Chief Social Policy, (P-4), FT, #058657, Cotonou - Benin, WCAR

Organizational Context

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. We are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

Job Purpose

The Chief, Social Policy reports to the Representative and is responsible for leading, managing, and supervising all stages of social policy programming and related advocacy. This includes strategic planning, formulation, and delivery of concrete and sustainable results. The role focuses on improving public policies to reduce child poverty, enhancing social protection coverage and impact on children, increasing the transparency, adequacy, equity, and efficiency of child-focused public investments and financial management, and strengthening governance, decentralization, and accountability measures to improve public participation and the quality, equity, and coverage of social services. This encompasses direct program work with government and civil society partners, as well as supporting teams working on education, health, child protection, water and sanitation, and HIV.

Responsibilities

The Chief, Social Policy provides managerial leadership, focusing on improving data on child poverty and vulnerability for policy and program action. Responsibilities include Social Protection Program Development and Planning, and Strengthening Social Protection Coverage and Impact for Children. The role involves improving the use of public finance and financing for children at national and local levels, and strengthening advocacy and partnerships for child-sensitive social policy. UNICEF Programme Management is also a key accountability. The position requires experience in Advocacy, Partnership Building, Data analysis, Budget Analysis, and Strategic Leadership. The role also involves demonstrating UNICEF's core values and competencies, including building and maintaining partnerships, driving results, innovating, managing ambiguity and complexity, thinking and acting strategically, working collaboratively, and nurturing, leading, and managing people.

Work Experience

A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience is required.

Skills

Advocacy, Partnership Building, Data analysis, Budget Analysis, Strategic Leadership, Managerial leadership, Social Protection Program Development, Public Finance Management, Child Poverty Analysis, Governance and Accountability

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