Child Protection Specialist - Financing for Scale (P-4)

This position is based in Nairobi, one of UNICEF’s global Centres of Excellence, and sits within the Child Protection Programme and Migration practice, under the Violence Prevention and Response Systems (VPRS) Unit, while also supporting the Harmful Practices Unit. The unit supports countries to strengthen child protection systems, prevent and respond to violence against children, and scale high‑impact violence prevention solutions through policy reform, systems strengthening, workforce development, and financing.

Role Overview

You will support strategic planning and policy reform, integrate child‑sensitive public finance approaches into national systems, and lead financing assessments, costing, and investment cases that demonstrate the value and impact of child protection interventions. The role advances domestic resource mobilization and innovative financing, strengthens public financial management, and supports the development of costed workforce strategies for social service systems. You will also contribute to capacity development, global engagement, and advocacy, helping position child protection and violence prevention within national and global financing agendas.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning & Policy Reform: Integrate child‑sensitive public finance approaches into national systems and policy frameworks.
• Financing Assessments: Lead costing and investment cases demonstrating the value of child protection interventions.
• Domestic Resource Mobilization: Advance innovative financing and domestic resource strategies for social services.
• Public Financial Management (PFM): Strengthen PFM systems and support costed workforce strategies for social service systems.
• Technical Assistance: Provide technical knowledge and capacity development for partners and staff.
• Advocacy & Engagement: Contribute to global engagement and advocacy to position child protection within global financing agendas.

Requirements and Qualifications

• Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Administration, Social Policy, Public Finance, Social Sciences, Social Work, International Relations, Political Science, Law, or a related field.
• Experience: A minimum of eight years of progressive, professional work experience in public financial management and sector financing in applied, national, and international social development settings.
• Skills: Excellent analytical and public financing skills; experience with costed plans and resource mobilization; excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Languages: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset.

Desirables

• Hands-on experience in using PFM evidence to generate change at the national level.
• Experience in budget analysis, PERs, and PETS in key sectors for children.
• Technical leadership on child protection systems strengthening and social service workforce financing.
• Experience in fragile settings or humanitarian contexts.