Individual Consultant on Child Poverty and Social Policy Analysis

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, ensuring their survival, development, protection, and participation. UNICEF employs a diverse workforce and offers opportunities for professional and personal development, fostering a culture of belonging and growth. The organization is dedicated to serving the world's most disadvantaged children and reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.

Job Overview:
The position of Individual Consultant on Child Poverty and Social Policy Analysis at UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office involves providing analytical and drafting support on child poverty and social policy analysis. The consultant will contribute to the ESCAP Social Outlook on poverty and develop a comprehensive background paper on child poverty and social policy in Asia and the Pacific. The work will be conducted remotely, allowing for flexibility in delivering high-quality inputs on child poverty trends, drivers, and policy responses. The consultant will be expected to deliver up to 4 months of work over a 6-month period, with specific deadlines for various deliverables, including drafts and final reports.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties will be divided into two phases. In Phase 1, the consultant will review ESCAP’s annotated outline and preliminary chapter structures, identify relevant entry points for a child lens, analyze data on monetary and multidimensional poverty, and draft contributions for the Social Outlook. This phase will require approximately 25 working days and culminate in a complete package of UNICEF contributions by 15 February 202

• In Phase 2, the consultant will prepare a detailed outline for a background paper, expand regional analysis on child poverty, and produce a full draft of the paper. This phase will involve approximately 35 working days, with a final background paper due by 30 June 2026.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree in Economics, Public Policy, Social Policy, Development Studies, or a related field. They should have at least 10 years of professional experience in poverty analysis, social policy, child poverty, or social protection. Demonstrated experience with monetary and multidimensional poverty measurement, strong analytical and writing skills, and experience drafting policy-oriented reports are essential. Familiarity with the East Asia and Pacific regional context and experience working with UN agencies or international development partners are advantageous.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree in a relevant field such as Economics, Public Policy, Social Policy, or Development Studies is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of child poverty and social policy analysis.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in areas related to poverty analysis, social policy, child poverty, or social protection. This level of experience is necessary to ensure that the consultant can effectively contribute to the analytical and drafting tasks required by UNICEF.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential for drafting reports and coordinating with UNICEF and ESCAP colleagues. Knowledge of additional languages relevant to the East Asia and Pacific region may be considered advantageous but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration is set for 60 working days, with an estimated start date of 15 December 2025 and an end date of 30 June 202

• The position is remote, meaning the consultant will not be required to travel or work on-site at UNICEF premises. Interested candidates must submit their CV, contact information for at least three references, availability, and proposed daily professional fee in USD by the application deadline of 9 December 202
• It is important to note that individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered staff members and will not be entitled to benefits provided to staff, such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage.