Social Policy Officer (Social Protection)

Details

Mission and objectives

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. UNICEF Malawi Country Programme (2019-2023) is aligned with the Government of Malawi’s Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS III) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The programme supports the Government of Malawi to meet its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights in line with international conventions and standards. The country programme is guided by the principles of children’s rights, equity, gender equality, inclusion and resilience, and supports evidence-based, integrative and innovative programming. The vision is that ”all girls and boys in Malawi especially the most disadvantaged and deprived, realize their rights”. The programme focuses on early childhood (parenting, high-impact social services, early stimulation and learning), middle childhood and adolescence (learning, multi-sectoral services, active citizenship), communities (decentralized services and systems, community ownership, social norms), programme effectiveness (monitoring, evaluation, HACT, Innovation, Social Protection and Social Policy and External Communication. The programme is based on “leaving no child behind”, realizing ‘rights for all children in Malawi’.

Context

This UNV assignment is part of UNICEF’s Social Policy component, specifically shock-responsive social protection. The Social Policy component seeks to safeguard the rights of Malawi's most vulnerable children through inclusive and evidence-based social protection and efficiently financed social services. UNICEF’s strategic action will enhance government capacity to: design and implement integrated social protection policies and strategies; improve social assistance targeting; strengthen national delivery systems to respond to various shocks in a timely way effectively; produce cutting-edge evidence; and improve sector coordination.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Social Policy Specialist or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Social Policy Officer will: • Provide technical assistance to the implementation of the Malawi Social Cash Transfer programme (SCTP) at district and central level • Support implementation of social protection systems strengthening (targeting, payment modalities, grievance and redress mechanism and capacity development) • Support functionality of social protection systems like E-MIS, GRM MIS, Target MIS, UBR • Support implementing partners with programme delivery mechanisms using UNICEF requirements • Coordinate the consultancy to roll out nutrition sensitive social protection • Support Emergency related programming for shock sensitive social protection • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.