Social Policy Associate

UNICEF TKM organization mission TBD

To accelerate results for children UNICEF is working to enhance the subnational and local governance systems for improved service delivery, better accountability, adequate financing options, while making sure children needs are prioritized and protected, especially those of the most marginalized. UNICEF is supporting government of Turkmenistan with evidence generation to allocate adequate financing for the achievement of the child-related SDG targets in health, pre-primary education, disability inclusion and social protection.

While there is no national definition of poverty, there are certain challenges associated with reporting on SDG 1, as per international standards. Government requested UNICEF support updating their household budget survey and labour force survey methodologies to better align with SDG requirements and social protection programme. Therefore, UNICEF considers supporting State statistics committee in measuring the wellbeing of the population, to generate new data on wellbeing of households, as well as multidimentional child poverty measurements with additional climate lens to monitor related SDGs with consideration of the potential impact of climate change on children and their families. The HBS/LFS or Wellbeing survey results should inform national policies and interventions on the latest situation of households and reduce existing equity gaps in the country.

In 2023, Sock Responsive Social Protection Readiness Assessment was conducted jointly by UNICEF and Government of Turkmenistan. Throughout 2019-2023, Government participated in a range of capacity building and networking events related to the designing and integrating Humanitarian Cash Transfer into the Social Protection system. In 2024, a Technical Task force consisting from 13 Ministries and state entities co-chaired by the Civil Rescue Operation and UNICEF was formed for Emergency preparedness and Disaster Risk Reduction with an HCT subgroup aiming at improving readiness, designing and piloting an SRSP action plan.

Under the direct supervision of Social Policy Specialist, the Social Policy Associate will contribute to technical support and assistance in all stages of social policy programming and support 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) the 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. As part of the team, the Social Policy Associate will:

In the area of advocacy and partnerships for child-sensitive social policy
• Support correct and compelling use of data and evidence on the situation of children and coverage and impact of child focused services – in support of the social policy programme and the country programme overall.
• Engage in effective partnerships with the Government, bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs, civil society and local leaders, the private sector, and other UN agencies to support sustained and proactive commitment to the Convention of the Rights of the Child and to achieve global UN agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Engage with other critical partners, to promote awareness, build capacity of partners, and actively facilitate effective collaboration within the UN family.

In the area of data for child poverty & vulnerability:
• Participate in the collection, analysis and user-friendly presentation of data on multidimensional and monetary child poverty, including strengthening national capacity to collect routinely, report and use data for policy decision-making.
• Support in facilitation of results-based management for planning, adjusting, and scaling-up specific social policy initiatives to reduce child poverty.
• Contribute to analysis of the macroeconomic context and its impact on social development, emerging issues and social policy concerns, as well as implications for children. UNV will have an opportunity to propose and promote appropriate responses in respect of such issues and concerns, including government resource allocation policies and the effect of social welfare policies on the rights of children

In the area of Strengthening social protection coverage and impact for children:
• Participate in the development of social protection policies, legislation and programmes with attention to increasing coverage of and impact on children, with special attention the most marginalized. Support in identification, generation and presentation of evidence to support this goal in collaboration with partners.
• Assist in strengthening of integrated social protection systems, with consideration of the shock-response elements, engaging in technical support to partners to improve the design of cash transfers and child grants and improve linkages with other social protection interventions such as health insurance, public works and social care services as well as complementary services and intervention related to nutrition, health, education, and child protection.
• Engage in improved monitoring and research around social protection impact on child outcomes, and use of data and research findings for strengthening programme results.

In the area of improving use of public financial resources for children:
• Participate in budget analysis to inform UNICEF’s advocacy and technical assistance to Ministries of Finance, planning commissions and social sector ministries to improve equitable allocations for essential services for children. Will engage with sector colleagues to build capacity to undertake costing and cost effectiveness analysis on priority interventions to help inform policy decisions on child-focused investments.
• Supports the identification of policy options for improved domestic financing of child-sensitive social protection interventions.
• Support in capacity building of partners for improved monitoring and tracking of public expenditure to support transparency, accountability and effective financial flows for essential service delivery, including through support to district level planning, budgeting and public financial management as well as facilitating community participation