UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to Safety...

UNICEF is the lead UN agency supporting the Government of Malawi to ensure all children have equitable access to quality, affordable services that enable them to survive, learn, and develop in a safe and protective environment. Since ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, Malawi has made progress in child health, nutrition, and primary education. However, monetary and multidimensional child poverty remain high, with UNICEF estimating in 2024 that 69.6% of children are deprived of two or more essential services, including education, health, and adequate housing.

Limited and inequitable public spending contributes to these deprivations. Although the share of the national budget allocated to social sectors increased from 31% in 2024/25 to 32.3% in 2025/26, fiscal space remains tight and reductions in official development assistance threaten the sustainability of social spending. Education receives the largest allocation (16.6% of the 2025/26 budget), followed by health (9.5%), social protection (3.8%), and WASH (3.5%). Against this backdrop, UNICEF continues to advocate for increased and better‑quality public investment in children, informed by robust budget analysis.

UNICEF’s central concern is whether public budgets and fiscal policies are responsive to children’s needs and whether resources are used as intended. Budget Briefs have been a key tool for tracking social spending, but further analysis is needed to understand the drivers of allocations and spending patterns, and to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of expenditures within a constrained fiscal environment.

To support this work, UNICEF seeks to hire a National Consultant to analyze socio‑economic policies and government budgets from a child rights perspective. The consultant will assess the size, composition, and efficiency of social sector spending across social protection, education, health, child protection, and WASH, generating evidence to inform UNICEF’s advocacy and capacity‑building efforts with government at national and subnational levels in Malawi.

How can you make a difference? 

• Update Budget Trackers: Collect budgetary and non‑budgetary data for the 2025/26 (revised) and 2026/27 financial years and update existing budget trackers. This will require engaging key Government entities, including the Ministry of Finance, relevant sector ministries, and the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC).
• Develop Budget Briefs: Responsible for the budget analysis and drafting of sectoral Budget Briefs for 2026/27. All briefs will undergo internal review and quality assurance by UNICEF.
• Contribute to Advocacy Plans: Provide inputs for advocacy plans for each Budget Brief, in collaboration with the Communications, Advocacy and Partnerships team, using existing templates, to guide UNICEF’s evidence‑based advocacy with government and partners.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Academic qualification:

• A University Degree in economics, business studies, development studies and any other related social sciences is required.

 Work experience:

• At least 7 years of working experience in macroeconomics and budget analysis, public finance management or related fields is required.
• Demonstrated experience in developing UNICEF Budget Briefs is an asset
• Experience working with Government and stakeholders (CSOs, Parliament, Local Councils) is required.
• Previous experience with a UN agency is highly desirable.

 Technical Skills, Knowledge, and Competencies

• Strong analytical and data‑management skills, with proficiency in Excel and other data analysis tools are required.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize large volumes of information into clear, accessible outputs is highly desirable.
• Solid understanding of economic and financial analysis, including budgetary and fiscal policy frameworks is required.
• Knowledge of Malawi’s budget cycle, key public finance actors, and the functioning of national budgeting and financial management systems (including PBBS, IFMIS, and the Chart of Accounts) is required.
• Excellent communication and facilitation abilities, with a proven capacity to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders is highly desirable.

 Languages:  Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Chichewa (strong oral & written skills) is required.

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference  Terms of Reference National Consultancy for Budget Analysis for UNICEF Budget Briefs.pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(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 others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and 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.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

HOW TO APPLY...

Interested consultants should provide the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment
3. Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, travel, living cost, visa (where applicable), and other costs)  ANNEX I - Financial Proposal.xlsx Complete the attached form.
4. Reference details from at least 3 most recent supervisors, including a current supervisor.

Remarks:  

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. 

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.