Social Protection Officer, Baghdad, Iraq

General

Description of assignment title: Social Protection Officer

Assignment country: Iraq

Duty stations: Baghdad

Work location: On UN premises

Expected start date: 08/01/2026

Duration: 12 months(with possibility of extension)Long-term benefits and allowances

Sustainable Development Goal: 1. No poverty

Host entity: UNICEF

Modality: Onsite

Type: National

Volunteer category: Expert UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule: Full-time

Number of Assignments: 1

Details

Mission and objectives:

• UNICEF has a long-term commitment to Iraq's children and young people, with the first formal cooperation agreement signed with the Government in 1963. UNICEF works in close partnership with the Federal through established Cooperation Agreements. UNICEF has a broad geographic presence in the country with four offices located in Basra, Baghdad, Erbil and Dohuk. UNICEF collaborates with UN agencies, international and national NGO partners to meet the humanitarian and development needs of most vulnerable children and young people.
• In recent years, UNICEF's work to support the unique needs of young people has gained momentum, as the challenges facing them have come more sharply into view. UNICEF is committed to deliver for all children and young people through its overall impact goal of 'realizing the rights of every child, especially the most disadvantaged. The UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2018−2021 recognizes the whole spectrum of young people, including young adults or youth over 18, and includes in its Change Strategies "supporting young people and children as agents of change." Taking its cue from the strategic plan, the Global Communication and Advocacy Strategy 2019−2021 (GCAS) asserts the important role that young people can play in the successful realization of UNICEF's mandate, and outlines the need to listen to, co-create and collaborate with young people and create meaningful engagement opportunities for them to make a difference. Being important drivers of change, children and young people are essential partners and contributors to both the development and implementation of UNICEF's Strategic Plan 2022 2025. With a new and ambitious SP, UNICEF intends to be deliberate and committed in fully involving children and young people in creating the solutions to accelerate the realization of the SDGs and driving change forward.

Context:

• The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was established in 1946 by the United Nations General Assembly to provide humanitarian and development assistance to children worldwide. UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized populations. In Iraq, UNICEF supports the Government at federal and regional levels in strengthening systems and services that improve the well-being of children and families, including social protection, education, health, child protection, water and sanitation, and social policy.
• This United Nations Volunteer (UNV) assignment is part of UNICEF Iraq's Social Policy Programme, which contributes to the reform and strengthening of Iraq's social protection system under the European Union-United Nations Joint Programme on Social Protection. The programme aims to support the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government in developing more inclusive, equitable, shock-responsive, and child-sensitive social protection systems.
• Key interventions include supporting the implementation of the national Social Protection Strategy, strengthening institutional capacities, improving social protection delivery systems, generating evidence to inform policy reforms, and piloting innovative approaches to expand access to social protection services for vulnerable populations. The programme also supports initiatives such as cash transfer pilots, assessments focused on vulnerable groups including teenage mothers, and the modernization of social protection management information systems.
• Key stakeholders include the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Federal Iraq), the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Ministry of Planning, the European Union, participating UN agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, and other national and sub-national institutions involved in social protection policy and service delivery.
• The UN Volunteer will contribute to the effective implementation of programme activities through technical, coordination, operational, and administrative support, helping advance social protection reforms that improve outcomes for vulnerable children and families across Iraq.

Task description:

• Under the supervision of the Social Policy Specialist, the UN Volunteer will support the implementation of UNICEF's Social Protection programme by undertaking the following tasks:
• Support the implementation of national social protection priorities
• Support the development, implementation, and monitoring of the Social Protection Strategy implementation roadmaps for both the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
• Assist in tracking progress against agreed milestones, identifying implementation bottlenecks, and supporting coordination with relevant government counterparts and development partners.
• Support social protection research and assessments
• Contribute to the implementation of the Teenage Mothers Assessment, including coordination with stakeholders, data collection activities, review of outputs, and dissemination of findings.
• Support the generation of evidence and analysis to inform social protection policies and programmes.
• Support government capacity strengthening
• Assist in the planning, organization, and delivery of capacity-building activities for government officials in line with the agreed annual workplan.
• Support the development of training materials, documentation of training outcomes, and follow-up actions to strengthen institutional capacities.
• Support the expansion of cash transfer initiatives
• Assist with the implementation and scale-up of the Cash Pilot Programme in both Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
• Support coordination with government counterparts and partners to facilitate programme delivery, monitoring, and reporting.
• Support programme coordination and event management
• Coordinate the organization of workshops, consultations, technical meetings, and high-level events related to the Social Protection programme.
• Liaise with event management service providers and ensure timely delivery of logistical and administrative arrangements in accordance with UNICEF procedures.
• Prepare meeting agendas, presentations, minutes, and follow-up action points as required.
• Support operational and administrative processes
• Work closely with UNICEF Supply and Operations teams to facilitate the processing and follow-up of programme-related requests, including procurement, contracting, and logistical arrangements.
• Proactively monitor the status of requests and ensure timely communication between programme and operational teams.
• Support partnership and stakeholder engagement
• Assist in maintaining effective coordination and communication with government institutions, UN agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders involved in social protection initiatives.
• Perform other duties as required
• Undertake any other programmatic, operational, coordination, or administrative tasks assigned by the Social Policy team to support the effective implementation of UNICEF's Social Protection programme.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 - 80

Required experience: 7 years

Nationality: Candidate must be a national, legal resident or hold refugee status in the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience:

• 7 years

Languages:

• English, Level: Fluent, Required
• Arabic, Level: Fluent, Required
• Kurdish, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable

Required education level:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Policy, Public Policy, Economics, Development Studies, Public Administration, Social Sciences, International Development, Political Science, or another relevant field is preferred.

Competencies and values:

• 1 Builds and maintains partnerships
• 2 Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• 3 Innovates and embraces change
• 4 Drive to achieve results for impact
• 5 Manages ambiguity and complexity
• 6 Thinks and acts strategically Nurtures, leads and manages people
• 7 Works collaboratively with others
• care, respect, integrity, trust, accountability and sustainability

Skills and experience:

• Professional experience in social protection, social policy, programme management, public sector reform, public administration, or related fields.or other relevant programmes; experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset;
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; cultural and social sensitivity; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Sound security awareness;
• Have affinity with or interest in social protection and public policy as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.

Area(s) of expertise:

• Social work

Driving license:

• -

Other information