Social Policy Professional

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency dedicated to advocating for the protection of children's rights and ensuring their well-being across the globe. With a presence in 190 countries and territories, UNICEF works collaboratively with various partners to promote children's rights and improve their living conditions. The organization is committed to fostering a culture that supports staff development and offers diverse opportunities for personal and professional growth. UNICEF prides itself on its attractive compensation and benefits package, which reflects its commitment to its employees and the mission of serving every child.

Job Overview:
The Social Policy Professional will play a crucial role in the UNICEF Rwanda Country Programme 2025-2029, which aims to support the Government of Rwanda in fulfilling its commitments to children's rights as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This position involves providing technical support for the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of social policy programming and advocacy efforts. The candidate will work on improving public policies to reduce child poverty, enhance social protection coverage, and ensure effective public investments in child-focused services. The role requires collaboration with government and civil society partners, as well as support for teams working in education, health, child protection, water and sanitation, and HIV. The successful candidate will be responsible for advocating for adequate resources for social sectors and ensuring that children's immediate needs are met while maximizing their future potential.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Enhance the use of public financial resources for children by conducting budget analysis to inform advocacy and technical assistance to relevant ministries.
• Identify policy options for improved domestic financing of child-sensitive social protection interventions.
• Build capacity among partners for monitoring and tracking public expenditure.
• Support the collection and analysis of data on child poverty and vulnerability to inform policy decisions.
• Collaborate with local governments to improve planning, budgeting, and monitoring of child-focused social services.
• Establish effective partnerships with various stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector, to promote child-sensitive social policy.
• Manage and coordinate technical support around child poverty and public finance, ensuring risk analysis is integrated into overall management.
• Support the planning, management, and evaluation of the country program, enhancing policy dialogue and technical advice.

Required Qualifications:

• An advanced university degree in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or a relevant technical field.
• A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience, including public financial management.
• Experience in a developing country is a strong asset, as is familiarity with emergency situations.
• Strong background in budget finance and analysis, with statistical and quantitative skills being desirable.
• Ability to navigate policy reform and develop succinct policy analyses.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in a relevant field such as Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, or Political Science. For internal staff, two years of relevant post-bachelor’s work experience may substitute for an advanced degree. A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience is required, particularly in public financial management.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience, with a strong emphasis on public financial management. Experience working in a developing country is considered a strong asset, as is familiarity with emergency contexts. Candidates should demonstrate a solid understanding of social policy and its implications for child welfare.

Languages:
Fluency in English (both verbal and written) is required. Knowledge of Kinyarwanda and Swahili, or another UN language such as French, is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and involves working closely with various stakeholders to advocate for children's rights and improve social policies. UNICEF emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy regarding misconduct and is committed to safeguarding children. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous background checks and must meet medical clearance requirements. UNICEF does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and promotes flexible working arrangements.