Save the children recruits 01 Senior Social Protection Adviser
Fixed term contract for 6 months
The job of a Save the Children’s UK Senior Social Protection Adviser is strategic and rewarding.
- Do you have significant international experience in social protection programmes, policy and/ or research, spanning design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation?
- Do you have experience of inter-agency collaboration around social protection and sound knowledge of the main platforms where this happens at the country and global level?
- Are you motivated by our vision of creating a world where every child doesn’t just survive, but thrives, and can go on to change the world?
If the answers to these questions are yes, we would love to hear from you!
About Us
We are Save the Children. Together, we fight for children every single day so that they can make their mark on the world and build a better future. We stand side by side with children in the toughest places to be a child. We do whatever it takes to make sure they survive, get protection when they’re in danger, and have the chance to learn.
Save the Children is a member of the Collaborative Cash Delivery network (CCD), a network of 14 INGOs committed to collaborating for improved impacts of humanitarian cash programming. CCD’s Shared Services Hub for Ukraine response will pilot a project in Ukraine to transition from Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) that is delivered to people in need by humanitarian actors, to CVA that is delivered directly by the Government-led Social Protection system.
Together with the other member agencies of the CCD, we will work closely with the Government to ensure there is coordination and will identify opportunities for greater alignment or “piggybacking” on existing social protection schemes where this will improve the timeliness and effectiveness of our delivery. As part of this we will also explore options for temporarily scaling up the level of support to those already in receipt of social protection (vertical expansion) or temporarily expanding coverage of existing schemes to those who do not currently benefit (horizontal expansion), to accommodate for the unique needs of those who remain inside Ukraine and those on the move. We will also advocate for the inclusion of refugees in existing or new social protection schemes in their destination countries, and we will provide CVA where that is not feasible.
In responding to this crisis, we will ensure strong coordination with other CVA actors, including within the CCD, with Cash Working Groups (CWGs), UNHCR, and other coordinating bodies.
Job Purpose
In this position you will be part of the interagency Shared Services Hub created by the CCD and will play a leading role in the design and quality oversight of the interagency Social Protection pilot to be implemented in Ukraine.
Your role will also be aimed at facilitating links between humanitarian CVA and national social protection systems, with a view to improving coordination, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of our response. In providing expert advice to CCD member agencies, you will promote an integrated approach that combines financial support with other locally available or complementary interventions to better meet the various non-income related needs of the individuals and families we support (referred to as ‘Cash Plus’).
Please Note: This role will be expected to spend 50% of the time based in Ukraine (Kyiv) and the rest working remotely from the UK or other Save the Children Country Office.
The role will be initially for 6 months with the aim of extension for another 18 months.
Main Accountabilities
Phase 1 (six months)
- Help conduct rapid yet comprehensive analysis of national social protection policies and systems inside Ukraine and – secondarily – in selected neighbouring host countries to identify areas of engagement for CCD member agencies, and potential links with humanitarian CVA.
- Monitor the evolution and resilience of national social protection systems as they adapt to respond to the ongoing crisis and help CCD Cash advisors in identifying gaps and opportunities where we could effectively provide support.
- In consultation with the Ministry of Social Policy in Ukraine, and with Cash advisors from CCD agencies, lead the design of the inter-agency Social Protection pilot.
- Engage with donors at regional and sub-regional levels to support fundraising, profile-raising and scoping of opportunities, to secure funding for the Social Protection pilot in Ukraine.
- Support effective HR planning for the Social Protection Pilot
- Provide advice to CCD members on how they can better link their existing programmes with the government-led system, with a primary focus on Ukraine.
- Support the development of advocacy strategies on social protection inside Ukraine, within the framework of the response to the Ukrainian crisis, and support country offices to deliver strategic advocacy to government, donors and other key stakeholders.
Phase 2, contingent on Phase 1 (18 months)
Note: the initial contract will cover Phase 1, for a fixed-term duration of six months.
- Support the recruitment of the human resources involved in the Social Protection pilot.
- In close collaboration with the Programme Manager and the other project team members, support the set-up, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Social Protection pilot, ensuring they are in line with theory of change, strategies, national policies and good practices and that our programmes contribute to evidence on social protection for children.
- Coordinate with and influence the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine on shock-responsive and child-sensitive social protection.
- Strengthen stakeholders’ capacities (including implementing partners) around child-sensitive and shock-responsive social protection.
- With the MEAL Manager, contribute to building the evidence base of effective approaches in the response, through involvement in rigorous evaluation of the pilot and operational research, and work to influence government policies to deliver measurable improvements in child outcomes.
- Support the lead agency of the Social Protection pilot to ensure high quality donor reporting.
- Actively participate in Social Protection Working Groups and CWG meetings in Ukraine.
- Act as a champion for child-sensitive social protection across the response and with all internal and external stakeholders involved, being able to clearly articulate the importance of humanitarian and social protection actors to coordinate and collaborate.
- Represent our work to, and work with, civil society organisations, national governments and regional and international organisations to increase coordination and learning and to support the achievement of advocacy and policy objectives for the children and families affected by the Ukrainian crisis.
- Create, document, and share key information, lessons learned, and guidance with agencies that are part of the CCD Network and that are involved in the Ukraine response, both inside Ukraine and in countries hosting refugees.
Person Profile
Experience
- Significant international experience in social protection programmes, policy and/ or research, spanning design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
- Demonstrated understanding and experience of key issues in social protection, and how humanitarian CVA can and should link to national social protection systems
- Understanding and experience of analysis of national social protection systems.
- Experience or a solid working knowledge on social protection in fragile and conflict affected settings
- Understanding and experience of the challenges affecting the access of forcibly displaced populations to social protection systems in host countries
- Demonstrated experience of inter-agency collaboration around social protection and sound knowledge of the main platforms where this happens at the country and global level
- A proven track record of institutional funding success, either for research or programming
- Experience of working overseas in an international development or humanitarian capacity
Abilities
- Strong advisory skills, including the ability to guide and influence from a distance.
- An ability to work independently with minimal administrative support and to effectively manage competing priorities.
- Highly developed analytical and conceptual skills and the ability to think and plan strategically.
- Ability to analyse complex data in relation to social protection and poverty.
- A willingness and ability to travel including at short notice and occasionally to remote and insecure locations within the framework of the Ukrainian crisis response (50% of time spent in Ukraine
- Ability to speak Ukrainian or Russian language would be beneficial
Aptitude
- An academic/professional qualification at graduate level or equivalent in economics, social policy or a related field.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including demonstrated capacity for influencing high level decision-makers
Remote Working:
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
Save the Children UK is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of our work both external and internal. We strive to be an inclusive employer and particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups such as returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people who are LGBT+, from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, with a disability, impairment, learning difference or long-term condition, with caring responsibilities, from different nations and regions, and from less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.
To see our full statement please visit this link: https://jobs.savethechildren.org.uk/our-policies/diversity/
Salaire
£46,750 – £55,000 per annum
Fixed term contract for 6 months
Based in Kyiv/UK