National Consultant for Social Protection Capacity Strengthening

UNICEF

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Contract type

• Consultant

Locations

Eastern and Southern Africa Region

• Kenya

Functional Area

Programme

• Social Policy

Position level

• Consultancy

National Consultant for Social Protection Capacity Strengthening - Nairobi, Kenya (office based) 11 months #596838

Apply now Job no: 596838

Contract type: Consultant

Duty Station: Nairobi

Level: Consultancy

Location: Kenya

Categories: Social Policy

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to safety

The assignment involves provision of technical support to UNICEF Kenya’s Social Policy section around three key areas within its pillar on Adaptive and Equitable Social Protection. This includes support to UNICEF in its provision of technical assistance to the Government of Kenya for scaling child-sensitive social protection, strengthening and institutionalising Adaptive Social Protection to better anticipate and protect people affected by shocks, and better addressing the needs of displaced populations and host communities through social protection.

How can you make a difference?

The consultancy will focus on the following key areas:

1. Government capacity building on child sensitive social protection including adaptive social protection and support to displaced populations through government systems

• Under the guidance of the Social Policy Specialist (Social Protection), lead in implementation of activities to support capacity development of government on social protection and institutionalise a new cadre of highly capable officers with a social protection specialism within the State Department of Social Protection, State Department of Children Services, the Council of Governors and selected county governments.
• Through the above, liaise closely with ILO and TRANSFORM trainers within and outside Kenya to agree a plan for institutionalising the training within Kenya.
• This area of activity will also involve liaising closely with other UN agencies involved in social protection curricula in Kenya to ensure careful coordination and ensure a strong focus on quality, affordability and sustainability of capacity development.

2. Development of Framework for Implementing Kenya’s Social Protection Policy Pillar on Shock Responsive Social Protection

• In consultation with the Social Policy Specialist (Social Protection), lead UNICEF’s Kenya’s implementation of the multistakeholder engagement to implement the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions and the World Bank Social Protection and Jobs Compass.
• As part of this work, provide technical assistance to the Government of Kenya in developing an Implementation Framework underpinned by cross-government agreement for the Shock Responsive Social Protection Pillar of the Social Protection Policy.
• The Framework will also incorporate reference to the provisions under Kenya’s Social Protection Act (2025) for displaced populations to be considered and included in emergency settings.

3. Support UNICEF in guiding appropriate and effective public investments in social protection in the context of displacement

• Support the effective planning and coordination of activities within the Social Policy section to ensure synergies are achieved across the section’s work on social protection, public finance, devolution and data in relation to displaced populations.
• Under guidance of the Social Policy Specialist (Social Protection) and in coordination with other UN partners, develop and oversee the implementation of a multi-stakeholder roadmap for greater integration of displaced populations and host communities through different forms of social protection (contributory, non-contributory and informal).
• Support in the preparation of documentation of materials to highlight and elevate the role social protection must play to better meet the needs of displaced and host communities in Kenya.

4. Support UNICEF in provision of technical assistance to government in scaling up Child Sensitive Social Protection

• Support the Social Policy Specialist (Social Protection) in providing technical assistance to government for: i) Implementing the government roadmap for scaling up the Anticipatory Action (AA) component of the government’s NICHE programme. ii) Scoping and developing proposals for ensuring NICHE households are linked to existing appropriate economic and financial inclusion opportunities to strengthen their resilience and livelihood position as part of a responsible exit strategy. iii) Oversight of strengthening and institutionalising an existing On Demand Enrolment system for identifying and registering NICHE beneficiaries (in consultation with the MIS consultant being recruited at the State Department of Children Services).

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: ToR_ext_TMC0007728.pdf

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

Education

• MA in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field.

Work Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in social protection policy and programmes with demonstrated understanding of the role social protection can play in responding to crises and in displacement settings.
• Experience working with and providing technical support to government in relation to social protection and/or labour programmes.
• Experience in adult learning and training others on social protection.
• Experience coordinating with multiple stakeholders and facilitating the use of evidence for programme planning, monitoring, and decision-making.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Knowledge of Kiswahili and/or another UN language is an asset.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Strong knowledge of social protection including adaptive social protection with working knowledge of integrating displaced populations
• Sound knowledge of social protection financing and/or public financing more broadly.
• Knowledge of donor reporting requirements, accountability frameworks, and results-based reporting.
• Strong analytical, research, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyse, interpret, and present complex quantitative and qualitative data.
• Excellent report writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational, planning, and time management skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with government, donors, implementing partners, and technical teams.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to translate data and evidence into actionable recommendations for programme improvement and decision-making.
• Commitment to evidence-based programming, quality, accountability, and continuous learning.

Desirables:

• Previous experience with UNICEF, UN agencies, or international NGOs.

• Experience working with national and county governments in Kenya and familiarity with national planning, monitoring and data systems.

• Experience in child-focused programming

• Research background with focus on social protection and experience working with and interpreting complex data and communicating to diverse audiences.

• Previous experience or familiarity with aspects of financing social protection including public finance.

• Familiarity with Power BI, Tableau, or other data visualization tools.

• 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 promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the reali