Community Development Specialist (Decentralization and local planning) (P-3), Maradi, Niger

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 74,649 USD and 97,747 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, HOPE

UNICEF Niger’s Country Programme is aligned with the Government of Niger's Economic and Social Development Programme and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSCDF). The programme supports the Government of Niger to meet its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil children's rights in line with international conventions and standards. The country programme is guided by the principles of children's rights, equity, gender equality, inclusion and resilience, and supports evidence-based, integrative and innovative programming.

Since 2017, the government of Niger has undertaken some institutional reforms related to the decentralization process for the transfer of competences and resources to regions and municipalities in the sectors of education, health, environment and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

UNICEF Niger has identified the decentralization as a key strategic axis for the Country Programme to support the government to operationalize the decentralization and to strengthen the capacities of the decentralized entities in improving access to basic services, promoting local resource mobilization and youth and citizen partnership as well as social inclusion, good governance and accountability.

In the WASH sector, UNICEF is modelling a municipal-wide WASH approach aiming at supporting selected municipalities for coherent and informed planning, provision of equitable access to sustainable WASH services, regular consultation of key stakeholders, mobilization and transparent utilization of financial resources generated by local water supply infrastructurs, promotion of Open defecation Free municipalities, public-private partnership, monitoring and evaluation and accountability.

This model will be an entry point for UNICEF to support the municipalities in improving access to basic services, promoting citizens participation and developing public-private partnerships and will help generate and document evidences on the operationalization of the decentralization.

How can you make a difference?

1. Support to programme development and planning

• Support and contribute to the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis on decentralization and local development with a focus on the support to municipalities.
• Support the development and implementation of of Municipal WASH development and investment plans
• Formulate, design and prepare WASH related proposals and other strategic documents, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, the Country Programme, as well as coherence/integration with the UNSCDF, regional strategies, and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific WASH programme goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans and prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national priorities and competencies to ensure the achievement of measurable and sustainable results.
• Provide technical and operational support to all steps of programming processes to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF country programme components sectors

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners, including the ministries in charge of water and sanitation, health, education and decentralization as well as the municipalities to establish monitoring benchmarks, indicators and instruments to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of measurable and sustainable results related to WASH competencies transferred to municipalities
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and recommand required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Contribute to the preparation of monitoring and evaluation reports including indenmtification of programme strengths and/or weaknesses, lessons learned and knowledge sharing.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks, potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity, ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of progress.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGOs, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices and approaches on decentralization and local development.
• Participate in discussions with national and regional partners, clients and stakeholders on the operationalization of WASH competencies transferred to municipalities,
• Design and coordinate the implementation of municipality-wide WASH decentralization component of the programme, including capacity building, planning, efficient management of WASH facilities, community-based sanitation and hygiene approaches, results monitoring and accountability
• Facilitate the preparation and implementation of partnerships between municipalities and private operators for the management of water supply networks and the establishment of affordable tariffs
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and consideration.
• Participate in emergency preparedness at strategic level, with focus on the Humanitarian and Development nexus.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts, national and regional stakeholders, municipalities and private operators, as well as global partners, allies, donors, and academia. Through active networking, advocacy and effective communication, build capacity and exchange knowledge and expertise to facilitate the achievement of programme goals on child rights, social justice and equity.

• Prepare communication and information materials for Country Office programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support fund raising for the Country Programme in contexts of decentralization, and humanitarian/development nexus.

• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency and regional discussions and planning on WASH-related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNSCDF planning and programmes/projects preparation, ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNSCDF.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders, and support the implementation and delivery of measurable and sustainable programme results.
• Keep abreast and conduct research to provide evidence for implementation of best and cutting-edge practices in decentralization with a focus on WASH.
• Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.

• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote sustainable results on decentralization operationalization programmes/projects.

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

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Decentralization and/or local development, community development, rural development, geography, urban planning, rural development, urban planning, WASH policy and/or management or another relevant technical field.

• A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: Decentralization and/or local development, urban planning, development of municipal services, public finance and budgeting, citizen participation management of water supply networks, community led-total sanitation. Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.

  Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

• Fluency in French and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• 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)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)

Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

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.