Social Policy Officer, NO-2, Fixed Term Position, Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi, #00137610 (Open to Malawian Nationals Only)

Organizational Context

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. At UNICEF, 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 Social Policy Officer will provide technical, operational, and coordination support to strengthen the Government of Malawi’s planning, financing, budgeting, expenditure management, and accountability for public resources, contributing to improved outcomes for children and vulnerable populations. The role will support public financial management, budget analysis, social sector financing, and decentralization, including transparency, accountability, and oversight of public finances at national and sub-national levels. The Officer will also generate and use evidence on social sector financing, child poverty, and child-focused services to inform policy dialogue, programming, resource mobilization, and donor reporting, while engaging with government counterparts, development partners, and contractors to advance country programme results.

Responsibilities

Under the general guidance of the supervisor, the Social Policy Officer is accountable for providing technical support and assistance in all stages of social policy programming and related advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results. This includes programmes aimed at improving (a) public policies to reduce child poverty; (b) social protection coverage and impact on children; (c) the transparency, adequacy, equity, and efficiency of child-focused public investments and financial management; and (d) governance, decentralization, and accountability measures to increase public participation and the quality, equity, and coverage of social services. This encompasses both direct programme work with government and civil society partners.

Work Experience

Two years of relevant professional experience in social policy, public finance, child rights, or a related field.

Skills

Technical support, Operational support, Coordination support, Public financial management, Budget analysis, Social sector financing, Decentralization, Transparency, Accountability, Evidence generation, Policy dialogue, Resource mobilization

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