Vacancy Announcement: Social Policy Manager, P4 Accra Ghana Post No. 00092174 ( Non-Ghanaians are eligible to apply)

Are you a dedicated and highly experienced professional with a passion for making a difference in the lives of every child? UNICEF Ghana is seeking for a dynamic and highly experienced professional to assume the role of Social Policy Manager (Public Finance for Children), P4. The incumbent will join a dynamic team working to address child poverty in all its manifestations, tackle inequalities, alleviate human suffering through shock responsive social protection, and influence public spending decisions to advance child rights. This fixed-Term Position is based in Accra and reports to the Chief, Social Policy, P4. Accra-Ghana is a very good family-duty station. The people of Ghana have a rich cultural heritage and vibrant traditions, which offer a welcoming atmosphere and diverse experiences for you to explore and enjoy. Ghana has stunning natural beauty, including beautiful coastlines, green national parks such as Kakum National Park, Boti Falls, Wli Agumatsa Waterfalls, etc., and iconic landscapes, making it a desired destination. Join us in driving impactful change and making a difference for the Ghanaian child.

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, a future

UNICEF has been the leading child-rights organization, and a respected partner, for saving and improving children’s lives. In Ghana, UNICEF cooperates with the Government and other partners to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to ensure equitable access to quality social services, and to expand children’s opportunities to reach their full potential. With offices in Accra and Tamale, the UNICEF team seeks to achieve results in strategic programme areas. The overall goal is for every child to survive and thrive, to live in a safe and clean environment, to learn, to be protected from violence and exploitation, and to have an equitable chance in life. The current Country Programme of cooperation is aligned with the Government priorities, the UN Sustainable Development Partnership (UNSDP) and Key Results for Children (KRCs) in the West and Central African Region (immunization, nutrition, learning outcomes, ending violence and open defecation). UNICEF main strategies include evidence-based advocacy, system strengthening, integrated programming across sectors, emergency preparedness and response, and innovation.

Kindly click on the link https://www.unicef.org/ghana/ to know more about what we do.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the guidance of the Chief, Social Policy, the incumbent is responsible for the design, management, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all stages of the PF4C stream of social policy work. The position will provide technical, knowledge management and capacity development support to the government and other partners to  leverage greater, more effective, transparent and equitable domestic and international public investments in sectors and programs which seek to improve the wellbeing of children including child protection, education, health, nutrition, social protection and WASH. Additionally, the incumbent is expected to lead UNICEF’s work to strengthen local governance financing and accountability measures to increase the quality, equity and coverage of social services. The position works closely with the IF4C specialist to ensure coherent and systematic link between public finance management and innovative financing.

The incumbent will collaborate with: (i) government counterparts, including the Ministry of Finance (MoF), NDPC, social sector ministries, local government authorities, and Parliamentarians; (ii) external partners, including the World Bank, IMF, AfDB, donors, other UN agencies and civil society organizations; and (iii) UNICEF staff working on child rights areas such as education, health, child protection, water and sanitation, social protection and HIV/AIDS

Key Accountabilities:

1. Improving data and evidence generation to advocate for greater and better public investments in children.
2. Engaging in the budget process to influence allocation decisions and improve the performance of spending on children.

3. Strengthening the capacity of the government to plan, budget and monitor spending on child-focused sectors.

4. Empowering citizens, including children and adolescents, to participate in national and local budgeting processes and to hold state parties to account for their commitments to children.
5. Strengthening partnerships and advocacy for greater and better public investments in children.
6. UNICEF Programme Management

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD - Social Policy Manager (PF4C) Ghana P4 2024 Post No. 00092174.pdf]

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

Minimum requirements:. 

• Education: A Master’s University degree in Economics or Public Finance will be considered
•  
• Work Experience: A minimum of eight years of progressive, professional work experience in national budgeting, planning, monitoring -including results-based management and public sector financing in central and decentral levels.
•  Hands on experience with Public Finance Management issues required

• Experience working with governments, IFIs and parliaments is required.

• Excellent writing and communication skills required.

• Experience in macro-economic outlook analyses, social sector budget analysis, costing and developing investment cases in key sectors for children such as health, education, water and sanitation, social protection, nutrition, child protection is an asset.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is considered as an asset

Desirables:

• Experience in Innovative and Blended Financing mechanisms is an asset.

• Team leading experience is an asset

• Fundraising experience is an asset.

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 

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…

(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 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people. 

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, 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 candidates are encouraged to apply.

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.

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

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.