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…

Malawi’s new Country Programme (2024-2028) includes three components: (1) child survival and development; (2) learning, skills development and protection; and (3) social policy. All components are supported by the programme and operational effectiveness and efficiency imperatives. All UNICEF programmes focus on risk-informed programming across the humanitarian and development nexus in all the above three outcome areas.  Risk-informed programming across the humanitarian and development nexus in all three outcome areas will contribute to strengthened disaster preparedness, enhanced climate adaptation/mitigation and response, and increased resilience capacity of institutions, communities, and young people. Programming aligns with UNICEF Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Transformative Agenda.

Malawi is ranked fifth in the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index. According to the Children’s Climate Risk Index (UNICEF, 2021), Malawi is among the top forty countries with high climate risk for children and the most vulnerable communities.  Malawi is highly susceptible to climate and environmental shocks, including flooding, drought, cyclones, and extreme heat. Such shocks have recently increased in frequency and magnitude and are among Malawi’s children’s greatest threats. As per UNICEF, ‘Climate Landscape Analysis for Children in Malawi’ report (CLAP) 2022 that climate-related hazards have resulted in the loss of life, displaced thousands of people, and damaged or disrupted roads, health facilities, schools, and power supplies across the country. Malawi also faces frequent outbreaks of cholera, endemic malaria, and the re-emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases such as polio, contributing to a need for a programme response fully responsive to an increased poly-crisis environment.

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of the Social Policy Chief, the consultant is accountable for the management, implementation, and administration of UNICEF cash transfer programmes with the specific focus on the following elements:

• Provide technical guidance on cash-based transfer programme design, delivery and assurance, in line with UNICEF’s guidelines.
• Conduct risk analysis and ensure risk mitigation are embedded into overall management of the support, in close consultation with UNICEF programme sections, partners, and Government agencies.
• Undertake regular field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decide on required corrective actions and support for cash transfer programmes.
• Coordination with operations to facilitate timely processing and reconciliation of cash interventions as relevant.
• Coordination with relevant UNICEF sections and integration of cross-sectoral elements (gender, PSEA, disability) in line with UNICEF policy commitments and guidance.
• Facilitate the development and implementation of cash transfer activities in coordination with the section and operations including Cash Plus modalities.
• Technical support to cash feasibility assessments, including the design of assessments to analysis of the data and write-up of the report.
• Support documentation of lessons learned on cash programming, and knowledge management of cash operations.
• Contribution to country office and national emergency preparedness and contingency planning to respond to humanitarian crises.
• Effective partnership and collaboration achieved and maintained with government counterparts, social protection stakeholders, development partners, technical cooperation, programme management/coordination, and networking.
• Develop partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including UN and national partners, to ensure the efficiency of the cash transfer programme
• Support preparation and follow-up of financial proposals prepared by UNICEF and the government of Malawi for funding for vertical and horizontal cash transfers.
• Plan and/or provide technical assistance and operational support throughout all stages of vertical and horizontal expansions of the SCTP in the emergency period.
• Support the documentation of lessons learned on cash programming, and knowledge management of cash operations.

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

Academic qualification:

• Advanced university degree in social protection, humanitarian response, social sciences, or related field.

 Work experience:

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience with either the UN and/or NGO, progressively responsible experience in coordination, assessments, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of social protection and cash transfer programmes in humanitarian contexts.

 Technical skills, knowledge and strength areas:

• Technical expertise in designing and implementing cash-based programmes, including in humanitarian settings.

• Experience of providing direct technical assistance to country teams and government counterparts is desired.
• Experience and or exposure to humanitarian coordination mechanisms, including cash working groups is desired.

 Professional Skills:

• Proven success in facilitating interagency processes to achieve a common goal.
• Ability to build trust, develop, and maintain effective working relationships with respect for diversity
• Commitment to UNICEF’s values and guiding principles.
• Communicates effectively including: tailoring language, tone, style, and format to match audiences; actively listens to perspectives of stakeholders and team members; interpreting messages and responding appropriately; speaking and writing clearly and efficiently; and makes presentations in public with confidence.
• Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results
• Fosters innovation and empowers management.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as analytical skills, with an exemplary ability to identify problems and propose solutions.
• Strategic thinking and decision-making skills, with a commitment to excellence.
• Strong interpersonal, teamwork, and self-management skills, as well as mature judgment.
• Ability to perform under pressure while maintaining a sense of humor.

Languages: 

• Fluency in written and verbal English is required, familiarity with Chichewa will be an asset.

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference  Terms of Reference_Social Policy Specialist_Humantrian Cash Transfer .pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

HOW TO APPLY…

Interested consultants should provide the following:

1. Cover letter:

• Describing the candidate’s relevant experience with similar type of assignments (max 300 words)

2. Updated Curriculum Vitae (not more than 4 pages)
3. Two latest performance appraisals and/or recommendations letters from recent assignments including reference contact details (phone numbers and email addresses)
4. When a need arises, the office will invite pre-selected roster candidates to provide their financial proposal (all-inclusive fee) for the specific assignment as well as to confirm their availability and interest at the time of the deployment need.

5. Include with your application relevant samples from similar work (web links also can be provided).

Remarks: 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.