The Office of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Social Protection Specialist (Vulnerabilities) Jobs in Rwanda

VACANCY
NOTICE NO. PER/VN/0001/2015

The Office of United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Rwanda is inviting applications from suitably
qualified Rwan
dan nationals to fill the following vacancy:

TITLE : Social Protection
Specialist (Vulnerabilities)

LEVEL : NO-C (category
for National Officers)

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT :
Fixed-term

DEPARTMENT : Social
Policy and Research

DUTY STATION : Kigali

DATE OF ISSUE :
10/02/2015

DATE OF CLOSURE :
3/03/2015

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Accountable for project design,
implementation and monitoring of social protection activities with the
objective of supporting Government efforts in formulating, articulating and
adapting development-oriented, multi-sectoral, comprehensive and inclusive
social protection programmes that promote the rights of vulnerable children and
their families, and build their resilience.

Accountable for effective
engagement in social protection dialogue with the Government and development
partners for programme development, advocating for: increased public resource
allocation and budgeting towards the social protection sector; sustainable
decentralization of social services and local capacity building in support of
the goal of universal coverage of essential social services, and the creation of
a protective environment for children, including for vulnerable groups,
children with disability and children and adolescents infected or affected by
HIV and AIDS.

Conducts data collection and
analysis to fill information gaps and 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. Participates in UNICEF multi-sectoral
coordination meetings and Task Forces and contributes to the activities relating
to the cross-cutting programmatic activities.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and
DUTIES & TASKS

Within the delegated
authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be
assigned the primary, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part
of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

1. Social protection
dialogue and programme development

Under the umbrella of the
National Social Protection Strategy, supports Government in the development and
implementation of sectoral policies, regulatory frameworks and advocacy
processes to ensure the inclusion of social protection and safety net mechanism
for vulnerable children, children with disabilities, children and adolescents
infected and affected with HIV and AIDS and children living in poverty.

Participates in social protection
dialogue and development with the Government counterparts, civil society
organizations, private sector and development partners, engages in, and
establishes, constructive dialogue and partnerships between international and
local stakeholders to support the development and execution of child sensitive
social protection interventions and programmes contributing to the progressive
realization of children’s and adolescent’s rights, and strengthening of
implementation and monitoring mechanisms at all levels of society. Ensures that
the services reach out in innovative, effective ways to those most vulnerable
pockets of children, adolescents and families that have been previously left
out.

Participates in inter-sectoral
collaboration on cross-cutting issues such as HIV and AIDS, Disability and
Inclusion, and Early Childhood Development.

Coordinates child rights
monitoring and reporting for CRC, optional protocols and other international
instruments.

Supports child rights-based
reviews of national, provincial and local legislation relating to social
protection issues, in close consultation with community-level structures and
supports the health and education sectors and the social welfare system for
children.

Acts as the emergency focal
person for the section.

2. Sustainable
decentralization and capacity building

Collaborates with the central and
local authorities to assist with the national decentralization process for
social protection related planning, policy discussion and service delivery,
closely responding to the needs of local communities. Provides support for
making decentralization sustainable through adequate local support while
keeping decentralized services both accessible and effective.

Collaborates with the central and
local authorities to strengthen community-based capacity on quality data
collection, analysis for policy development, planning, implementation, coordination,
monitoring of social protection policy and programmes.

Supports development of social
protection programme plans of action for children at provincial and
district/municipality levels; strengthens coordination between sectors and
between different levels of government structures for policy implementation.

3. Monitoring state
budget resources for social protection

Using the UNDAP framework,
supports One UN efforts to ensure that (a) national and sectoral budgets
allocate sufficient resources for poor and vulnerable children and their
caregivers, and (b) national social assistance schemes are child-sensitive. In
partnership with other UN agencies, such as ILO, WHO, UNHCR, WFP, support
UNICEF contribution to UNDAP priorities for social protection, especially for
Outcome 3 under the Human Capital Focus Area, in particular output 3.1 and 3.2

4. Advocacy and
communication

Promotes and raises awareness on
children’s rights, in particular social protection issues with both the general
public and with policy makers. Works closely with the communication section to
ensure effective information dissemination through mass media campaigns,
special events, and other means are increasing local buy-in and commitment and
support continued relevance of UNICEF programming. Highlights interventions to
attain social protection goals which are designed to reduce gender
inequalities.

5. Partnerships

Establishes effective
partnerships with the Government, bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs,
civil society and local leaders, the private sector, 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 Millennium Development
Goals and the World Fit for Children (WFFC) agenda.

Engages with, and participates in
the sub-committees of the Social Protection Sector.

Identifies other critical
partners, promotes awareness and builds capacity of partners, and actively
facilitates effective collaboration within the UN family.

6. UNICEF Programme
Management

Supports and contributes to
effective and efficient planning, management, coordination, monitoring and
evaluation of the country programme, particularly social protection programming.

Ensures that the social
protection planning enhances policy dialogue, planning, supervision, technical
advice, management, training, research and support; and that the monitoring and
evaluation component strengthens monitoring and evaluation of the social
sectors and provides support to sectoral and decentralized information systems.

Supports the development of the
sectoral work plans to ensure compliance to country programme and sectoral
objectives. Coordinates with 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 disbursements of funds; monitors and submits financial status
reports to Manager as required.

Ensures quality and timely input
of project information in computerized programme system and the issuance of
status reports for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
AND EXPERIENCE

1. Education :

Advanced university degree in
Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, International
Finance, or other relevant disciplines.

2. Work Experience

Minimum five (5) years of
relevant professional work experience. Field work experience. Background/familiarity
with Emergency.

1. Language Proficiency

Fluency in English and local
working language of the duty station.

COMPETENCY PROFILE

4. Competency Profile

i) Core Values (Required)

1) Commitment, 2) Diversity and
Inclusion, 3) Integrity

ii) Core Competencies
(Required)

1) Communication [ II ], 2)
Working with People [ II ], 3) Drive for Results [ II ]

iii) Functional
Competencies (Required)

1) Leading and Supervising [ II
], 2) Formulating Strategies and Concepts [ II ], 3) Analyzing [ III], iv)
Relating and Networking [ II ], v) Persuading and Influencing [ II ], vi)
Planning and Organizing [ III ]

iv) Technical Knowledge[1][
]

a) Specific Technical Knowledge
required (for the job) [ ]

• Knowledge of social protection
policies and programming

• Knowledge of country’s economic
and political situation.

• Expertise to leverage UNICEF’s
competitive advantage.

• Experience in deploying
networking and mass media for fundraising and special events.

b) Common Technical Knowledge
required (for the job group) [ ]

• Understanding of UNICEF
programmatic goals, visions, positions, policies and strategies (MDGs, UNDAF,
HIV/AIDS, WFFC, MTSP, etc.)

• Understanding of Rights-based
and Results-based approach and programming.

• Understanding of UN mission and
system; and International Code of Conduct.

• Gender equality and diversity
awareness.

c) Technical Knowledge to be
Acquired/Enhanced (for the Job) [ ]

• Knowledge of UNICEF’s financial
regulations and rules, fundraising manual and fundraising strategy.

• Understanding of government
policies, guidelines, legislation, and strategies related to fundraising.

• Understanding of UNICEF
programme policies, goals, strategies, guidelines and approaches related to
programme funding activities.

• UNICEF policies, strategies
promoting and supporting gender equality and diversity.

[1] Reference to UNICEF and/or UN
in terms of technical knowledge requirements (and b above) are applicable only
to those who are or have been the staff members of UNICEF or the UN common
system.

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc)
or available at UNICEF reception.

*Please note that applications
which do not meet the specified minimum requirements or are received after the
closing date will be rejected. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
Women are particularly encouraged to apply.**All application materials will not
be returned.*

UNICEF IS A SMOKE FREE
ENVIRONMENT.

UNICEF IS COMMITTED TO
GENDER BALANCE AND DIVERSITY WITHOUT DISTINCTION AS TO RACE, SEX OR RELIGION,
AND WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. WELL QUALIFIED
CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY