The officer will work closely with various ministries and local governments to ensure that public financial resources are effectively utilized to support child rights and development. The role also emphasizes the importance of integrating equity, gender, and child-sensitivity principles into budgeting processes, thereby contributing to the overall goal of building resilient and inclusive governance in Ukraine.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct regular national and subnational budget analyses across various sectors to identify trends, bottlenecks, and equity gaps, supporting evidence-based prioritization and allocation of public funds for children and families.
• Develop practical tools for programme-based, results-based, and medium-term budgeting, ensuring transparency and accountability in public spending.
• Collaborate with government partners to strengthen institutional capacity in analysis" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">financial analysis of social protection and child-related budgets.
• Provide technical assistance to local authorities to integrate PF4C principles into local strategies and budget proposals.
• Co-design and deliver capacity-building initiatives on budgeting and public investment management.
• Support advocacy efforts by building partnerships with government, civil society, and private sector stakeholders to embed PF4C priorities in sector strategies.
• Monitor socio-economic trends and policy developments related to public finance and social sector financing.
• Coordinate and monitor PF4C-related activities under UNICEF’s Country Programme, ensuring alignment with national priorities and effective collaboration with external partners.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in fields such as Economics, Public Policy, Public Finance Management, International Relations, Law, or Political Science. A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in public finance management, budgeting, public policy development, or governance is required. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of Ukraine’s public finance context and experience in advocacy and stakeholder engagement to promote equitable public spending.

Educational Background:
A university degree in a relevant field such as Economics, Public Policy, Public Finance Management, International Relations, Law, or Political Science is required for this position. This educational background is essential to understand the complexities of public finance and social policy development.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in areas such as public finance management, budgeting, public policy development, and governance. Candidates should have demonstrated knowledge of Ukraine’s public finance and social sector reform context, as well as experience in evidence generation and advocacy.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Ukrainian is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's profile for international collaboration.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Kyiv and may require periodic travel to regions. The role is full-time and involves working on-site, with the possibility of relocation within Ukraine depending on security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security conditions. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including those with disabilities. The organization offers a range of benefits, including paid parental leave and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its objectives, including discrimination and abuse.