Job Vacancy at UNICEF Ghana – Programme Specialist (Social Protection)

In Ghana, UNICEF cooperates with the Government and other partners to defend the rights of children, strengthen systems and improve access to quality inclusive social services. 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 child marriage and ending open defecation). UNICEF main strategies include evidence-based advocacy, system strengthening, integrated programming across sectors, emergency preparedness and response, and innovation.

How can you make a difference?

• The Programme Specialist (Social Protection) is responsible for effective engagement with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to provide quality technical assistance and operations support to the implementation of flagship social protection programmes with a strong focus on the LEAP cash transfer programme. The incumbent is expected to contribute to UNICEF’s overall social protection programme and achievement of UNICEF’s country programme.

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KEY END-RESULTS EXPECTED

• Effective knowledge management and systems developed and utilized to strengthen area/country programme management.
• Situation Analysis prepared/updated, critical programme intervention points/measures identified, and programme work plans/recommendations/reports prepared.
• Programme funds optimally used.
• Programme monitoring and evaluations effectively conducted to improve programme performance, and programme status reports timely prepared.  Gender/sex-disaggregated data and inputs relevant to the country programme provided as an integral part of programming.
• Rights-based and results-based programming approach fully incorporated into all phases of programme and projects processes.
• Commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners effectively gained and established.
• Rights perspective and advocacy at the national, community and family levels incorporated in policy analysis for establishing and elevating UNICEF’s credibility in national and international policy debates.
• Effective partnership and collaboration achieved and maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, programme development / management / coordination, information sharing and networking.

Additional Key results expected

• High-quality technical assistance provided to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social protection in design, operations and monitoring of LEAP and other flagship SP programmes. This includes assistance in innovation, testing, and systematization of ongoing improvements to programme design and delivery; and strengthening social protection programme response and preparedness for shocks and emergencies.
• Effective technical support provided on social protection budget and financing planning, tracking, analysis, and advocacy to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ministry of Finance and other MDAs responsible for social protection programmes.
• Analyse and draw from social protection programme data, commissioned national research and global social protection evidence, to develop and implement recommendations to strengthen Ghana’s national social protection programmes and systems.
• Effective partnerships and collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection; the LEAP Management Secretariat and Social Protection Directorate; Ministry of Finance; and key Development Partners.
• Support UNICEF to effectively advocate and communicate to relevant stakeholders on social protection programming and policy, including the production of relevant policy products.
• Support to the Social Protection Unit and the Policy and Evidence Section in line with UNICEF organizational and financial procedures, including donor relations, reporting, and financial management.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines
• A minimum of Five years of relevant professional experience is required.
• Technical knowledge/expertise in social protection, poverty reduction or livelihoods programming required. Strong preference for social protection specific expertise. Experience working with shock responsive social protection or in emergencies will be considered an asset.
• Experience working on specific elements of cash transfer operations desirable, such as targeting, payments, monitoring systems, Management Information Systems (MIS), case management.
• Demonstrated capacity to work with or support government programme implementation at the national and decentralized level, including coordination across departments/MDAs.
• Capacity to interpret and analyze quantitative data, including administrative and budget data. Familiarity with a national budget and financing data and analysis desirable.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

Core Competencies (Required)

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

The functional competencies required for this post are…

• Analyzing (2)
• Persuading and Influencing (2)

Deadline: 13th January, 2021.

How to Apply

Qualified and interested individuals should click on the button below to apply.

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