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For every child, the right to future
Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
The purpose of this assignment is to support UNICEFโs Child Poverty Portfolio by advancing the analysis of child poverty. The Social Policy Specialist (Child Poverty) will complete the computation of the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), strengthen national capacities, and promote data-driven advocacy. The Specialist will provide technical leadership in data analysis and methodological development, while also supporting the development of the MICS Equity Dashboard. In addition, the Specialist will contribute to the production of policy and research communication products. This work aims to enhance the use of data for equity-focused programming, inform national policy dialogue, and ensure the effective dissemination of findings through visualizations, briefs, and accessible knowledge products.
Background & Rationale:
UNICEF South Sudan (SSCO) is implementing its 2023โ2025 Country Program to uphold the rights of children and women, especially the most vulnerableโby strengthening systems and enhancing access to high-quality, resilient social services. Embedded within this framework, the Social Policy Program aims to reduce child poverty and vulnerability through a combination of social protection, public finance for children, and evidence-based policy influence.
Child poverty remains a critical concern in South Sudan, where decades of conflict and underinvestment have left millions of children deprived of essential services and opportunities. In response, UNICEF SSCOโs child poverty portfolio is focused on building national capacity to measure and monitor child deprivation and using this evidence to inform policies, plans, and budgets that are equity-focused and resilience-oriented.
To support these efforts, UNICEF has recently completed the seventh round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS7), offering a unique opportunity to produce robust and timely child poverty data. The current assignment will focus on conducting a Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) analysis using MICS7 data, developing national poverty profiles, and building government capacity to institutionalize poverty monitoring mechanisms. Given the multidimensional nature of poverty, encompassing material deprivation, psychosocial well-being, and lack of access to essential services. This work will provide critical insights into the drivers of child poverty in South Sudan.
Alongside the MPI analysis, the assignment will also support the development and finalization of a MICS Equity Dashboard, which will present key indicators through interactive and accessible visualizations. These tools will contribute to more effective data communication and advocacy by translating complex findings into actionable insights for policymakers and partners.
Finally, the consultant will contribute to a suite of communication products including policy briefs, factsheets, and budget briefs that highlight the key findings from the analysis and strengthen UNICEFโs advocacy for child-cantered policy and planning. These outputs are essential to ensuring that data and evidence lead to concrete improvements in the lives of children and families in South Sudan.
Scope of the Work:
The Social Policy Specialist โ Child Poverty will lead child poverty analysis using the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), including data processing, computation, and comparative analysis across survey years. They will design and conduct capacity-building workshops for government and UNICEF staff, supporting national consultations to develop and validate MPI methodology. The Social Policy Specialist โ Child Poverty will provide technical leadership and quality assurance for the MICS Equity Dashboard, ensuring accurate and consistent data visualization. Additionally, they will contribute to policy
Scope of the Work:
The Social Policy Specialist โ Child Poverty will lead child poverty analysis using the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), including data processing, computation, and comparative analysis across survey years. They will design and conduct capacity-building workshops for government and UNICEF staff, supporting national consultations to develop and validate MPI methodology. The Social Policy Specialist โ Child Poverty will provide technical leadership and quality assurance for the MICS Equity Dashboard, ensuring accurate and consistent data visualization. Additionally, they will contribute to policy
Finally, the consultant will contribute to a suite of communication products including policy briefs, factsheets, and budget briefs that highlight the key findings from the analysis and strengthen UNICEFโs advocacy for child-cantered policy and planning. These outputs are essential to ensuring that data and evidence lead to concrete improvements in the lives of children and families in South Sudan.
Scope of the Work:
The Social Policy Specialist โ Child Poverty will lead child poverty analysis using the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), including data processing, computation, and comparative analysis across survey years. They will design and conduct capacity-building workshops for government and UNICEF staff, supporting national consultations to develop and validate MPI methodology. The Social Policy Specialist โ Child Poverty will provide technical leadership and quality assurance for the MICS Equity Dashboard, ensuring accurate and consistent data visualization. Additionally, they will contribute to policy and research communication products, such as policy briefs, factsheets, and budget briefs, facilitating evidence-based advocacy and informed decision-making for child-focused programming.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the overall guidance of the Chief, Social Policy, the consultant will deliver the following:
1. Child Poverty Data Analysis (Multidimensional Poverty Index)
1.1 Capacity Building and Technical Training
โข Design and develop training materials on data processing and multidimensional poverty measurement.
โข Prepare content for workshops, refresher sessions, and hands-on exercises.
โข Conduct training workshops for selected government officers and UNICEF staff.
โข Facilitate interactive sessions during data treatment and MPI computation workshops.
1.2. Methodology Development and National Ownership
โข Provide technical support to national consultations on the national MPI and Child MPI methodology.
โข Develop a comprehensive methodology note outlining definitions, indicators, deprivation cut-offs, weights, and sensitivity analyses.
โข Facilitate discussions with government counterparts and UNICEF to validate and endorse the proposed methodology.
1.3. Multidimensional Poverty Data Analysis
โข Compute key multidimensional poverty indices (MPI), including headcount ratios, severity, and intensity.
โข Estimate the population in multidimensional and severe multidimensional poverty.
โข Analyse the contribution of each dimension of deprivation to overall poverty.
โข Develop poverty profiles based on MPI results and provide comparative analysis across survey years.
1.4. Awareness and Advocacy
โข Develop user-friendly communication materials and infographics to raise awareness on child multidimensional poverty.
โข Translate complex analytical findings into accessible formats for policymakers, development partners, and the public.
1.5. Reporting and Visualization
โข Contribute to the drafting and finalization of a comprehensive report on multidimensional poverty.
โข Prepare a concise executive summary and accompanying visuals for advocacy and presentation purposes.
1.6. Validation and Dissemination of Results
โข Support stakeholder consultations to validate findings with government agencies, UNICEF, and research institutions.
โข Revise and finalize the multidimensional poverty analysis report based on feedback received.
โข Organize and facilitate a national validation workshop to present methodology, key findings, and policy implications.
2. Enhancing Data on Child Poverty and Vulnerability for Policy and Programme Action
2.1 Primary and Secondary Analysis
โข Supports the collection, analysis, and user-friendly presentation of data on child poverty and vulnerability, while strengthening national capacity to routinely collect, report, and utilize data for informed policy and decision-making.
โข Provides timely and regular data-driven analysis to support evidence-based prioritization, planning, and development.
โข Facilitate results-based management to inform, adjust, and scale up social policy initiatives aimed at reducing child poverty.
2.2 Technical Guidance for data visualization โข Provide technical leadership and quality assurance for the development of MICS Equity Dashboards and other related data communication products.
โข Lead data analysis and quality control processes to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and completeness of datasets used for dashboard visualization.
โข Offer technical guidance to the dashboard developer on indicator selection, data structuring, and interpretation of trends and disaggregated data.
โข Support the finalization of the MICS Equity Dashboard by validating data, refining indicators, and reviewing content to ensure alignment with UNICEFโs equity monitoring framework.
3. Policy and Research Communication Products
3.1 MICS-EAGLE Factsheet on Education Analysis:
โข Support the development of a factsheet based on the MICS-Education Analysis for Global Learning and Equity (MICS-EAGLE), in coordination with the Education Section and UNICEF Headquarters.
3.2 National Budget Brief:
โข Contribute to the preparation of a budget brief in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, focusing on public expenditure trends and their implications for child-focused sectors.
4. UNICEF Programme Management
โข Manages and coordinates technical support in the areas of child poverty, social protection, public finance, and governance, ensuring timely, well-planned, and results-oriented implementation to support scale-up and service delivery.
โข Contributes to the effective and efficient planning, coordination, and management of the social policy programme.
โข Ensures that social planning activities promote evidence-based policy dialogue, supervision, technical support, training, research, and strategic programme guidance.
5. Attend all International and/or National Workshops/Trainings or Seminars:
Deliverables
Develop and deliver training materials and workshops on data processing and multidimensional poverty measurement for government and UNICEF staff. Training materials and workshops delivered. By Oct 14, 2025 (10 days)
Support MPI consultations, draft methodology notes, and facilitate validation with government and UNICEF stakeholders. Developed and validated MPI methodology notes. By Feb 28, 2026 (80 days)
Conduct MPI computations, analyse deprivation dimensions, and develop poverty profiles with comparative analysis across survey years. Finalized multidimensional poverty analysis.
Support development of MICS-EAGLE factsheet through collaboration with Education Section and UNICEF HQ for effective education analysis communication.
MICS-EAGLE education factsheet developed By Mar 28, 2026 (20 days)
Draft and finalize comprehensive MPI report, prepare executive summary, and develop visuals for advocacy and presentation purposes.
Final report, summary, and visuals. By June 30, 2026 (50 days)
Facilitate consultations and validation workshop, revise MPI report based on feedback, and support dissemination with key stakeholders. Validated report and workshop conducted.
Lead data analysis and quality assurance, guide dashboard development, and support finalization aligned with UNICEFโs equity monitoring framework. Review, validate and finalized equity dashboard. By Jul 15, 2026 (37 days)
Create and review charts, maps, infographics; provide analytical inputs; support website updates ensuring accuracy and clear data communication. Data visuals and website updates.
Create accessible infographics and materials to raise awareness on child poverty among policymakers and partners. Communication materials developed. By Jul 30, 2026 (9 days)
Collaborate with Ministry of Finance to prepare budget brief analysing public expenditure trends impacting child-focused sectors.
Budget brief on child expenditures. By Aug 15, 2026 (18 days)
Developed and deployed UNICEF dashboard on SharePoint for real-time data access, visualization, and team collaboration. Developed and deployed of the dashboard By Aug 30, 2026 (20 days)
Support two proposal development and or surveys conducted by the UNICEF in proposal development, tools development, quality control and data review.
Support proposals development and surveys (two) By Sep 15, 2026 (20 days)
Qualifications
Advanced masterโs degree in Demography, Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Epidemiology, or any other related technical field is required
Skills and Experience:
โข Proven minimum of 10-year experience in the coordination and/or management of quantitative household surveys (prior MICS) and data analysis preferred.
โข Strong computer skills and strong expertise in statistical analyses (familiarity with data analysis software, particularly SPSS, STATA, Python and R).
โข Prior experiences in computing MPI using the MICS data are strongly preferred.
โข Prior experience in MICS-EAGLE is strongly preferred.
โข Experience with data visualization (dashboard)
โข Training experience and ability to organise and facilitate training and presentations,
โข Experience in data analysis and survey report writing.
โข Prior experience in working with emergency context.
Other competencies:
โข Excellent communication and interpersonal skills,
โข Excellent oral and written communication in English local languages is an advantage.
โข Familiarity and previous experience of working in South Sudan and other emergency contexts are highly desirable,
โข Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and to establish harmonious and effective relationships both within and outside the organisation, more specifically with National Statistical Offices,
โข Demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory ability,
โข Ability and willingness to travel extensively in-country and to attend regional workshops.
All applications MUST be accompanied with detailed technical and financial proposals.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
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The UNICEF competencies required for this post areโฆ
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with othersย
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UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer aย wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks andย reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
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Remarks:ย ย
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.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [female candidates] are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally requiredย 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.ย
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In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.
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.
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