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, protection

China continues to grow economically and to expand its global role. With the world’s second largest child population, China had an estimated 271 million children in 2015, representing 20 per cent of the country’s total population and 13 per cent of the world’s children. In recent years, increasing commitment by the Government to equitable growth has generated tremendous progress in advancing the status of children. However, ongoing challenges exist, with the most vulnerable and impoverished children often unable to access quality public services and specialized programming.

The Social Policy team leads UNICEF’s work on child poverty, social protection, public financial management for children, and governance. It provides technical and policy development support to initiatives to ensure that children, particularly the most disadvantaged and excluded, benefit from equitable and inclusive poverty reduction and social protection systems. It supports the generation of evidence on multiple dimensions of child poverty and social exclusion, which will be developed for use in policy dialogue, advocacy and local planning in relevant sectors. The programme also contributes to the understanding of social sector budgets, providing evidence that will be used to advocate for increased investment in services that benefit children, and to promote effective, efficient and equitable finance for and governance of essential public services across all sectors.

This video highlights some of UNICEF’s work in China today.

How can you make a difference?

We are now seeking a new staff member to support our work to promote child rights and poverty reduction through policy analysis, programme design, management and monitoring, as well as advocacy centered on social protection. He/she will have the specialist expertise, experience, energy and commitment to apply specialist expertise on public policies to reduce child poverty and increase social inclusion for children.

The incumbent will work with a wide range of UNICEF colleagues across offices and sections with particular focus to:

• Statistical analysis focusing on children living in multidimensional poverty with causality links to household income, demographic structure, access to basic social services and further underlying reasons. Mapping of relevant public policies, programmes, collecting and analyzing evidence on impact.
• Establish and maintain networks with key stakeholders and maintain effective relationship in social protection and poverty reduction
• Assist managing policy projects, draft project documents, advise research teams and, in the case of pilot projects, field operations
• Lead quality assurance, manage risk, monitor and evaluate activities to assure effective implementation and fund utilization by implementation partners
• Provide technical inputs to social protection pilot project development
• Support communication and advocacy activities, contribute to technical discussions and policy dialogue, for example, through attending meetings, drafting briefs and speeches
• Document best practice and write progress reports and policy project proposals
• Performing additional duties as requested

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

• Advanced university degree in economics, development studies, anthropology, sociology or other relevant field
• Minimum of two years of professional experience working in the field of public policy, social protection and poverty reduction
• Knowledge of China's social and economic policy context, Chinese government and non-government functions and policy development mechanisms
• Ability to demonstrate in-depth technical knowledge to partners and to learn quickly
• Ability to network, coordinate and organize activities with stakeholders
• Experience in research management an advantage
• Fluency in English and Mandarin

For every Child, you demonstrate…

• Respect for and adherence to UNICEF's core values of Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, and Integrity
• A strong understanding of UNICEF's mission and vision, and programmes through direct or indirect work experience with UNICEF
• Excellent ability to manage relationships with partners, including government ministries, youth coalitions, universities, intellectual leaders, UN organizations, NGOs and the private sector
• Good team-work capacity and ability to work independently
• Strong writing and communication skills and the aptitude to handle competing messages and priorities with multiple audiences

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. In our effort to obtain a gender-balanced workforce, we’re currently particularly looking at qualified male candidates to join the team.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.