Social Policy Specialist(Shock-Responsive), NOC, CO, Mogadishu, Somalia, #00113133(Somali National Only)

Job no: 556968

Position type: Fixed Term Appointment

Location: Somalia Division/Equivalent: Nairobi Regn’l(ESARO)

School/Unit: Somalia

Department/Office: Mogadiscio, Somalia

Categories: Social 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, Hope

UNICEF; and (iii) Establishment of a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) in Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. After over two years of close collaboration between UNICEF and WFP with the FGS and the World Bank, the programme has grown to US$433 million.

Building on the successful work on MoLSA social protection delivery systems, and other social protection programmes being piloted in the country based on a life cycle approach, UNICEF is engaging in modifying and scaling up a child grant model with a clear plan for engagement of and phased transition to MoLSA and FMS.

In addition, UNICEF Somalia is re-engaging on delivery of a Humanitarian Cash Transfer (HCT) in response to the current drought crisis. The new HCT programme is expected to contribute to the broader humanitarian response plan in country and will coordinate with both humanitarian actors (via the Cash Working Group) as well as FGS and FMS to leverage lessons learned from HCT towards improving the shock-responsiveness of the emerging social protection system in country.

Based on the growing portfolio described above, the SCO Social Policy team is looking for a technical project manager to support implementation of the Shock Responsive and Child Sensitive Social Protection (CSSP) Programme and emergency cash programming.

The position is based in Mogadishu, Somalia, and the incumbent is expected to travel frequently to UNICEF Field Offices and districts where CSSP and HCT is implemented for implementation support and field monitoring.

How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the Nairobi-based Chief Social Policy, and the direct supervision of the SNHCP Project Coordinator, the Social Policy Specialist (Shock Responsive Social Protection) will support with overall project management of the CSSP programme. Jointly with colleagues, the SP Specialist is expected to engage with MoLSA, FMS, district authorities, and other implementing partners to ensure that the child grant is effectively implemented and contributes to the broader social protection system development in country. Where applicable, the Social Protection Specialist will also contribute to the design, implementation and monitoring of HCT, ensuring appropriate coordination with Government and other humanitarian actors (through the CWG) as well as informing development of the overall shock responsive SP system.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

The Social Policy Specialist (Shock Responsive Social Protection) is responsible for the following functions:

•  Shock-responsive social protection- effective and timely implementation and management of the shock responsive and child sensitive social protection programme in collaboration with other UNICEF sectors.
•  Delivery of Humanitarian Cash Transfers – operational aspects UNICEF implemented HCTs (design /implementation/monitoring) and coordination with other partners (government and the Cash Working Group).
•  Decentralization and local governance technical assistance.
•  Cross-cutting social policy areas.

Specifically, the Social Policy Specialist (Shock Responsive Social Protection) performs: Shock responsive social protection

• •  Supports UNICEF zonal offices on minimum preparedness requirements. Conducts needs assessment to inform the design of programmes addressing barriers to meet humanitarian needs.
  •  Promotes the strengthening of a shock-responsive social protection system by applying evidence and appropriate advocacy messaging across the entire spectrum of social protection from a risk perspective, including inter alia: evidence and analysis; contingency planning; strengthening horizontal and vertical coordination between social protection, emergency response; and humanitarian principles, commitments and links between social protection and Humanitarian Cash Transfers.

•  Supports dialogue, convenes, and coordinates with different parts of the government at national and subnational level, with other sectors, with other actors e.g., civil society organizations and with the international organizations (UN and beyond). This includes, where applicable, cluster coordination activities.
•  Ensures the operationalization of CSSP designed programme ensuring district level operational linkages and referral between the programme and relevant social sectors.
•  Ensures CSSP a sound, efficient and timely monitoring by Zonal Office staff through MIS to collects data, carry out analysis and provide reporting. Specifically, works closely with FMS and district government representatives and UNICEF implementing partners to enable identification of bottlenecks and execution of improvements including in the design of the programme or through capacity building or technical support in its implementation.
•  Coordinate the draft of the project annual work plan and budget, its submission and approval, and seek the corresponding authorizations required to undertake project activities, to ensure eligibility of expenditures and activities based on the requirements the donor.
•  Ensure the achievement of the project results according to the submitted plans, budget allocations and time frames as outlined in the project logframe.

Delivery of Humanitarian Cash Transfers – operational aspects of HCT (programme design/implementation/monitoring)

•  Monitors and suggest improvements on the digitalized payment systems to increase the efficiency, accountability and transparency of HCTs, while reaching more and the most vulnerable children in fragile humanitarian contexts.
•  Facilitate the creation of linkages of cash transfer programmes with other social protection and humanitarian interventions. Represent UNICEF at the Cash working group to avoid fragmentation through – where possible – the subsequent integration of cash transfer programmes into existing systems.
•  Conducts field level operational analysis of cash transfer programmes, including registration, payment, verification exercises, etc., to identify areas of poor performance, bottlenecks, and identify solutions.

Decentralization and local governance technical assistance

• •  Where national decentralization processes are taking place, convenes and collaborates with central and local authorities to address challenges, identify opportunities and transform knowledge and evidence into policy recommendations and actionable plans for strengthening specific local social service delivery systems: planning, budgeting, service coordination and monitoring.
  •  Supports strengthening the demand side of service delivery via introducing functioning accountability mechanisms that institutionalize participation of communities and children in local governance processes.

•  Provides technical leadership, management and coordination into local governance programmes and initiatives where UNICEF has a direct input, including coordination of with partners, coordination with other UNICEF sectors and sectoral interventions at the local level to ensure coherence and convergence of UNICEF programming.
•  Supports dialogue, convenes and coordinates with different parts of the government at national and subnational level, with other sectors, with other actors e.g. civil society organizations and with the international organizations (UN and beyond) on local governance issues.

Cross-cutting social policy areas

•  Assesses how specific vulnerabilities are tied to multifaceted aspects of poverty and the contribution social protection has on reducing exclusion, to mainstream inclusion, particularly as it relates to gender, disability and migration. Works towards gender-responsive-transformative, disability-inclusive and migrant-inclusive systems by integrating the inclusion lens into social protection systems, policies and programmes.
•  Develops approaches to identify social and behavioural change needs and undertakes interventions for the meaningful accountability to affected populations and community engagement.
•  Monitors current technological trends, new modalities of working applicable to social protection versus current and emerging needs to assess their role and match their potential applicability to social protection for enhanced outcomes for children.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

•  An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant field.
•  A minimum of five years of professional work experience in strategic and operational aspects of social protection systems and/or humanitarian cash transfers is required.
•  Experience in programme design and management and policy advocacy is required.
•  Professional work experience in the area of decentralization, local governance, social services and public sector management is considered a strong asset.
•  Experience in cash transfer programme design and management and policy advocacy is considered a strong asset
•  Experience working in developing countries and fragile/emergency contexts is considered as a strong asset.
•  Good understanding of issues and complexities of Somalia is a must.
•  Excellent written and oral communication skills, ability to work independently and in a team, high-levelreport-writing skills;
•  Background and/or familiarity with emergencies and humanitarian contexts is considered as a strong asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. 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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Advertised: Nov 09 2022 E. Africa Standard Time Application close: Nov 23 2022 E. Africa Standard Time