National Social Policy Specialist

Job Opportunity: Social Policy Specialist (PFM)

The UNICEF Malawi Country Office has an exciting opening for a Social Policy Specialist focusing on Public Finance Management (PFM) within the Social Policy Section. This role is instrumental in providing technical and programmatic support throughout all phases of public finance for children programming and related advocacy efforts, from initial strategic planning to the delivery of tangible, sustainable outcomes.

Role Overview

Reporting to the Chief of Social Policy, the Social Policy Specialist (PFM) will offer crucial technical and programmatic assistance for PFM programming and advocacy. This encompasses strategic planning, formulation, and achieving concrete results for children. The role specifically supports programs aimed at:

• Enhancing financing for social sectors, including social protection initiatives.
• Strengthening transparency, accountability, and oversight of public finances at both national and sub-national levels.
• Generating high-quality, tailored evidence on social sector financing and broader PFM practices.

Key Responsibilities and Expected Results:

The Social Policy Specialist (PFM) will contribute to:

Improving the utilization of public financial resources for children

• Lead the development, finalization, and rollout of the Social Protection Financing Strategy (SPFS).
• Provide quality assurance and support for the development of budget analysis for the 2026/27 fiscal year.
• Offer financial and technical assistance to the Treasury to ensure the timely production and release of the 2026/27 Citizens Budget.
• Spearhead a comprehensive social media campaign, in collaboration with the CAP Section, to boost public awareness and engagement following the Citizens Budget publication.
• Ensure quality assurance and timely completion of a consultancy focused on public debt analysis.

Enhancing data on child poverty and vulnerability for policy and program action

• Support the National Statistical Office in conducting the Multiple Overlapping Deprivation Analysis (MODA), ensuring child poverty data informs government policy decisions.

Programme Management

• Provide continuous support to implementing partners (Government and Civil Society Organizations) to ensure effective planning, execution, expenditure management, and proactive resolution of any bottlenecks.

Education Requirements

Required:

• A Master's degree in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field is mandatory.
• A Bachelor's degree in the aforementioned areas or related fields may be considered with equivalent additional years of relevant experience.

Experience Requirements

Required:

• A minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in public financial management and budget analysis is required if holding a Bachelor's degree, OR a minimum of five (5) years of experience is required if holding a Master's degree.
• Proven experience in upstream Public Finance Management is essential, including prior work with line ministries (particularly in social sectors) and the Ministry of Finance.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing budget analyses, investment cases, or other evidence-generation activities to support enhanced investments in Social Protection and other Social Sectors is required.
• Thorough knowledge of Malawi’s National Social Protection system, along with other social protection and social service interventions, is mandatory.

Desired:

• Experience working in a developing country context.
• Experience in program or project evaluation.
• Experience managing consultants.