Social Protection Officer- (Inclusion)

Host entity: UNICEF

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Community development, Project management, programme development, strategy

Application deadline: 25/09/2026

Mission and objectives

UNICEF, also known as the United Nations Children's Fund, is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. The agency is among the most widespread and recognizable social welfare organizations in the world, with a presence in 192 countries and territories. UNICEF's activities include providing immunizations and disease prevention, administering treatment for children and mothers with HIV, enhancing childhood and maternal nutrition, improving sanitation, promoting education, and providing emergency relief in response to disasters.

Assignment context

The Social Policy programme section of UNICEF Kenya Country Office works to promote and protect the rights of every child, with a strong focus on reducing child poverty and strengthening social protection systems. The Social Policy Section leads UNICEF's work on child poverty analysis, public finance for children, social protection, and the generation of evidence to inform policy and programme decisions. This encompasses both direct programme work with government and civil society partners as well as linkages and support to teams working on education, health, child protection, water and sanitation, and nutrition. Enhancing disability inclusion in social protection is central to UNICEF achieving the goal of 90 million children being screened and accessing disability support services and assistive technology globally between 2026 and 2029 (UNICEF Strategic Plan).

Under the overall guidance of the Social Policy Specialist, the Officer will support the Section's work on disability inclusion. More specifically, they will help drive forward work across three key areas: reform to the social protection provision for children with disabilities and their caregivers, contributing to enhanced disability inclusion in Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) in Kenya, and enhancing early identification, assessment and referral for children with disabilities. The Officer will also support the Social Policy section from time to time in helping implement other related disability inclusion work, such as the Global disability inclusion project, which is developing a county-level model to strengthen greater identification of, and support to, children with disabilities including in emergencies.

The Officer will work as part of a small, collaborative team alongside Social Policy Specialists in the social protection team as well as Public Finance Specialists and with other sections, with regular opportunities for mentoring, on-the-job learning, and exposure to national-level policy dialogue. Overall, the assignment aims to build on and strengthen critical workstreams on disability inclusion that the Social Policy section has been leading, helping shift from early stage initiatives and proofs of concept to embed sustainable initiatives that will enhance the provision of social protection for children with disabilities and their caregivers in Kenya for decades to come.

Task description

Under the supervision of the Social Policy Specialist (NOC), the Officer will carry out the following primary duties:
• Gathering and communicating lessons learnt from the Unpaid Care pilot and support development of a government roadmap for follow-on implementation of a Care and Support System.
• Support gathering and analysis of lessons learnt from the Unpaid Care model being implemented in Nairobi County.
• Help in dissemination of findings and, with support from the Social Policy Specialist, work with the government in development of a roadmap for implementing and scaling the Care and Support System in Kenya.
• Provide Secretariat support to work with GIZ and wider UN for advancing achievement of Amman-Berlin Declaration Targets Building on the initial work that has taken place in raising awareness and supporting implementation of the Amman-Berlin Declaration, provide Secretariat support, under guidance of the Social Policy Specialist, to ensure effective documentation and follow through of engagements with GIZ and other UN agencies.
• Support programme activities relating to systems strengthening work around identification, assessment and provision of assistive technology to children with disabilities;
• Provide support to the Social Policy Specialist in implementation of the financing UNICEF has received to complement the work of the NIKO programme, strengthening systems for identification, assessment and provision of assistive technology for children with disabilities.

Skills and experience

• Minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in disability inclusion, social protection, social care, public policy, or related programming.
• Strong understanding of disability rights and inclusive social protection systems, including support to children with disabilities, persons with disabilities, and caregivers.
• Strong understanding of disability inclusion, disability rights, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, with practical knowledge of how these apply to social protection systems.
• Experience supporting inclusive social protection policy, programming, or system strengthening, particularly for children with disabilities, persons with disabilities, and
caregivers.
• Knowledge of social care, unpaid care, caregiver support models, and cash transfer programmes, including how these can be integrated into national and county-level systems.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct policy and programme analysis, synthesize evidence, and prepare clear technical reports, briefs, presentations, and implementation roadmaps.
• Experience working with government institutions, county governments, UN agencies,
organizations of persons with disabilities, civil society, or development partners is
required or highly desirable.
• Strong coordination, stakeholder engagement, and partnership-building skills are essential. Knowledge of public finance, costing, cash transfer programmes, unpaid care, caregiver support, assessment and referral systems, or digital tools for social protection programming would be an asset.

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Living conditions

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighbouring Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of
Government; National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches.

Kenya’s population of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita estimated at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% annually. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Kenya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers.” (FAO). Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services and educational facilities are readily available. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN HABITAT and UNEP. The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest. The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate.

The official currency of the Republic of Kenya is the Kenya Shilling (KES) which is a convertible currency. The use of credit cards to pay for purchases and services in major facilities is fairly common. Automated Teller Machines (ATM) banking services are situated at major centres across the city. ATMs services are also available on the UN compound. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is the main airport in Kenya and serves as a regional hub for many global airlines. JKIA is 15 Kilometres from Nairobi’s central business district and 25 Kilometres from the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) in Gigiri. It is UNVs’ responsibility to obtain visas for Kenya. A valid passport, not expiring for at least six months from date of departure is required for an entry visa into Kenya. Public health Malaria: Nairobi is generally malaria-free, but it is still recommended to consult your doctor about all malarial prophylaxis if travelling into Kenya and beyond Nairobi, especially if going to the Kenya coast and Lake Victoria region. Adequate safeguards against mosquito bites are recommended, such as insect repellents, bed nets, long trousers, and long-sleeved clothing covering all arms. Diarrhoeal Diseases:

In Kenya, food poisoning and infection from waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, are common - depending on the hygiene standards of the places you visit for food. It is advisable to avoid raw foods, while fruits and vegetables that must be peeled and cleaned properly. Drinking water directly from the municipal taps is not advisable. Please ask for treated bottled water from a certified company with a secured seal. General Security precautions Nairobi is a beautiful city with a large expatriate community and modern amenities where people can move around
freely in a relatively safe manner. However, it is advisable to take necessary precautions and exercise common sense in light of certain security concerns. It is also advisable to be vigilant especially in Nairobi where petty crimes like phone and handheld property snatching, theft of valuables, including from in vehicles, are not uncommon.

You may check the full benefits and allowances applicable to the duty station using the UVP calculator. Please see the Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers for more information and details.”

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.