DirecciónUNICEF Romania invites qualified candidates to express their interest to be included in the Roster ofsocial protection specialists. The specialists will be responsible for supporting UNICEF in evidence generation, policy and legal analyses, policy advocacy, policy and programme planning, implementation, and monitoring to support social protection of children in Romania. Overall, UNICEF’s social policy agenda prioritizes supporting the national-level social protection reforms, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity and other state institutions and development partners. The aim is to contribute to making the social protection system in Romania more effective in addressing child poverty and social exclusion, considering that 41.5 per cent of the population in Romania were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2022. Moreover, on the backdrop of the recent crises situation, UNICEF will continue to invest in strengthening the preparedness and responsiveness of the national social protection system to future shocks.
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, peace.
How can you make a difference?
Scope of Work:
The selected experts will work closely with UNICEF Romania’s Social Policy team. When necessary, a close collaboration and interaction with state institutions and Civil Society Organizations will be required. Collaboration with state institutions implies working together with the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity, the National Authority for the Protection of Children's Rights and Adoption and other national level institutions as well as the county and local governments. The specialist may also be requested to work closely with development partners and humanitarian agencies, including the World Bank, United Nations agencies and other international organizations.
The selected specialists may be required to travel across the country to gather evidence and to collaborate with local actors, for which they are expected to make their own arrangements for travel and lodging. Official travel will be specified in the TOR for each assignment.
The selected specialists are required to use their own equipment necessary for undertaking the assignments.
Key responsibilities of the Social Protection Consultant include:
• Undertaking evidence generation in social protection and contributing to social protection data analyses
• Providing support in data collection processes and in strengthening the management information systems (MIS) in social protection
• Undertaking policy, strategy, and legislation analyses, especially on cash transfer programmes and social services
• Providing support in strengthening the responsiveness of the national social protection system to shocks
• Preparing training materials and delivering trainings to national and local counterparts on social protection system strengthening, including on sock-responsive social protection
• Preparing policy briefs, reports, communication materials and other analytical and briefing documents to support advocacy on social protection of children
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- Advanced University degrees in public policies, economics, social policies or other related field
*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
- Minimum 2 years of experience in providing technical assistance on social protection system strengthening at the national and/or local levels
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience social sector reforms
• Experience in undertaking research/studies, data collection and analyses in social protection area
• Excellent organisational and analytical skills
• Computer skills, including Internet navigation and various office applications
• Experience in engaging with governments, international organizations, and civil society entities in advocacy efforts
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to oversee multiple initiatives
• Familiarity with the UN & EU agenda
• Familiarity with UNICEF's mandate and programs is an advantage
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex topics on social protection
• Analytical thinking and strategic planning skills, ability to facilitate, consult and negotiate with a broad range of government and non-government partners
• Fluency in Romanian and Proficiency in English, including strong report writing and presentation skills are required
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants are invited to provide:
- Duly completed the online UNICEF application
- Cover Letter and Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Comprehensive portfolio with at least three (3) samples of recent projects
- Financial proposal with daily rate in RON (gross amount) (applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered)
- Performance evaluations of work by UN, if applicable (e.g. PER, Output Evaluation)
- Names and contacts of three (3) referees (applications without referees will not be considered)
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.
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.
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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.
