Deadline extended: Field Support (Monitoring) Officer, NO-A (TA, 364 days) Chisinau, Moldova (for Moldova nationals only) - recruitment for 2 posts

Contract

This is a NO-1 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-1 contracts.

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, commitment

The conflict in Ukraine has created a regional humanitarian crisis. As of 15 August 2022, over 570,000 refugees have entered Moldova since 24 February 2022, with a proportion continuing to Romania, Poland and other countries, and around 100,000 refugees are on Moldovan territory, housed among relatives, in Refugee Accommodation Centres (RACs) and other temporary accommodation. Around 90% of the people arriving in Moldova are women and children. They arrive visibly distressed and heavily affected psychosocially.

Local and national authorities have established reception and transit facilities at border crossing points to receive new arrivals and provide life-saving assistance, including accommodation, food, and other basic needs, as well as onward transport for those moving to urban centers. Referral services are being scaled up, focusing especially on case management and protection of unaccompanied children and those evacuated from boarding schools, institutions and other alternative care arrangements, survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), victims of trafficking, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the Emergency Coordinator, at P-5 level, the Field Support (Monitoring) Officer, NO-A is responsible for the overall monitoring and implementation of UNICEF’s response – including relevant programme activities - in the respective geographical area and facilitates the relationship with authorities and key stakeholders at local level.

Furthermore, the Field Support (Monitoring) Officer will also take an active role and participation in the regional coordination mechanisms established by the representatives of local authorities in collaboration with UNICEF and other UN / RRP partners.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Implements and monitors the UNICEF refugee response in geographical areas of responsibility
2. Leads the establishment, scale up and monitoring of Blue Dot(s) in geographical area of responsibility
3. Coordinates with local partners and represents UNICEF in relevant fora and meetings at local level

1. Implements and monitors the UNICEF refugee response in geographical areas of responsibility

• Leads on situation analysis, including needs assessment for targeted populations of women and children within the UNICEF Response Plan,and identification of programmatic gaps;
• With support from programme specialists and Refugee Response (Emergency) Coordinator, supports 1) development of partnerships with local authorities and Memoranda of understanding, followed by planning of activities organized in the Blue Dot or other services for children from Ukraine (ie. identification and pre-case management using Primero) and 2) partners to develop and submit programme proposals in line with UNICEF’s refugee response, including implementation of the overall neutral label of the Blue Dot – Children and Family Support Hubs concept;
• Ensures quality implementation of UNICEF’s refugee response in the geographical area of responsibility (including administrative and operational tasks) in close collaboration and interaction with UNICEF implementing partners (IPs).
• Serves as liaison person to receive requests (including supplies) from partners on the ground and serves as entry point for any support that is sent to local level from national/international level;
• Supports cross-sectoral periodic monitoring visits and reviews in order to assess progress of UNICEF Response Plan and the related Programme Cooperation Documents with IPs , identify risks (if any) and capture lessons learned;
• Ensures mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues such as accountability for affected population, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) etc. in the refugee response in geographical area of responsibility;
• Supports and coordinates any internal and external visits in geographical area of responsibility.

2. Leads the establishment, scale up and monitoring of Blue Dot(s) in geographical area of responsibility

• Maps already available services and appropriate agencies for the key programme locations including transit points against identified minimum set of services and identifies needs as well as establishes information management systems to ensure effectiveness of services and to avoid duplication;
• Oversees the implementation of minimum set of services available in the Blue Dots and works with partners on incorporation of those standards in the newly established Blue Dots and / or similar community-based settings providing services to women and children. While some of the services will be provided in the very space of the Blue Dots, other would have a mobile dimension to reach out to the population on the move;
• In close collaboration with and under the overall supervision of Programme Officers conducts on-going assessments and safety audits and other efforts to prevent and mitigate risks associated with GBV in line with the IASC GBV Guidelines (2015);
• Contacts CP and SGBV service providers and identify relevant actors who can provide coordinated care and support services in the identified safe spaces in prioritized geographic areas;
• Supports the establishment and functioning of information exchange channels between the different Blue Dots – Children and Family Support Hubs sites in-country and between countries.
• Provides regular inputs and IM products for the UNICEF Moldova reporting, including Situation Reports, donor reports and briefing packages for the Country Office management, Regional Office and other relevant UNICEF stakeholders.

3. Coordinates with local partners and represents UNICEF in relevant fora and meetings at local level

• Builds and maintains effective working relationships with local authorities, key stakeholders (UN agencies, NGOs, CSOs, private sector) and communities;
• Ensures strong and cordial relations are built with local authorities for all sectors of intervention using specific structures existing in geographical area of responsibility;
• Takes a lead role in further developing effective coordination with all relevant partners in all relevant sector/ thematic areas of UNICEF operation for a coherent approach in all response-related interventions;
• Works in close collaboration with other UNICEF team members, sharing information and designing and implementing response-related and programme activities;
• Supports the communication and fund-raising activities that are required at local level to ensure the visibility, consistency and brand of the UNICEF interventions.

To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have:

Education

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, Law or another relevant technical field.

Experience

• A minimum of one year of relevant professional experience is required.
• Experience working in field of social programme, including interaction with various range of stakeholders involved in these areas.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset.
• Background and/or familiarity with emergency is considered as a strong asset

Language Requirements

• Fluency in Romanian, and working knowledge of English is required. Knowledge of Russian and another official UN language or other language relevant for Moldova is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate:

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it.

Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are:

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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:

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.