Purpose of the post
Under the supervision of the Chief of Social Policy and Advocacy Section, the Social Protection Specialist will be responsible for the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Office’s work on Social Protection with the objective of supporting Government efforts in formulating, articulating and implementing comprehensive and inclusive social protection policies and programmes that promote the rights of vulnerable children and their families, and build their resilience. The Social Protection Specialist will also be accountable for the effective promotion of child rights governance in support of the principles embedded in the CRC by strengthening national capacity to ensure that the government meets its obligations to monitor and implement children’s rights and that civil societies, including children, hold the state to account. To this end, key assignments may include, but not be limited to, child rights-based reviews of national, and district level plans to strengthen capacity for advocacy for children’s rights, and to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the World Fit for Children (WFFC) agenda

Major Duties and Responsibilities
Social protection dialogue and programme development
1. Designs, prepares, implements, monitors and evaluates the country office’s work around Social Protection. Analyzes and evaluates data to ensure achievement of objectives and/or takes corrective action when necessary to meet objectives. Contributes to the development of new approaches, methods and practices in Social Protection and advocates for their implementation and financing to ensure that children are included in national social protection programmes.
2. Participates in intersectoral collaboration with other programme colleagues around social protection to support mainstreaming of social protection in other sectors. Assists in development of appropriate communication and information strategy to support and/or advocate programme development.
3. Meets with national and international agencies covering the management of social protection programmes. Participates in meetings with ministries responsible for programme/project review, and follows up on implementation of recommendations and agreements.
4. Assists government authorities in planning, monitoring, evaluation and organizing Social Protection programmes and ensures inclusion of children. Identifies training needs and objectives for the purpose of capacity building of government in social protection.

Child rights governance
1. Collaborates with the Child Protection Section to coordinate child rights monitoring and reporting for CRC and its optional protocols and other international instruments.
2. Builds capacity of government, civil society organizations’ and independent human rights institutions (e.g. UHRC) to monitor the implementation of child rights, and builds a strong civil society including children to hold the government and the international community accountable for children’s’ rights.
3. Collaborates with the Communication Section to coordinate the development and implementation of a strategic framework for Child Rights Governance including the National Child Participation Strategy. Establishes effective partnerships with Government ministries and agencies, Parliament, donors, Civil Society, the private sector, media, and other UN agencies to support sustained and proactive commitment to the Convention of the Rights of the Child and to achieve global UN agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the World Fit for Children (WFFC).
4. Collaborates with the Communication Section to promote and raise awareness on children’s rights with the general public, policy makers and civil society organizations at the national and local level, utilizing effective information dissemination, mass media campaign, special events, and other means, to ensure local buy-in, commitment, and continued relevance of UNICEF programming.

UNICEF Programme Management
1. Participates in the development of the sectoral work plan, ensures the achievement of specific assigned objectives.
2. Prepares programme/project status reports required for management, Board, donors, budget review, programme analysis, annual reports, etc.
3. Coordinates with the Operations/Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensuring proper and timely UNICEF and government accountability. Certifies disbursements of funds, monitors and submits financial status reports to the Deputy Representative or Representative, as required.

Required Qualifications, Competencies and Attributes
Education
§ Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, Political Science, Economics, or a related technical field.

Work Experience
§ Eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in social protection and child rights or a related field preferably in developing country contexts.
§ Fluency in English is required and strong written and verbal communications skill therein strongly desirable.
Competencies of the Successful Candidate
§ Core Values (Required): Commitment; Diversity and Inclusion; Integrity
§ Core Competencies (Required): Communication; Working with People; Drive for Results
§ Functional Competencies (Required): Applying Technical Expertise; Leading and Supervising; Formulating Strategies and Concepts; Analyzing; Relating and Networking; Persuading and Influencing; Creating and Innovating [II]

HOW TO APPLY:
Eligibility Criteria
1. Ugandan Nationals will not be considered for this post as it is in the International Professional Category
2. UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff; qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
3. Applications will be considered only if accompanied by an updated CV and P11 form, as well as the most recent performance evaluation report.
4. If applications are sent by email, please clearly indicate the position applied for and use this order to name your file attachments: Firstname_Lastname followed by document e.g. Gold_MukasaP11 or Gold_MukasaCV or Gold_MukasaApplication.
5. UNICEF is a smoke free environment.
Closing date for applications is 30 March 2016. Applicants interested in the above position should send their resume via email to: ugderecruit@unicef.org