Vacancy Announcement

**Job no**: 561674

**Contract type**: Temporary Appointment

**Level**: NO-2

**Location**: India

**Categories**: Social Policy

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

**For Every Child, AN ADVOCATE**:
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

**How can you make a difference?**

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children in the world's thereby ensuring a better future for every child, this is the chance to make a difference.

**Job organizational context**:
Chennai Field Office is responsible for programming in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The combined population of Tamil Nadu (76 million) and Kerala (35 million) is around 110 million. As per the SDGs Ranking of 29 States in India, Kerala and TN occupy the first and second position in 2021. TN contribution to GDP of India is second highest at 8.6 percent. Per Capita income of Tamil Nadu is 3200 USD and Kerala at 3300 USD (2019) higher than national average of 2100 USD. There are number of children of migrant labor from other states and these face access barriers to social services. Lack of adequate enumeration of disabled persons, has resulted in depriving of them of basic rights. All these are further accentuated by the large coastline, frequent floods, climate change challenges and rapid urbanization (more than 50% population live in Urban areas) leading to urban slums. To move the social policy agenda, there is a need to strengthen the focus to reach the last mile, mainstream equity (including disability, and gender) concerns across plans and budgets at all levels.

The focus of the office will be on introducing upstream programming strategies which include the four pillars of the Social Policy Outcome, namely public finance for children, decentralization, Social protection and child friendly local governance as well as building of a social protection system to protect vulnerable families and their children. The incumbent will work with a wide range of partners linked to State and District governments, academia, private sector, community led organizations and Civil Society Organizations. Given the inter-sectoral nature of child protection, child survival and education, emphasis is put on the importance of the roles of other relevant social protection sectors cross cutting areas such as early childhood and adolescent development.

**Purpose of the job**:

- Under the general guidance of the Chief Social Policy, the Social Policy officer is accountable for providing technical support and assistance in all stages of social policy programming and related advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results. This includes programmes aimed at improving (a) public policies to reduce child poverty; (b) social protection coverage and impact on children; (c) the transparency, adequacy, equity and efficiency of child-focused public investments and financial management; and (d) governance, decentralization, and accountability measures to increase public participation and the quality, equity and coverage of social services.

**Major duties and responsibilities**:
**1. Improving data on child poverty & vulnerability for increased use for policy and programme**
**action**
- Supports the collection, analysis and user-friendly presentation of data on multidimensional and monetary child poverty, including strengthening national capacity to collect routinely, report and use data for policy decision
- making.