Want to build a career that actually changes lives? UNICEF is Hiring: Social Policy Specialist (Development) in Peshawar. Here’s your chance to join UNICEF and work on the front lines for every child’s right to a better future.
Social Policy Specialist (Development) in Peshawar
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Position Title | Social Policy Specialist (Development) |
| Organization | UNICEF |
| Location | Peshawar, Pakistan |
| Job Level | NO-C (National Officer) |
| Contract Type | Temporary Appointment (TA) |
| Duration | 364 Days |
| Key Expertise | Economics, Public Finance, Data Analysis |
| Core Responsibilities | Advocating for child-friendly budgets & strengthening social protection |
| Application Deadline | 03 May 2026 |
About UNICEF
We’re active in over 190 countries, working day in and day out to save children’s lives, protect their rights, and help them reach their full potential. At UNICEF, this isn’t just a job—it’s a calling. We’re a community of passionate, committed people who believe in the power of opportunity. When you join us, you’re not just getting a job; you’re building a career with purpose, surrounded by diverse colleagues and backed by a solid benefits package.
For every child, the right to play, learn, and grow.
What’s This Role All About?
As our Social Policy Specialist based in Peshawar, you’ll be our go-to expert for understanding the big picture—the political, social, and economic landscape of the province. Your mission? To help UNICEF position itself strategically to make the biggest possible impact on children’s rights.
You’ll work under the guidance of the Chief of Field Office, giving you the chance to lead high-level policy advocacy, build solid evidence, and forge powerful partnerships. Your daily work will push forward critical agendas like public finance for children (PF4C) and social protection, ensuring every rupee spent works harder for kids.
What Will You Be Doing on a Day-to-Day Basis?
- Analyze the Big Picture: Dive deep into the province’s political, social, and economic situation to identify how we can better design, fund, and implement policies that reach the most vulnerable children.
- Champion Child-Friendly Budgets: You’ll crunch the numbers on government budgets to advocate for smarter, fairer, and more transparent public spending on essential services like healthcare and education. You’ll help partners track where the money goes to ensure it gets to the communities that need it most.
- Strengthen Social Protection: Help design and improve social safety nets—think cash transfers and child grants—and link them with other vital services like nutrition, water, and education.
- Fight Child Poverty with Data: Lead efforts to collect and analyze data on child poverty, making sure it’s easy to understand and even easier for decision-makers to act on.
- Build Unmissable Partnerships: Connect the dots between government, donors, civil society, and other UN agencies. You’ll be a credible voice, using hard evidence to push for the rights of every child and advance the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Drive Results Through Smart Management: Manage and coordinate technical support around child poverty and social policy, ensuring our work is well-planned, on time, and designed to scale up successfully.
- Lead on Research & Evaluation: Spot initiatives that are ripe for in-depth research, coordinate impact evaluations with the government, and help turn lessons learned into action.
Are You the Perfect Fit?
You’ll need to bring:
- Deep Knowledge: An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field. An MBA is also welcome.
- Solid Experience: At least 5 years of hands-on professional experience in finance, economics, public policy, or data-driven research, ideally within the development or government sector.
- Proven Skill: A strong track record of analyzing public financial management (PFM) and political economy issues, and of working smoothly with multiple partners, including government bodies.
- Language Power: Top-notch fluency in English is a must.
- Bonus Points For:
- Experience in a developing country or fragile setting.
- Previous work with the UN.
- Knowledge of a local language.
The UNICEF Values & Competencies We Live By
We’re looking for a professional who embodies our core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability.
In this role, you’ll demonstrate that you can:
- Build and nurture smart partnerships.
- Act with self-awareness and airtight ethics.
- Drive hard to achieve real, measurable results.
- Embrace innovation and adapt to change.
- Navigate complexity with a cool head.
- Think and act with strategy.
- Collaborate seamlessly with a diverse team.
UNICEF’s Commitment to a Diverse & Safe Workplace
We are deeply committed to creating an inclusive workplace that reflects the world we serve. We strongly encourage applications from women, persons with disabilities, and candidates from underrepresented groups. UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy for any conduct that harms children, including sexual exploitation and abuse. We never hire anyone married to a child (under 18). All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Important: UNICEF does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Watch out for scams.
Ready to Make a Difference?
This is a temporary appointment, offering a rare chance to shape social policy for a generation.
Don’t wait to apply – the window closes on 03 May 2026.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next steps.
