National Technical Advisor Consultant on Child-Sensitive Social Protection and Child Protection

About

UNICEF Kenya seeks a National Technical Advisor Consultant to provide technical and advisory support to the Principal Secretary, State Department for Children Services, strengthening child protection and child-sensitive social protection systems, policies and programmes. The office-based Nairobi consultancy is for 7.5 months and focuses on social protection, child protection systems, and their integration. Reference: 596291 Terms of service: Consultant; office based, 7.5 months. Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya.

How to apply

Apply online via UNICEF's TMS (Talent Management System) recruitment portal. Submit an up-to-date TMS profile and CV, cover letter, a separate financial proposal in the linked template format, and a detailed technical proposal outlining understanding of the assignment, proposed approach, methodology and workplan; the financial proposal should state the daily rate.

Responsibilities

• Support the expansion and institutionalisation of child-sensitive social protection programmes.
• Strengthen adaptive social protection systems to better protect children affected by droughts, floods, displacement, and economic shocks.
• Promote greater integration of child poverty and vulnerability considerations within social protection programmes.
• Support the State Department for Children Services in implementing the Children Act 2022, including the development and roll-out of regulations, guidelines, standards and operational procedures.
• Support linkages and referral pathways between cash transfer programmes and child protection services.
• Promote integrated approaches to addressing child poverty, violence, neglect, family separation and harmful practices.

Qualifications

• Masters in Social Policy, Public Finance, Public Policy, Economics, Development Studies, Public Administration, Child Protection, Development Economics or related field.
• Minimum of ten (10) years progressive work experience in child-sensitive social protection, child protection, social policy, public policy, public finance, development economics, poverty and vulnerability analysis, public administration, or related fields, including experience providing strategic te
• Demonstrated experience supporting Government-led policy, systems-strengthening and reform initiatives.
• Experience supporting the design, implementation, coordination or evaluation of social protection and/or child protection programmes.
• Experience working with national and subnational governments, development partners, UN agencies and other international organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in policy analysis, programme coordination, stakeholder engagement, advocacy and strategic advisory support.
• Experience in public finance, sustainable financing, resource mobilisation, budgeting, or investment advocacy for social sectors is an asset.
• Fluency in English required. Knowledge of Kiswahili desirable.
• Strong knowledge of child-sensitive social protection and child protection systems.
• Strong knowledge of Kenya’s child protection legal, policy and institutional framework, including the Children Act 2022, or of care reform and violence prevention approaches.
• Understanding of child poverty, vulnerability and social inclusion issues.
• Knowledge of social protection policy, programme design and delivery systems.
• Familiarity with policy development, legislative processes and institutional reform.
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills.
• Ability to engage effectively with senior government officials, development partners and other stakeholders.