Social Policy Officer - (UNOPS Individual Contractor Agreement - Level 6), Beirut, Lebanon

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For every child, the right to Inclusive Development

UNICEF Lebanon operates in a highly complex and protracted crisis context marked by economic collapse, fiscal constraints, political instability, and growing social vulnerabilities. The Country Office’s main focus is aimed at mitigating the impact of the crisis on children and vulnerable populations through strengthening social protection systems, improving access to essential services, and supporting evidence-based, child-sensitive social policies. A key priority is supporting inclusive recovery efforts by strengthening public finance systems, improving budget transparency and accountability, and promoting equitable investments in children across sectors.

The Social Policy Section plays a central role in advancing these objectives by generating and translating evidence on child poverty, promoting child-sensitive social protection and public finance reforms, and supporting policy dialogue and institutional capacity-building for inclusive development.

Under the general guidance of the supervisor, the Social Policy Officer is accountable for providing technical support and assistance in all stages of social policy programming and related advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results. This includes programmes aimed at:
(a) improving public finance for children and policy making for inclusive recovery,
(b) raising awareness and evidence on child poverty and vulnerability,
(c) strengthening the national social protection system.

The overall objective of the position is to contribute towards the realization of child rights priorities in line with the CRC. This encompasses both direct programme and policy work with government and civil society partners as well as linkages and analytical support to teams working on education, nutrition, health, child protection, and water and sanitation.

How can you make a difference? 

Key Responsibilities & Duties
The Social Policy Officer would provide technical support in all stages of social policy programmes, to strengthen evidence-based policymaking, child-sensitive public finance, and social protection systems. The role supports policy analysis, technical dialogue, and coordination with Government of Lebanon counterparts, civil society organizations, and development partners, in the areas outlined below:

1. Public Finance for Children
• Undertake and support budget and public expenditure analysis to inform UNICEF advocacy and programme priorities, and to strengthen evidence-based policy decisions on child-focused investments.
• Provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Finance and relevant social sector ministries to strengthen core public finance and planning functions, and to improve the adequacy, equity, and efficiency of budget allocations for essential services affecting children.
• Work closely with the Institute of Finance to strengthen transparency and accountability in public finance, including support to public expenditure analysis and capacity-building of civil society, and youth on the national budget process and participation.

2. Child Poverty
• Support the generation and dissemination of evidence on child wellbeing, including the preparation of clear, user-friendly data products and analytical outputs (such as papers and briefs) to inform policy dialogue, programme design, and decision-making.
• Leverage evidence and strategic communication to support children’s rights and child-focused reforms, engaging policymakers, civil society, media, and the general public to strengthen public understanding and inform policy debate.

3. Social Protection
• Support the development and implementation of the National Social Protection Strategy Action Plan (2026–2028), including contributing to coordination and consultation processes, providing technical review of con