Information Comm. Technology Specialist (NO-3) Fixed Term, Yaounde Cameroon #68022 ( Cameroon Nationals 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.

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!

UNICEF has been working in Cameroon since 1975 to allow women and children to fully realize their rights to development without restriction, as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF provides financial and technical support to Cameroon across seven areas to fully realize the rights of women and children. These areas include Health, HIV/AIDS, Water-sanitation-Hygiene, nutrition, education, child protection, and social inclusion. UNICEF focuses mainly on children and the most vulnerable and excluded families. Cameroon’s 2020 population is estimated at 26,545,863 people according to UN data. The population is young and generates strong socioeconomic demand. In rural areas, limited access to basic social services and the effects of climate changes lead to household impoverishment and severe child deprivations. The task is immense but not insurmountable; it requires the energy of all stakeholders in Cameroon and out of Cameroon: also, women, men, youth and children, government, technical and financial partners, donors, civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians, communities. Everyone is invited to take part in the struggle to meet the challenges that lie ahead. Together, we will act for Cameroon, a country that summarizes the challenges and hopes of Africa.

How can you make a difference?

Based on the established policies, guidelines, and service level agreements (SLAs), the purpose of the incumbent role is to manage, lead and support the ICT functional accountability and internally manage ICT function and externally enhance collaboration and capacity building; improve the delivery of results and knowledge management; build business relationships and foster innovation.

1. Manage the ICT function and provide technical and operational support:
   • Manage ICT and supervise staff to enable the implementation of corporate ICT priorities, solutions, and services.
   • Prepare ICT-related plans, budgets, set priorities, and performance indicators as well as year-end assessments, reviews, and reporting.
   • Safeguard the physical and logical security and safety of the ICT environment and infrastructure.
   • Provide quality assurance of projects and activities by ICT functional accountabilities
   • Monitor risks and threats to the ICT environment or infrastructure and take appropriate action.
   • Manage compliance and escalate exceptions (proactive) and deviations (reactive);
   • Manage ICT-related communication materials internally, from NYHQ, GSSC, or regional office.
   • Support the office business continuity plans development and ensure the inclusion of ICT inputs and perspectives.
   • Act as UNICEF focal point for inter-agency activities.
   • Liaise with the regional office, GSSC, and ITSS to keep abreast of new initiatives and opportunities to innovate and modernize office operations and to contribute to the collective ICT evolution.
   • Validate the compliance with the host government regulatory requirements vis-à-vis the Basic Cooperation Agreement (BCA), i.e., data collection of sensitive information or personally identifiable information (PII), telecommunications licenses, use of specialized equipment, such as HF/VHF radios, high-gain antennae, satellite phones, VSATs, VOIP, drones, etc…
2. Enhance governance, collaboration, build relationships and capacity:
   • Participate in office management –CMT, operations, and programme meetings to exercise the functional accountabilities of the ICT function.
   • Represent UNICEF ICT in inter-agency functions.
   • Support counterparts and implementing partners to build capacity and nurture independence.
   • Engage with programme sections, counterparts, and implementing partners to form technical and business reference groups” to identify, analyze, research, and promote innovative and viable solutions.
   • Assist in oversight, assessment, and audit of vendors, counterparts, and implementing partners
   • Assist in the promotion of creativity and innovative thinking to re-engineer work processes and make the best use of technology within and outside UNICEF.
   • Support Supply and programme staff to establish local LTAs for ICT-related programme contracts for services and products.
   • Conduct oversight of providers and third parties of ICT-related services and products to the programme.
   • Study and understand the business requirements, i.e., PPP delivery of results.
   • Stay abreast of ICT trends, developments, and best practices through professional development –journals, training, certification, etc
3. Improve the delivery of results:
   • Build and strengthen relationships with counterparts, i.e., government, sister United Nations agencies, international nonprofit organizations (INGOs), and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs);
   • Promote the use of collaboration tools for knowledge management, capacity building, and preserving institutional memory.
   • Lead the implementation of eTools and facilitate training workshops or clinics.
   • Work closely to facilitate HACT implementation with partnership managers, programme, and operations staff.
   • Collaborate with the Risk Focal Point the risks and opportunities included in the risk register and support stakeholders to address them.
   • Liaise with HQs, RO, and other CO to share knowledge, experience; discuss opportunities and risks for the improved delivery of results.
   • Represent UNICEF ICT in One UN, Delivering as One, and other UN reform initiatives.
   • Collaborate with C4D and use their advocacy, outreach, and dissemination tools for better utilization of technology to advance the delivery of results.
   • Facilitate project management methodologies training and support the application by staff, counterparts, and implementing partners.
   • Participate in person or remotely in UNICEF global, regional, or country offices events and discussions to contribute results-based management/programming.
4. Foster innovation:
   • Promote creativity and innovative thinking to re-engineer work processes and make the best use of technology within and outside UNICEF.
   • Evaluate innovation initiative’s potential opportunities and possible risks to improve productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness and share with senior management, regional office, ITSS, and Innovation Division.
   • Establish a local governance board for the formal review and assessment of local innovation initiatives.
   • Ensure existing strategies are incorporated in all innovation initiatives before approval.
   • Implement approved innovative projects such as eTools, RapidPro, Ureport, etc…
   • Support counterparts and implementing partners to implement approved innovation initiatives.
   • Facilitate TED-like events inviting local and international scholars, CEOs, and technology gurus.
   • Connect academia to innovation opportunities, i.e., vocational schools, colleges, and universities.
   • Work closely with Communication to promote to local philanthropists the benefits and rewards of innovation for their active participation, support, and funding.
   • Engage the private sector to maximize the use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) resources for no-cost innovation initiatives, e.g., bulk telecommunications services at low cost or free during periods of under-utilized resources.

Impact of Results

The ICT function supports UNICEF’s mission and strategic plan by enabling programme and operational effectiveness and efficiency through innovation, partnerships, and providing ICT solutions and services in a timely, secure, and safe manner.

With regards to the performance of the incumbent, any failures not properly addressed or corrected will have a high operational and damaging impact on the UNICEF office. The absence or lack of sound management of the ICT functions will affect UNICEF’s ability to support local counterparts and implementing partners and potentially affect UNICEF ICT globally and possibly have legal or financial repercussions affecting UNICEF’s brand and reputation.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• An advanced university degree is required in computer science, software engineering, information technology management, business administration, or another relevant technical field.

• A minimum of five years of professional experience in information technology management and business operations in a large international organization and/or corporation is required. Experience in a UN organization is an asset.

• Certification and/or proven experience in one of these several ICT technical competencies: ICT Project Management, Business Analytics, Information Security, ICT Audit and Risk Management, Telecommunications, Networks Information Security and Software Engineering and Programming

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, 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).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post can be viewed on our competency framework, please visit here.

Core Competencies (For Staff without Supervisory Responsibilities) *

• 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)

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:

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