Programme Specialist (Disability Inclusion) - P4 - TA position#:129631, Maputo - Mozambique (6 months)

Are you passionate about advocating for the rights of children with disabilities? We are seeking a Specialist to join our team, reporting to the Chief Social & Behavior Change Officer. In this role, you will play a pivotal role in advancing inclusion strategies for children with disabilities in Mozambique. Apply now to join our dynamic team!

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, results!

UNICEF Mozambique is mid to large (and growing) UNICEF Country Office (CO) In ESAR with an exciting and innovative programme for championing child rights and disability rights in the country. The 2017-2021 country programme has a broad portfolio in Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection and Social Policy & Research. The 2022-2026 programme is transitioning into more integrated and convergent programming hence requiring innovative and collaborative programming skills especially for early childhood development and adolescent development and protection. UNICEF Mozambique has adopted a twin-track approach to disability programming – targeted support with specific programmes and mainstreaming in regular programmes, across the life cycle of the child. The main strategies across sectors are: research and knowledge generation, policy advocacy and resource mobilization, technical support and capacity building of government partners and mainstream organizations, community engagement and empowerment of persons with disability and delivery of service and assistive devices to children with disability in humanitarian context. UNICEF Mozambique is a recipient of large-scale funding from the government of Norway for Disability Inclusive Social protection and cross-sectoral disability inclusion programming..

For more information about UNICEF Mozambique's work please follow this link

You can also access and explore all new UNICEF vacancies via the UNICEF Mozambique website link herein.

How can you make a difference? 

Job organizational context

This position is to be based in Mozambique Country Office with in-country and out of country trips as required. The position will include cross sectoral work on disability and inclusion and would be supervised by Chief Social & Behavior Change. 

Purpose for the job

Reporting to the Chief Social & Behavior Change, the Specialist will provide technical support on inclusion of children with disabilities in Mozambique. The main strategies across sectors are: research and knowledge generation, policy advocacy and resource mobilization, technical support and capacity building of government partners and mainstream organizations, community engagement and empowerment of persons with disability and delivery of service and assistive devices to children with disability in humanitarian context. The specialist will work across all the sections to ensure that the rights and needs of children with disabilities are reflected in planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation phases of UNICEF’s programming.   .    

Your expected deliverables will mainly include:

1. Lead MCO’s cross-sectoral programming on disability inclusion .
2. Coordination, management and technical support .
3. Management and/or advisory support to the Deputy Representative and the Representative.
4. Advisory services, Advocacy, networking and partnership building.
5. Data, knowledge management and capacity building .

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Specialist to program preparation and planning and implementation of programs/projects, contribute to achievement of sustainable results to improve rights of children with disabilities. Success in inclusive programs and projects in turn contribute to maintaining/enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide program services that promotes greater social equality in the country.  

For more information, the detailed job description is available on the attached ToR-  JD TA P4 Programme Specialist -Disability Inclusion.doc

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

The following minimum requirements:

Education: Advanced University degree (Master or higher) in Social Science field is required.

Work Experience:

A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in social development planning and management in related areas is required.

Relevant experience of international and national level advocacy on disability issues is required.

Clearly demonstrated ability to conceptualize development issues and write quality technical reports and analytical materials is essential.

Program/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English and a Latin language is required. Knowledge of Portuguese is considered 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: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

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

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.