Emergency Specialist - Beneficiary Data Field Support (P-3), FT, PG Social Policy - HCT, outposted in Turkeye # 00131330

Under the supervision of the Beneficiary Data Manager, this position supports regional and country offices in managing payment recipients' personal data to provide cash assistance to those affected by humanitarian crises and to deliver cash incentives to frontline workers.

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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, … a champion

The impact of growing poverty and inequality is a major obstacle for the realization of children’s rights. Despite modest, but important progress in terms of child poverty reduction, children continue to be more likely to fall into poverty than adults. Today’s children are growing up in a world beset by multiple, near-simultaneous, interdependent shocks, stemming from the fallout of disease outbreaks, violent conflicts, climate change and environmental degradation, and skyrocketing costs of living.

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. In the face of these increasingly challenging environment, under the framework of its new Strategic Plan (SP), 2022–2025, UNICEF’s Social Policy and Social Protection (SPSP) Programme is committed to reducing child poverty and expanding inclusive social protection for all children and adolescents including those living in humanitarian context.

To achieve better results for children, in a more efficient and effective way, UNICEF has initiated the mainstreaming and scale up of the use of Cash based assistance across the organization. This has become a priority area of work under UNICEF’s strategic plan. In fragile and Humanitarian contexts, UNICEF uses the terminology Cash-Based Assistance to refer to the delivery of cash transfers to vulnerable families, as well as the payment of incentives to individual front line workers.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Beneficiary Data Manager, this position supports regional and country offices in managing payment recipients' personal data to provide cash assistance to those affected by humanitarian crises and to deliver cash incentives to frontline workers. It involves maintaining and enhancing data management tools, collaborating with HQ and regional teams, and promoting best practices in data protection and management. The role also contributes to ensuring UNICEF’s Management Information System (HOPE) remains effective and aligned with country office needs. Frequent extended travel to crisis-affected areas and long working hours are required, with up to 75% travel expected.

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

Payees Data System Design, Deployment, and Support

This role focuses on developing robust data management practices for cash-based assistance and frontline workers, covering all aspects from registration and targeting to payment management, verification, and grievance mechanisms. It ensures adherence to data protection and information security standards at the country level, supports the global rollout of HOPE and complementary applications, and designs data processing solutions tailored to local needs. The position involves creating and adapting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for effective data collection and analysis, providing training on tools like HOPE, Kobo, and Aurora, and troubleshooting data-related challenges both remotely and in-country. Additionally, the role encompasses GIS data collection and analysis, system development for cash transfer programs, and beneficiary database management, while building the capacity of UNICEF staff to ensure high-quality data handling practices.

Support for HOPE Operational Framework and Data Analysis

The position coordinates with programmatic and operational teams to ensure cohesive payment recipient data management for cash-based assistance in country offices. It supports troubleshooting through user engagement mechanisms, contributes to the development of operational structures for cash transfer implementation, and rolls out HQ-developed tools, including Data Protection Impact Assessments and Data Sharing Agreements. The role includes drafting relevant templates, updating training materials, and refining policy documents related to HOPE deployments. On the data analysis front, it supports country offices in cleaning and interpreting datasets, analyzing trends, and identifying process improvement opportunities. Findings from statistical analysis inform decision-making across country, regional, and global levels, with an emphasis on enhancing knowledge management initiatives.

More details can be found via the Job Description:  P3 FT Beneficiary Data System - field support _for VA.docx

The following minimum requirements:

Education:

Advanced University degree Master's degree in economics, Social Science, Database management, data analytics or related field is required..

Work Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of data and information management system experience, including with multiple stakeholders.

Desirables/Assets

• Experience in implementing cash-based assistance programmes in fragile and humanitarian contexts is desirable
• Experience in Beneficiary Data system for cash-based assistance programmes in fragile and humanitarian contexts at field level is desirable.
• Experience in business operation environments with a proven track record of interfacing with multiple stakeholders (internal and external)
• Experience in working with UN agencies (UNICEF experience preferred) at interagency level
• Experience in using mobile data collection applications (e.g.:ODK and Kobo)
• Experience in using GIS software and data sources.
• Detailed knowledge of Structured Query Language (SQL), alternatively solid command of STATA or other statistical software is accepted.
• Experience collaborating across multiple functions and working with operational subject matter experts, technical  resources and architecture teams.
• Experience in programming language (Phyton, Visual Basic, Java) is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is considered an asset.

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.