Social Policy Officer, (NOA), Honiara, Solomon Islands, #122516 *Open to nationals of Solomon Islands only*

The UNICEF Pacific Multi-country office is recruiting a fixed-term Social Policy Officer at the NOA level to be based in the Solomon Islands Field Office, Honiara. Nationals of the Solomon Islands are encouraged to apply.

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, opportunity 

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work in the link provided here www.unicef.org/pacificislands.

How can you make a difference?

The Social Policy officer is responsible and accountable for providing technical support and assistance in all stages of social policy programming on decentralization and related advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results.

The Social Policy programme in the Solomon Islands is aimed at the strengthening capacity of the provincial government in policy, planning and budgeting to complement the efforts of the National Government to decentralize social services, especially for the health, and education sector that promotes the (a) transparency, adequacy, equity and efficiency of child-focused public investments and financial management; and (b) governance, decentralization and accountability measures to increase public participation and the quality, equity and coverage of social services.

The successful Social Policy officer will closely work with the Social Policy Specialist to:

• Support the provincial and national government in improving data on child poverty & vulnerability for increased use for policy, planning, budgeting, and programme at the provincial level.
• Support the provincial and national government to improve the use of public financial resources for children through undertaking budget analysis to inform UNICEF’s advocacy and technical assistance to Ministries of Finance, Ministry of Provincial Government and institutional. Strengthening, planning commissions and social sector ministries to improve equitable allocations for essential services for children.
• Support strengthening capacity of provincial governments to plan, budget, consult on, and monitor child-focused social services in collaboration with central and local authorities to improve policies, planning, budgeting, consultation, and accountability processes so that decisions and child-focused service delivery more closely respond to the needs of local communities.
• Support UNICEF Programme Management and coordinate technical support and dialogue around social policy programme on decentralization ensuring it is well planned, monitored, and implemented in a timely fashion so as to adequately support scale-up and delivery.
• Supports and contributes to effective and efficient planning, management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the EU-funded programme on decentralization.

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

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Economics, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of one year of relevant professional experience is required.
• Previous experience working with national and provincial governments in the Solomon Islands is a strong asset.
• Good understanding of decentralization mechanisms, policies, and stakeholders
• Good networking and coordination skills and time management
• Willing to travel to provinces and remote locations within the Solomon Islands
• Ability to communicate and coordinate with a range of stakeholders at all levels.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of the local language is an asset.

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

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.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

Remarks

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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. 

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable males are encouraged to apply.

The VA is open to all nationals (internal and external candidates) of the Solomon Islands. 

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also 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 cancelled.

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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.