Social Policy Specialist

The Social Policy Specialist serves as UNICEF's lead advisor on child poverty, social protection, public finance for children, governance and local systems strengthening in Assam. The role involves technical support for social policy programmes, advocacy, systems strengthening, and strategic partnerships to improve outcomes for children, especially those affected by poverty and climate vulnerability.

Responsibilities

• Improving data on child poverty & vulnerability for increased use for policy and programme action.
• Strengthening social protection coverage and impact for children.
• Improving use of public financial resources for children.
• Strengthening capacity of local governments to plan, budget, consult on and monitor child-focused social services.
• Strengthened advocacy and partnerships for child-sensitive social policy.
• UNICEF Programme Management.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field is required.
• A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience in public finance or a related field is required.
• Demonstrated skills in data analysis, policy analysis, budget analysis, capacity building, partnership management, and programme management.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered a strong asset.
• Background and/or familiarity with emergency contexts is considered a strong asset.
• Demonstrated knowledge of India's fiscal federalism framework and governance structure is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in child poverty analysis, social protection or social policy, and/or financing for children, including the use of quantitative and qualitative data to inform policy dialogue and programme design, is an asset.
• Good analytical skills with proven experience in budget analysis, public finance for social sectors or expenditure tracking, particularly to promote equitable investments for children, is an asset.
• Experience providing technical assistance and capacity building to government counterparts at national and/or sub-national levels, including in planning, budgeting, monitoring and use of evidence for decision-making, is an asset.
• Proven ability to work effectively with multi-stakeholder partnerships, including government institutions, UN agencies, donors, civil society and development partners, is an asset.
• Familiarity with results-based management, programme monitoring and evaluation, and the use of evidence to improve programme performance, scale up interventions and support advocacy efforts, is an asset.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Skills

• Data Analysis
• Policy Analysis
• Budget Analysis
• Capacity Building
• Partnership Management
• Programme Management
• Public Finance
• Child Poverty Analysis
• Social Protection Policies
• Financing for Children
• Quantitative Analysis
• Qualitative Analysis
• Expenditure Tracking
• Technical Assistance
• Planning and Budgetary Processes
• Programme Monitoring and Evaluation
• Result-Based Management
• Advocacy
• Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships

Languages

English