Social Policy Specialist (Policy and Finance)
Organizational Context
UNICEF works in over 190 countries to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The Caribbean Multi-Country Office (MCO) serves twelve countries, focusing on equitable access to healthcare and learning, protection from violence, and child poverty reduction. The MCO employs an impact-driven, agile, and people-centered management strategy.
Job Purpose
The Social Policy Specialist (Policy and Finance) will provide policy advice and technical assistance to strengthen evidence-based, child-sensitive social policies, legislation, strategies, and programmes across the Caribbean MCO's twelve countries. The role aims to reduce child poverty, expand inclusive social protection, and enhance resilience to shocks. This involves supporting social and economic situation analyses of children, offering policy recommendations, and contributing to the development and implementation of national and regional strategies. The specialist will work within UNICEF's Future Focus Initiative, contributing to integrated programmes and shared outcomes, ensuring that children's rights and potential are advanced through robust policy frameworks and financial mechanisms, particularly in the context of Small Island Developing States facing fiscal constraints and climate-related vulnerabilities.
Responsibilities
Provide policy advice and technical assistance to governments and partners to strengthen child-sensitive social policies, legislation, strategies, and programmes. Support the social and economic situation analysis of children, including poverty, inequality, and vulnerability assessments. Develop and implement evidence-based policy recommendations and programmatic interventions to reduce child poverty and expand inclusive social protection systems. Enhance the capacity of governments and partners to design and implement shock-responsive social protection measures and climate/disaster risk reduction strategies. Contribute to the development and implementation of national and regional strategies aligned with UNICEF's Multi-Country Programme outcomes. Facilitate knowledge sharing and learning on social policy and finance issues across the MCO and with national stakeholders. Support the integration of child rights and gender equality considerations into social policy and fiscal frameworks. Monitor and evaluate the impact of social policy interventions on children's well-being and rights. Collaborate with other UNICEF sections and UN agencies to ensure a coordinated approach to social policy development and implementation. Contribute to resource mobilization efforts by supporting proposal development and donor engagement on social policy and finance. Ensure that interventions are context-specific and responsive to the unique challenges faced by Small Island Developing States, including fiscal constraints and climate shocks.
Work Experience
At least two years of professional experience in social policy, child poverty, social protection, public finance, or a related area, preferably in a developing country context. Experience working with governments and international organizations is desirable.
Skills
Social Policy Analysis, Child Poverty Reduction, Social Protection Systems, Public Finance Management, Policy Advice and Technical Assistance, Programme Development and Implementation, Research and Data Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Capacity Building, Report Writing, Project Management, UNICEF's Work