Social Protection Associate

Mission and objectives

UNICEF's fundamental mission is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, advocacy and operations. UNICEF's equity strategy prioritizes the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translating this commitment into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an equal opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. UNICEF Jordan Country Office works in close partnership with the Government of Jordan, civil society and development partners to support evidence-based, child-friendly policies and programmes. The Social Policy section leads UNICEF's work on social protection, public finance and poverty reduction, with the goal of building a more inclusive and shock-responsive national system that protects children and vulnerable families throughout the life cycle.

Context

Jordan is a middle-income country that has faced significant socio-economic pressures over the past decade, driven by regional instability, refugee influxes and fiscal constraints. These challenges have disproportionately affected children and vulnerable families, reinforcing the need for a robust, inclusive and integrated social protection system. UNICEF has played a central role in supporting the Government of Jordan — particularly the Ministry of Social Development (MOSD) — in updating the National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) for the period 2025-2033. With the strategy now in place, UNICEF's current focus has shifted to supporting its operationalization and implementation across key priority areas. These priorities include: the institutionalization of the cash plus model, which integrates cash transfers with complementary services to address the multidimensional needs of vulnerable households; the strengthening of the role of community-based organizations (CBOs) in delivering social protection services; and the institutionalization of Makani centres as integrated community spaces providing social services to vulnerable children. In parallel, UNICEF is working to identify additional areas of support to social protection with a specific focus on child-sensitive approaches (like the introduction of a child cash grant), and is advancing a public finance for children (PF4C) agenda as part of broader system strengthening efforts across the organization. The UN Volunteer will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of Social Policy, and coordinate with the Social Policy and Social Policy Officer responsible for the work on social protection and social assistance, and will contribute to research, analysis, implementation support and communication activities across these priority areas, gaining hands-on experience in UN programming in a complex, dynamic environment.

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Social Policy, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: b) Contribute to research, analysis and knowledge generation • Assist in developing and reviewing analytical and knowledge products on child-sensitive social protection and public finance management in Jordan • Support monitoring of socio-economic trends affecting children, contributing to data collection and report writing c) Support communication materials related to social policy • Assist in the design, review and editing of communication materials related to Social Policy priorities • Contribute to the development of advocacy briefs on NSPS implementation milestones and child-focused social protection outcomes d) Support documentation and reporting • Assist in documenting and reporting related to the social policy portfolio • Assist in preparing meeting notes, briefings and progress updates for internal and ex-ternal audiences Undertake any other activities relevant to the section, as requested.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Communication • Ethics and Values • Integrity • Knowledge Sharing • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Respect for Diversity • Self-Management • Technological Awareness • Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

Location: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is located in the Middle East. Bound by Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, Red Sea to the south and the Palestinian National Authority to the west. Weather: Jordan’s climate can be classified as semi-arid (Bsh) on the Koeppen-Geiger classification. It features a hot, dry climate characterized by long, hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. The climate is influenced by Jordan's location between the subtropical aridity of the Arabian desert areas and the subtropical humidity of the eastern Mediterranean area. January is the coldest month, with temperatures from 5°C to 10°C, and August is the hottest month at 20°C to 35°C. Daily temperatures can be quite hot, especially in the summer; on some days it can be 40°C or more, especially when a hot, dry southerly wind blows. Such winds can sometimes be very strong and can cause sandstorms. About 70 percent of the average rainfall in the country falls between November and March; June through August are often rainless. Rainfall varies from season to season and from year to year. Precipitation is often concentrated in violent storms, causing erosion and local flooding, especially in the winter months. Safety and Security: Jordan is a relatively stable country. The potentials for internal or external armed conflict are considered very unlikely in the current political environment. Peaceful demonstrations, and sometimes road blockages, do occur in Jordan, motivated by domestic factors such as unemployment, deprivation of resources and development or for regional issues such as solidarity with the Palestinian cause or with the Syrian crises. Most of these events are driven by civil society unions and Islamic parties. Domestic tribal civil unrest sometimes turns violent, especially outside main cities, due to tribal disputes or socio-economic reasons. In all occasions law enforcement agencies usually manage to contain the situation rapidly. Road traffic accidents are the primary threat against UN personnel in Jordan. Poor road conditions and bad driving behaviours are the main reasons for the high rate of traffic accidents. Amman is a category A duty station with security level 1. Transportation and housing: Taxis as well as ride-hailing services (Uber and Careem) are abundant and affordable in Amman. Medical facilities are generally very good, particularly in Amman where there are several modern, well-equipped public and private hospitals. Public minibuses are the most common form of public transport. They normally only leave when full, so waiting times of an hour or more are inevitable, especially in rural areas. The larger air-con buses offer a speedy and reliable service, departing according to a fixed schedule. Housing is readily available with rents for one- to two-bedroom apartments ranging between 500 and 800 JD (1 JD = 0.708 USD) depending on the location. Health Services: Medical facilities are generally very good, particularly in Amman where there are several modern, well-equipped public and private hospitals. Almost all doctors (and most pharmacists) speak English; many have studied abroad. Language: The official language of Jordan is Arabic, but English is widely spoken – especially in the cities. Many Jordanians have travelled or have been educated abroad so French, German, Italian and Spanish are also spoken, but to a lesser extent. Learn more about Jordan from the Ministry of Tourism’s website: https://www.mota.gov.jo/Default/En