Education Officer (Budget & Grants Management) NOA - Beirut, Lebanon (364 Days)

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, an Education advocate

Under the supervision of the Education Specialist (P4), the incumbent will be responsible in ensuring the availability of accurate, complete and up-to-date information required for financial and reporting related to programme components. Advise the supervisor on corrective action on discrepancies and improvement of grant management systems. Furthermore, the incumbent will be responsible in ensuring that main corporate documents, such as AWP, log frames as well as donor presentations are accurate in their financial and administrative data.

How can you make a difference?

Below are the main key functions, accountabilities and related duties.

Deliverable 1: Grants Management

• Managing the allocation of programme funds and their timely disbursement, while taking appropriate recommendations or actions to optimize use of programme funds.
• Tracking and monitoring of expenditures against donor conditions and expiry dates using various tools
• For unearmarked funds nearing expiry date: readjusting fund allocations and monitoring grants closely to ensure full and timely utilization;
• Monitoring exchange rate fluctuations on grants and adjusting allocations, accordingly, informing the donor when needed and identifying alternative funding sources where applicable;
• Advising the supervisor on corrective action on discrepancies and improvement of grant management systems, including initiating Change of Funding sources and amendments/extensions to donor agreements when needed, and following up accordingly;
• Providing informed advice for the allocation of unearmarked funding against the Annual Work Plan and NGO Partner Budgets, taking priorities of donors, expiry dates, etc. into account;
• Identifying funding sources per payment/DCT/Refund;
• Managing and monitoring utilization of accumulated depreciation funds;
• Analyzing trends in donor funding/fund utilization.

Deliverable 2: Donor Relations & Fundraising

• Supporting resource mobilization through the development of budget and targets for earmarked funds based on donor requirements, unit cost of activities, expected duration of grants, and contribution amounts;
• Drafting financial reports and donor briefing notes that summarize results achieved through donor funding over a series of grants;
• Taking appropriate action with regards to the amendments of donor agreements, including drafting of letters, top-up proposals, justifications for grant extensions, as well as the initiation of meetings;
• Coordinating donor visits between the Front Office and Field Offices, ensuring smooth communication and relevant site selection, as well as developing appropriate site briefing notes for the donor in coordination with colleagues from the Field Offices;
• Contributing to donor’s partnership meetings through accurate tracking and reporting of required financial information in line with program and project objectives;

Deliverable 3: Financial Planning/Tracking

• Preparing funding gaps analysis and update donor/sector contributions to education against AWP/LCRP.
• Supporting the development of the Annual Work Plan with respect to budget and funding availability;
• Tracking the availability of funds and accordingly funding gaps within the section, while constantly flagging gaps and preparing funding gaps analysis for the Section Chief and Senior Management;
• Allocating appropriate funding sources for staff salaries in alignment with donor conditions and grant expiry dates, and updating it as needed;
• Supporting the MEHE in tracking the availability of funds and funding gaps against the sector plan (LCRP/RACE) upon request

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

• A university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Education, Social Science, Economics, or a field relevant to international development. .
• A minimum of three years’ work experience in a professional capacity in education programme or international development cooperation
• Strong experience working with complex and high-value donor portfolios; with the ability to perform financial modelling and forecasting in volatile economic environments
• Strong knowledge and experience managing EU, KfW, BmZ negotiations and compliance mechanisms
• Proven ability working with government ministries, technical counterparts, and NGOs
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are...

• Builds and maintains partnerships (I)
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (I)
• Drive to achieve results for impact (I)
• Innovates and embraces change (I)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (I)
• Thinks and acts strategically (I)
• Work collaboratively with others (I)

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.