UNICEF recruits 01 Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance and Local Governance)
UNICEF
Nairobi, Kenya
Humanitaire (ONG, Associations, …), Projet/programme de développement
Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance and Local Governance), P-4, Nairobi, Kenya, Post #117235 (UNICEF SOMALIA SUPPORT CENTRE)
Job no: 544707Contract type: Fixed Term AppointmentLevel: P-4Location: KenyaCategories: Social and Economic Policy
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, ProtectionThe fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, nutrition, education and protection of a society most disadvantaged citizens addressing inequity not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
UNICEF is one of five United Nations partners implementing the Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery (JPLG); other partners are ILO, UNCDF, UNDP, and UN-HABITAT. JPLG pursues a comprehensive capacity development approach aimed at local authorities, state and federal administrations and communities. It builds on existing capacities and focuses on design and development of policies and systems, capacity-building and institution strengthening, civic education, district planning and budgeting, public and private sector participation in service delivery and local economic development. In so doing, the JPLG supports a ‘top-down’ process covering policy development for local governance and decentralization and ‘bottom-up’ empowerment of communities to demand and participate in local governance and economic development.
How can you make a difference?
Purpose for the Job:The Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance & Local Governance) will report to the Chief of Social Policy. The position will collaborate with: (i) government counterparts, both at federal and member states levels, including the Ministry of Finance (MoF), social sector ministries and Parliamentarians; (ii) external partners, including the World Bank, IMF, donors, other UN agencies and civil society organizations; and (iii) UNICEF technical staff from program sections as well as from UNICEF’s regional office.
Key Functions, Accountabilities and Related Duties/Tasks
1.Lead data and evidence generation to advocate for greater and better public investments in childrenProvide technical leadership for the scaling up of UNICEF’s Public Finance for Children (PF4C) work in line with the Country Programme Document.
Develop and apply relevant PFM tools together with government counterparts and development partners, including budget briefs, thematic budget analyses, Citizens Budgets, the Open Budget Survey, subnational budget scorecards, subnational financial dashboards, Public Expenditure Reviews (PERs), Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys (PETS), cost efficiency and/or cost effectiveness analyses, expenditure incidence analyses, costing exercises, fiscal space analyses, financing and/or affordability studies, cost-benefit analyses, cost of inaction analyses, etc.Serve as the country focal point of technical expertise in the area of PF4C. Monitor developments in technical area, as well as political and social developments, at the federal and Member States levels. Regularly disseminates federal and Member States budget data as well as information on systems and socioeconomic trends and their implications for national and county programming.Analyze the macroeconomic context and its impact on children and vulnerable families, and propose appropriate responses in terms of government resource allocation policies and social welfare policies.
2. Lead UNICEF engagement in the federal and Member States level planning and budgeting to influence allocation decisions and improve the performance of spending on childrenCoordinates UNICEF’s advocacy and contribution to the formulation, review and monitoring of the Medium-Term plans (MTP), sector plans, etc. to ensure that child priorities are fully reflected.
Provides comprehensive yearly budget analysis using available national and county level budget information (Budget Briefs) and presents, discusses and advocates for recommendations from evidence generation activities to be adopted by the MoF and social sector ministries in their annual planning and budgeting processes.Advocates and provides technical support to the MoF to introduce or revise key PFM reforms so that they reflect child-focused priorities and deliver on expected results, including the Chart of Accounts, program- or performance-based budgeting, inter-governmental fiscal transfer formulas and the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).Facilitates and coordinates national and subnational dialogue with key financial decision makers to raise awareness around child rights and make the case for investing in children.Develops partnerships with the National Parliament, Office of Control of Budget and the Office of the Auditor General and builds their capacity to initiate child-sensitive legislation, approve the budget and provide effective oversight.
3. Engaging in the budget process to influence allocation decisions and improve the performance of spending on children.Present, discuss and advocate for recommendations from evidence generation activities to be adopted by the MoF and social sector ministries.
Provide technical support to introduce or revise key PFM reforms so that they reflect child-focused priorities and deliver on expected results, including the Standard Chart of Accounts, program- or performance-based budgeting, inter-governmental fiscal transfer formulas and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).Facilitate dialogue with key financial decision makers at all levels of government to raise awareness around child rights and make the case for investing in children.Convene development partners and potential lenders to facilitate the government’s access to new funding sources e.g. pre-financing of critical commodities, concessional or donor guarantee-backed commercial loans for expanding viable service models.Build the capacity of Parliamentarians to approve the budget and provide effective oversight.Support development partners on using evidence in sector reforms and budget support decisions.
4. Strengthening the capacity of the federal and Member States governments to plan, budget and monitor spending on child-focused sectors.Closely works with MoF, social sector ministries and PFM development partners to develop and build nationally owned multi-year PF4C capacity building plan with tools and materials that are embedded into the national PFM capacity development plan.
Engage in decentralized budgeting, continue the regular participation of Somalia on the Open Budget Survey and starting a light OBS version on at least one member stateSupport social sector ministries to develop annual and multi-year budgets and financing plans.Support coordination mechanisms between district, regional and central levels, including data management, cash coordination bodies, disaster risk coordination bodies and budget reporting.Collaborate with federal and States authorities to improve policies, planning, budgeting and accountability processes.Support federal and States authorities to improve the quality, analysis and use of budget data.
5. Empowering citizens, including children and adolescents, to track spending and participate in federal and States budget processes.Promote public access to budget data throughout the budget cycle and dialogue around open budget initiatives.
Supports federal and States’ citizen participation in the budget process and monitoring and leads the development of easy and accessible tools and methods of reporting. Leads partnership development with CSOs and communities on budget transparency and accountability. Builds the capacity of communities and citizens in understanding and tracking how and how well public funds are spent, and works with local governments to establish feedback mechanisms.Facilitate participatory budgeting practices.Build the capacity of communities and citizens in understanding and tracking how and how well public funds are spent, and work with local governments to establish feedback mechanisms.
6. Strengthening partnerships and advocacy for greater and better public investments in children.Establish effective partnerships with the government and development partners, including by promoting awareness, building capacity, and organizing information exchanges and events.
7. Contributing to the effective management of UNICEF program.Manage and coordinate technical support to public finance interventions ensuring they have strategic value added, enhance policy dialogue and minimize risk and are well planned, implemented in a timely fashion and rigorously monitored.
Document and provide routine updates on the implementation of different public activities, including specifying direct and indirect contributions to improved child well-being.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:An advanced university degree (Master’s) in Economics and/or Public Finance is preferred. Advanced university degree in Public Policy and/or Administration or other relevant discipline will be considered.
A minimum of eight years of progressive, professional work experience in national budgeting, public financial management and public sector financingHands on experience with PFM issues requiredExcellent writing and communication skills requiredExperience in budget analysis, costing and developing investment cases in key sectors for children such as health, education, water and sanitation, social protection, nutrition is an assetBackground and/or familiarity with emergency is considered as a strong asset.Publication record is an assetFluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local
For every Child, you demonstrate…UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
Core CompetenciesNurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3)Works Collaboratively with others (3)Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3)Innovates and Embraces Change (3)Thinks and Acts Strategically (3)Drives to achieve impactful results (3)Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)To view our competency framework, please visit here.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
Remarks:Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Deadline: 30 Sep 2021 E. Africa Standard TimePOSTULER