Chief, Programme Management Unit, P-6, Kabul, Afghanistan

Overview

Lead and manage the Afghanistan Programme Management Unit to implement effective support for UNICEF programs.

You have:

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Public Policy, Public Administration, or relevant disciplines.
• 13 years of professional work experience in policy formulation and international development administration.
• Experience in emergency contexts is highly desirable, experience in cash transfer programmes is an asset.
• Fluency in English as a working language; knowledge of another UN language is an asset.
• Knowledge of UNICEF’s Executive Board policy documents and Programme methods.
• Skills in managing teams, budgets and executing projects effectively.
• Knowledge of rights-based and results-based management in UNICEF.
• Essential confidentiality, tact, diplomacy and good interpersonal skills.

Contract

This is a D-1 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 15 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 176,843 USD and 223,158 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a champion.

The situation in Afghanistan remains exceptionally complex, with a protracted emergency situation, characterized by recurrent natural disasters, an increased number of people living in poverty, continued internal displacement, unprecedented levels of food insecurity, further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. This complexity has greatly impacted the situation of children and women in the country. The withdrawal of United States military forces from Afghanistan in August 2021 and the establishment of a de-facto government by the Taliban has exacerbated the complexity and uncertainty of the situation. UNICEF is required to rapidly adapt our ways of working to address the multiple operational constraints present in the highly volatile and unpredictable context. This includes the need to establish a Programme Management Unit that will provide operational and transactional capacity to the Afghanistan Country Office to ensure urgent lifesaving and resilience building programmes can continue.

The Afghanistan Programme Management Unit’s (APMU) Team Leader will report to the Representative. The Team leader will be based in Kabul and he/she will lead and manage a team of technical and support staff to ensure the effective functioning of the APMU.

How can you make a difference?

To implement programme intervention agreements with the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other major donors, the Afghanistan Country Office (ACO) is looking for a Team Leader to lead, manage and coordinate the functions of the APMU including contracting, payments, monitoring, risk management, and grievance procedures.

Under the direct guidance of the Representative, in close collaboration with the Deputy Representatives and the Chief of Field Operations, and in consultation with the Regional Director and Regional and HQ colleagues, the incumbent is responsible for overall coordination of projects managed by the APMU ensuring delivery of results in accordance with UNICEF Strategic Plan, standards of performance and accountability framework, ethics and integrity.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Working closely with the Deputy Representative Programmes and relevant Programme and Field teams:

• Oversees the effective functioning of the APMU including completion of operational assessment; context analysis; principles; standard operating procedures; performance measurement and monitoring systems; reporting; and recruitment of core staff.
• Leads and supervises the APMU team at central level; at decentralized level guides APMU in consultation with the Chiefs of Field Offices and the Chief of Field Operations. Provides timely guidance to his/her team to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently. Ensures timely performance planning, management and assessment.
• Coordinates and guides the implementation and monitoring of all project components being implemented through the APMU, including those related to generating a consolidated payment list, emergency cash transfers delivery to beneficiaries through payment agencies, third party monitoring (TPM), grievance redress mechanism (GRM) and coordination.
• Responsible for effective budget planning, utilization and reporting. Monitors the optimum and appropriate use of project resources (financial, human, administrative and other assets) and verifies compliance with organizational rules, regulations and procedures, donor commitments and standards of accountability and integrity.
• Monitors and evaluates overall project progress and identifies project strengths and bottlenecks. In consultation with the Representative, RO and NYHQ colleagues, and in partnership with contractors if required, resolves any potential issues that could hinder the achievement of planned results. Participates in EMT, CMT, and related meetings, consultations and project’s reviews with UNICEF ACO, NYHQ, ROSA, World Bank and key project stakeholders.
• Monitors the existing situation in Afghanistan as well as the project quality and efficiency in delivery, taking timely corrective actions, if required, to achieve results, and informs/alerts the Representative on issues requiring timely intervention, when and if necessary. In collaboration with ACO programme teams and field offices, oversees the monitoring of impact of the project on the targeted beneficiaries and communities, and overall political and economic situation in the country.
• Ensures the project output indicators and lessons learnt are monitored and reported regularly. Coordinates the preparation of project progress reports, donor and financial reports. Confirms accuracy of reports prior to approval by the Representative. Ensures effective information management and knowledge sharing.

Builds capacity of UNICEF PMU and partner staff to implement APMU projects through formal and on-the-job training and mentoring. Ensures that the APMU team is working closely with the ACO operations (human resources, supply and logistics, administration and finance) team and adhering to the required procedures in implementing project activities in a timely, transparent and accountable manner.

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

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Public Policy, Public Administration, Social Development, Development Planning, or other relevant disciplines.
• 13 years of professional work experience in formulation of policy in international or national administration; experience in external aid administration and senior level international development administration.
• Experience in emergency contexts highly desirable. Experience in cash transfer programmes is an asset.
• Fluency in English as a working language. Knowledge of another UN language an asset.

Knowledge and skills:

• Knowledge of UNICEF’ Executive Board and other policy documents, ExDirs and PROS related to UNICEF Programmes.
• Knowledge of programme management, methodology and practical application.
• Knowledge, skills and leadership for managing teams, budgets and project execution
• Knowledge of rights-based and results-based management and programming approach in UNICEF
• Knowledge of UNICEF emergency programme policies, goals, strategies, approaches and procedures
• Confidentiality, tact, diplomacy and good interpersonal skills are essential

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

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.

Potential interview questions