UNICEF Malawi’s Country Programme seeks to ensure that all children and adolescents survive, grow, learn and are protected, with particular attention to the most vulnerable and those at risk of being left behind. Reporting to the Chief of Social Policy, the Social Policy Specialist will lead technical guidance, operational support and coordination throughout all stages of programming to strengthen the Government of Malawi’s planning, financing, budgeting and expenditure management, and accountability of public financial resources to achieve better outcomes for children and vulnerable populations.

Responsibilities or duties

In a complex, risk-prone environment, responsibilities include strengthening public financial management, budget analysis and social sector financing, enhancing transparency, accountability, and oversight of public finances at both the national and subnational level (decentralization), and producing cutting-edge and tailored evidence on social sector financing, including analytical data on the situation of children and coverage and impact of child-focused services. These actions will include strategic high-level engagement and coordination with government counterparts, development partners, and contractors to ensure country programmatic outcomes are met.

Qualifications or requirements 

UNICEF seeks a highly motivated Social Policy Specialist to lead Public Financial Management (PFM), decentralisation and child poverty coordination, advocacy and analysis to advance equitable public investments in the social sectors.

Experience needed

Minimum requirements:

Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience: A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience is required. Proven experience in upstream Public Finance Management is required, specifically having worked on planning and budget preparation with line ministries (especially in social sectors), the Ministry of Finance, and/or other relevant Public Sector entities. Proven knowledge and experience of Malawi’s National Social Protection system and wider social service sector financing. Proven knowledge and experience of the decentralization process – specifically how public resources are planned, allocated, transferred, managed and accounted for at both the national and local government levels to improve service delivery. and any other related fields.

Skills: Project and budget management skills. Experience effectively supervising team performance through goal setting, regular feedback, and performance management processes. Demonstrated experience collaborating with high-level development and government partners on public financial management and decentralization issues. Strong analytical skills, including the ability to use data and evidence to assess the situation of children, analyze service coverage and impact, interpret public financing data and trends, and inform social policy and country programme decisions. Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively convey public financial management policy recommendations and engage stakeholders. Ability to perform under pressure; ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Previous experience with UNICEF or another UN agency is considered as a strong asset. Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset. Proven experience in working within a Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF)/Programme-Based Budget (PBB) system, including the selection and monitoring of inputs, outputs, and outcomes. Proven experience in preparing costing models, investment cases, surveys, or other evidence generation activities to support improved investments in Social Protection and other Social Sectors. Demonstrated capacity to generate evidence, monitor progress, and prepare high-quality analytical reports on public finance reforms and social sector investments. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

• Strengthening public financial management, budget analysis and social sector financing.
• Enhancing transparency, accountability, and oversight of public finances at both the national and subnational level (decentralization).
• Producing cutting-edge and tailored evidence on social sector financing, including analytical data on the situation of children and coverage and impact of child-focused services.
• Strategic high-level engagement and coordination with government counterparts, development partners, and contractors to ensure country programmatic outcomes are met.
• Lead Public Financial Management (PFM), decentralisation and child poverty coordination, advocacy and analysis to advance equitable public investments in the social sectors.

• Project and budget management skills.
• Experience effectively supervising team performance through goal setting, regular feedback, and performance management processes.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with high-level development and government partners on public financial management and decentralization issues.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to use data and evidence to assess the situation of children, analyze service coverage and impact, interpret public financing data and trends, and inform social policy and country programme decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively convey public financial management policy recommendations and engage stakeholders.
• Ability to perform under pressure.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment.

• Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience is required.
• Proven experience in upstream Public Finance Management is required, specifically having worked on planning and budget preparation with line ministries (especially in social sectors), the Ministry of Finance, and/or other relevant Public Sector entities.
• Proven knowledge and experience of Malawi’s National Social Protection system and wider social service sector financing.
• Proven knowledge and experience of the decentralization process – specifically how public resources are planned, allocated, transferred, managed and accounted for at both the national and local government levels to improve service delivery.
• Fluency in English is required.