2 Positions Chief Field Office NOC FT - Kayes & Sikasso – Mali (Malian National Only)

Contract

This is a NO-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-3 contracts.

For Every Child, hope

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world. To learn more about UNICEF, visit www.unicef.org.

With strong Government commitment to child rights and support from a wide range of partners, Mali has made some progress in moving forward some child rights indicators in the past decade. For example, infant mortality declined slightly from 56 to 54 per 1,000 live births and stunting among children under five decreased from 38 to 27 per cent between 2012 and 2018. Yet, despite 5 per cent annual economic growth since 2013, Mali remains one of the poorest countries in the world: 44 per cent of the population (55 per cent in rural areas) lives below the national poverty line. The country faces a protracted humanitarian crisis and population displacement, with constrained humanitarian access hampering progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mali CO has developed a new country Programme (2020 – 2024), in which it is expected that Human resources management is effective and transparent; staff competencies are continuously improving; duty of care and core values are well established.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Chief Field Operations & Emergency, the Chief Field Office (CFO) is accountable for managing and leading the total programme commitment of a field office within a country programme. The CFO represents UNICEF in his/her Area of Responsibility (AoR), leads and oversees the various program sectors and operational service teams ensuring the delivery of quality results in accordance with UNICEF’s programme of cooperation, country programme management plan and overall vision set forward by the Representative.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS

Within the delegated authority and the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be responsible for all or most of the following areas of major duties and key end results.

1. Effective management of UNICEF presence, staff and assets

Represent UNICEF in the region, by participating in meetings and events, moving forward the agenda for children.

Facilitate, take and implement measures to ensure safety and security of UNICEF staff and assets.

Effectively lead the Field Office team and manage the performance and conduct the staff members to deliver results for children

2. Knowledge Management for Programmes

Ensure that area/country programmes are supported by knowledge management through data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting as well as participation in the Programme Knowledge Network system of "lessons learned" and other corporate-level databases.

Participate in information exchange through donor and media visits as well as in the development of training and orientation material.

3. Programme Development and Management

Identify critical intervention points and measures by administering a consistent and transparent monitoring system; analyse country level socio-political-economic trends and their implications for ongoing programmes and projects.

Establishes programme workplans, monitors compliance and provides training, support and guidance to the programme team in order to meet objectives. Identifies human resources requirements and on-going staff development needs.

Reviews and evaluates the technical, institutional and financial feasibility and constraints of programme/projects in collaboration with Government and other partners.

Prepares relevant programme reports required for management, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, etc.

4. Optimum Use of Program Funds

Establish and supervise programme work plans and monitor progress and compliance. Monitor the overall allocation and disbursement of programme funds, making sure that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated. Take appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds. Ensure programme efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation.

5. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations

Undertakes field visits and ensures that his/her staff conduct field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decides on required corrective action.

Carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluate and participate in the major programme evaluation exercises in consultation with the Representative, the Operations Officer, the Evaluation Officer and others to improve efficiency and quality of programme delivery. Participate in annual sector review meetings with government counterparts. Ensure the timely preparation of annual program status reports.

6. Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach

Adopt rights-based programmes approach in the formulation of programme goals and objectives and development of strategies and implementation frameworks. Formulate consistent and effective planning, design, implementation, monitoring and/or evaluation of programmes and projects. Bring coherence, synergy and added value to the programming planning and design processes using a results-based management approach to programme planning and design.

Prepare and submit viable recommendations on project implementation, alternative approaches, and optimal utilization of resources that contribute effectively to the fulfilment of the rights of children and women, and recommendations on programme, new initiatives and management issues to ensure achievement of stated objectives.

7. N****ational and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability

Provide authorities and service providers with technical support and guidance to plan and organize training programmes for the purpose of capacity building and programme sustainability.

Ensure the building and reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners starting with taking a strategic approach to the identification of these partners and partnerships.

8. R****ights Perspective and Advocacy at the National, Community and Family Levels

Conduct policy analysis from a children's and women's rights perspective and advocacy at the government, community and family levels for elevating credibility in national and international policy debates. Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through active advocacy and communication in line with UNICEF national advocacy guidelines and strategy.

9. P****artnership, Coordination and Collaboration

Develop partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development data and information, exchange information on programme/project status and implementation and movement/distribution of supplies. Linkage to the Regional Programme Knowledge Network to ensure the availability of current and accurate programme data.

Collaborate with the Operations Section to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of programming endeavours and to coordinate financial and supply management requirements and accountability.

Maintain close collaboration with heads of sectoral programmes in the CO, Regional and HQ advisers for effective overall coordination on programmes.

Plans, develops and implements sectoral programme(s) by collaborating with the government and other partners. Provide leadership in provision of technical advice, negotiation, advocacy and promotion of area/country level goals, leading to agreement on practicable and priority actions to be supported by UNICEF programme and country level cooperation.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, international relations, public administration, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or another relevant technical field. *Candidates holding a first university with 2 additional years of relevant professional experience could be considered
• A minimum of five years of professional work experience in programme management, planning, monitoring and evaluation, project administration or another relevant area is required
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

• Familiarity/ background with emergency and Field work experience is considered as an asset.

• Fluency in French and English required

• Knowledge of the local language of the duty station is highly desirable

Skills:

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values attributes: Care; Respect; Integrity; Trust; Accountability

UNICEF’s core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The technical competencies required for this post are:

• Analyzing [ 2 ]
• Persuading and Influencing [ 2 ]
• Strategic thinking [ 2 ]

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.