How can you make a difference?
The consultancy will focus on the following key areas:
1. Strengthening Child-Sensitive Social Protection Systems
• Support the expansion and institutionalisation of child-sensitive social protection programmes.
• Strengthen adaptive social protection systems to better protect children affected by droughts, floods, displacement, and economic shocks.
• Promote greater integration of child poverty and vulnerability considerations within social protection programmes.
2. Strengthening Child Protection Systems
• Support the State Department for Children Services in implementing the Children Act 2022, including the development and roll-out of regulations, guidelines, standards and operational procedures.
3. Integration of Social Protection and Child Protection
• Support linkages and referral pathways between cash transfer programmes and child protection services.
• Promote integrated approaches to addressing child poverty, violence, neglect, family separation and harmful practices
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...
Work Experience
• Minimum of ten (10) years progressive work experience in child-sensitive social protection, child protection, social policy, public policy, public finance, development economics, poverty and vulnerability analysis, public administration, or related fields, including experience providing strategic technical advice to government institutions.
• Demonstrated experience supporting Governmentled policy, systems-strengthening and reform initiatives.
• Experience supporting the design, implementation,coordination or evaluation of social protection and/or child protection programmes.
• Experience working with national and subnational governments, development partners, UN agencies and other international organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in policy analysis,programme coordination, stakeholder engagement,advocacy and strategic advisory support.
• Experience in public finance, sustainable financing,resource mobilisation, budgeting, or investment advocacy for social sectors is an asset.
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills
• Strong knowledge of child-sensitive social protection and child protection systems.
• Strong knowledge of Kenya’s child protection legal, policy and institutional framework, including the Children Act 2022, or of care reform and violence prevention approaches.
• Understanding of child poverty, vulnerability and social inclusion issues.
• Knowledge of social protection policy, programme design and delivery systems.
• Familiarity with policy development, legislative processes and institutional reform.
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills.
• Ability to engage effectively with senior government officials, development partners and other stakeholders.
• Evidence generation, policy analysis and translation of evidence into actionable recommendations Strong facilitation, coordination and capacitydevelopment skills.
Desirables
• Experience working with Government of Kenya ministries, departments and agencies.
• Experience supporting social protection programmes, especially if anchored on vulnerable children and adolescents.
• Experience supporting child protection systems strengthening and inter-sectoral coordination.
• Familiarity with UNICEF programming approaches and child rights-based programming.
• Experience in public finance for children, financing analysis and investment advocacy.
• Experience supporting adolescent-focused programmes, including cash-plus and related social protection initiatives.
Applicants should submit a technical outlining their understanding of the assignment, proposed approach, methodology, and workplan for delivering the assignment objectives.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
- An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
- Cover letter
Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not downloadable on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.
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.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.