UNICEF is seeking a Strategic Political and Socio-Economic Analyst (P-4) for its Eastern & Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) in Nairobi. This role is responsible for monitoring and analyzing political, governance, legislative, and socio-economic developments across countries in the region. The analyst identifies shifts in political leadership, public policy debates, and regional trends that influence UNICEF’s operating environment, providing evidence-based advice and strategic positioning options for senior management.
Key Responsibilities
Regional Political and Contextual Analysis
- Monitor and analyze political, governance, legislative, and socioeconomic developments across the region, tracking shifts in leadership and policy frameworks.
- Maintain situational awareness across multiple country contexts and identify cross-border or regional trends relevant to UNICEF.
- Assess the implications of regional and country-level political trends for UNICEF’s mandate, programmes, and operations.
- Produce high-quality regional political briefs and scenario analyses for the Office of the Regional Director.
Strategic Advisory Support
- Provide evidence-based political advice on emerging risks and opportunities, proposing mitigation or leveraging measures.
- Support the Regional Director in preparing for high-level engagements with briefing notes, talking points, and background materials.
- Advise on UN reform processes, including UN80, and support engagement with the Regional Coordination Platform (RCP).
Stakeholder Mapping and Regional Engagement
- Conduct regional stakeholder mapping and political economy analyses to identify key influencers and power dynamics.
- Support regional engagement strategies with governments, regional bodies, and diplomatic missions.
Coordination Support to the Deputy Regional Director
- Develop strategic papers, thought pieces, and briefing notes for high-level meetings.
- Serve as a focal point for rapid synthesis of inputs across sections and monitor follow-up on senior management decisions.
- Support preparation for official missions by ensuring leadership has complete background information and risk sensitivities.
Knowledge Management and Information Sharing
- Maintain regional political analysis tools, trackers, and analytical dashboards.
- Disseminate key insights and political economy analysis to relevant regional and country-level stakeholders.
- Capture lessons learned and contribute to institutional knowledge on regional political economy.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Education: Advanced university degree in Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy, Development Studies, Law, or a related field. (A university degree with additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree).
- Experience: Minimum eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in political analysis, governance, policy advisory, or international development.
- Senior Advisory: Proven experience providing strategic and confidential advisory support to senior-level officials, including policy briefs and high-level correspondence.
- Coordination: Experience in high-level coordination and managing workflows across complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
- Desirable: Experience in data analytics for risk assessment and decision-making; experience within the UN system or similar international organizations.
- Language: Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of French and Portuguese is an asset.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online through the official UNICEF recruitment portal by following the link: UNICEF on jobs.unicef.org
