Social Protection Specialist

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Dihlabeng Local Municipality; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

An international organization focused on food security seeks a professional to strengthen social protection systems across Africa. The role includes providing policy advice, guiding integrations into national strategies, and supporting the development of relevant programs. The ideal candidate has an advanced degree in social sciences and proficiency in English.

Qualifications

• Minimum of one year of relevant professional experience, or five years for Category B.
• Proficiency in social protection, policy design, and capacity-building activities.
• Full proficiency in English.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic policy support to governments regarding social protection.
• Guide the integration of social protection into national development plans.
• Support the development of policies for food security and nutrition.

Skills

Policy advice

Social protection systems

Socio-economic analysis

Capacity building

Multilingual communication

Education

Advanced university degree in relevant social sciences

Job description

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is committed to achieving food security for all by supporting the transformation of agri‑food systems to become more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. The FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF) oversees work across 47 Sub‑Saharan African countries, aligning its efforts with regional priorities and contributing to the realization of FAO’s Strategic Framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. RAF plays a key role in identifying, planning, and implementing FAO’s regional priorities. RAF maintains strong partnerships with regional institutions, including the African Union Commission, AUDA‑NEPAD, and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and promotes a multidisciplinary, integrated approach to programming in close collaboration with FAO Headquarters, Subregional, and Country Offices.

FAO recognizes social protection as a vital instrument for reducing rural poverty, enhancing resilience, and supporting inclusive agricultural transformation. Although notable progress has been made in expanding social protection systems across Sub‑Saharan Africa, critical gaps remain in terms of coverage, adequacy, and integration with agrifood systems for comprehensiveness. To address these challenges, the Social Protection Team at RAF works closely with governments and development partners to strengthen and scale up inclusive social protection systems that contribute to food security, nutrition, resilience to climate change and other shocks while reducing poverty and inequalities.

This position is based within the Regional Social Protection Team and contributes directly to strengthening social protection systems across Africa.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall leadership of the FAO Regional Office Programme Lead for Social Protection and technical supervision of the Social Policy Officer.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will provide policy and programmatic technical expertise to support FAO’s work on social protection and the resilience of rural populations. This includes, but is not limited to, areas such as economic inclusion programming, inclusive climate action, nutrition‑ and gender‑sensitive social protection, and the development and strengthening of shock‑responsive social protection systems.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide strategic policy and programmatic support to governments and FAO teams at country, subregional, and regional levels on social protection.
• Offer technical guidance for the integration of social protection into national development plans and agrifood systems transformation strategies.
• Support the formulation of policies and the design of programmes to strengthen social protection systems that contribute to food security, nutrition, climate action, agriculture, and rural development.
• Support socio‑economic analyses to inform the linkages between social protection, climate adaptation, resilience building, shock responsiveness, and poverty reduction.
• Support the design and implementation of joint initiatives aimed at expanding social protection coverage to rural populations, including pastoralists, fisherfolk, and communities vulnerable to climate change.
• Contribute to the development of knowledge products and tools related to nutrition‑sensitive social protection, climate adaptation, shock‑responsive systems, and broader system‑strengthening efforts.
• Provide technical inputs to corporate processes, including Common Country Assessments (CCAs), Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs), regional strategies, reports, and communication materials.
• Support capacity development efforts through the design and delivery of trainings, workshops, guidance materials, and other knowledge sharing activities.
• Contribute to the strengthening of strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, and regional advocacy efforts.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in political science, economics, development studies, social anthropology or other relevant social sciences or any other discipline relevant to the work of the Organization. Consultants with bachelor’s degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
• At least one‑year relevant experience for (Category C) five years’ relevant experience (Category B) or at least ten years' relevant experience (Category A) in social protection, socio‑economic analysis, policy advice, programmes design and implementation and capacity building activities in relation to social protection and rural development.
• Full proficiency/Working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of country‑based experience in strengthening national social protection systems for rural populations and their integration with agricultural and/or climate policies and programmes.
• Extent and relevance of experience supporting the development of knowledge products to inform and influence the design of social protection programmes.
• Experience in working in multidisciplinary and multi‑cultural team.
• Work experience in more than one location, particularly in field positions.

Selection Criteria

• Knowledge of additional UN official languages, French in particular, is considered an asset.
• Previous work experience in Africa region an added advantage.