Mission and objectivesTo strengthen the design, implementation, and monitoring of inclusive, shock-responsive, and child-sensitive social protection systems in Bhutan, contributing to poverty reduction, resilience building, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
ContextUNICEF Bhutan is a small to medium-sized Country Office (CO), supporting the Royal Government of Bhutan in advancing the well-being of childrenโs education, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection, social protection, adolescent development and participation and communication for development. The Social Policy Section is responsible for managing and supervising all stages of social policy programming and related advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results. This includes programmes aimed at improving (a) public policies to reduce child poverty; (b) social protection coverage and impact on children; (c) transparency, adequacy, equity, and efficiency of child-focused public investments and financial management; and (d) governance, decentralization, and accountability measures to increase public participation and the quality, equity, and coverage of social services. This encompasses both direct programme work with government and civil society partners as well as linkages and support to teams working on education, health, child protection, water and sanitation, and social protection.
Task DescriptionThe Social Protection Specialist is responsible for the following functions: 1. Strengthen Shock Responsive Social Protection System โข Provide technical support for the development and enhancement of national social protection programme delivery systems, including targeting mechanisms, implementation modalities, and operational capacities. โข Facilitate national dialogue and provide technical inputs for the implementation of the national social protection strategy and its action plan. โข Support the development of an integrated social protection registry system. โข Provide technical assistance in the design and implementation of disability-inclusive and child-sensitive social protection schemes, including costing, beneficiary identification, financing, and payment mechanisms while ensuring the use of data and evidence for programme design and delivery. โข Conduct advocacy and policy analysis on financing options, system diagnostics, and linkages between social protection and sectoral systems (e.g., health, education, nutrition, child protection, WASH). โข Promote innovative approaches and share global best practices to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of social protection interventions. 2. Support Resource Mobilization โข Identify innovative financing mechanisms and prepare proposals to seek funding. โข Contribute to donor and organizational reporting requirements. 3. Coordination and Operational support for Programming โข Represent the organization in inter-agency and national social protection fora, fostering joint programming, information sharing, and strategic partnerships. โข Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to support the development and implementation of joint initiatives. โข Manage the international consultant for the development of investment cases and project proposal development. โข Prepare internal technical documents, ToRs, and progress updates.
Competencies and valuesโข Diversity and inclusion: Treats all people with dignity and respect; shows respect and sensitivity towards gender, cultural, and religious differences; challenges prejudice, biases, and intolerance in the workplace; encourages diversity wherever possible. โข Integrity: Maintains high ethical standards; takes clear ethical stands; keeps promises; immediately addresses untrustworthy or dishonest behaviour; resists pressure in decision-making from internal and external sources; does not abuse power or authority. โข Commitment: Demonstrates commitment to UNICEFโs mission and the wider UN system; demonstrates the values of UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours; seeks out new challenges, assignments, and responsibilities; promotes UNICEFโs cause. โข Communication: Speaks fluently; expresses opinions, information, and key points of an argument clearly; presents information with skill and confidence; responds quickly to the needs of an audience and their reactions and feedback; projects credibility; structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience; presents information in a well-structured and logical way. โข Working with people: Shows respect for the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy; listens, supports, and cares for others; consults others and shares information and expertise with them; builds team spirit and reconciles conflict; adapts to the team and fits in well. โข Drive for results: Sets high standards for quality of work; monitors and maintains quality of work; works in a systematic, methodical, and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals; focuses on the needs and satisfaction of internal and external partners; accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Living conditions and remarksThimphu, the capital of Bhutan, experiences a wet season, which runs from May through September, and a dry season that covers the remainder of the year. Rainfall in the valley varies between 500 millimetres (20 in) and 1,000 millimetres (39 in) per year, the bulk of which is received during the monsoonal wet season. The average temperature recorded during winter varies between 5โ15 ยฐC while in summer the variation is between 15โ30 ยฐC. The coldest average (minimum) temperature in January is โ2.6 ยฐC and the average highest temperature recorded during August is 25 ยฐC. Conditions of Service for International UN Volunteers The contract lasts for the period indicated above with the possibility of extensions subject to the availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. Entitlements of International UN Volunteers include Entry Lump Sum Allowance (USD4,000); Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) for International UN Volunteer Specialist based in Thimphu, Bhutan (About USD2,734.93*), Entitlement Travel for UN Volunteer and eligible dependents (subject to authorization by UNV HQ in writing): Flight tickets (entry on duty & repatriation); Insurance Coverage (Comprehensive health, life, and malicious acts insurance); Annual Leave of 2.5 days per month; Access to UNVโs learning and career development resources; and Exit Lump Sum Allowance (USD225 per month served) payable upon successful completion of the assignment. For further information on the full entitlements, please refer to the Unified Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers (COS) at app.unv.org/explore *Calculators - UVP UNV VLA will be specified when the Offer of UN Volunteer assignment is issued.