International Individual Contractor: Executive Support to the Office of the Representative, Kampala, Uganda, 11 Months

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy 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 fair chance

Uganda is one of the over 190 countries and territories around the world where we work to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease, and discrimination place in a child’s path. Together with the Government of Uganda and partners we work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the objectives of the Uganda National Development Plan, and the planned outcomes of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework. Visit this link for more information on Uganda Country Office https://www.unicef.org/uganda/

How can you make a difference?

Background

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Reporting to the Regional Director, the Representative who serves as the accredited representative of the UNICEF Executive Director in Uganda is responsible for establishing dialogue with the government to develop the framework of cooperation in the country and for working closely and collaboratively with the government and national institutions, stakeholders and partners, to develop the UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation in support of UNICEF’s efforts to advance children’s rights to survival, development and wellbeing as established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, international treaties / framework and UN intergovernmental bodies. The Representative is responsible for managing and supervising the CO programmes/projects and operations, providing leadership and vision to the UNICEF country programme team in managing and leveraging resources for the achievement of results and fulfilment of the rights of children. The Representative leads and manages the various programme sectors and operational service teams ensuring delivery of quality results in accordance with the UNICEF Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework, ethics, and integrity.

Justification

Under the supervision and guidance of the Representative, the Individual Contractor will support the Office of the Representative in implementing and following up on key strategic priorities, coordinating, managing, and planning activities in a systematic, organized manner and managing an effective system for incoming /outgoing information. He/She will oversee the quality control, data analysis and progress reporting of strategy plans, and decisions made by the Country Management Team (CMT) and the Senior Management Team (SMT).

Objectives

Under the direct supervision of the Representative, the Individual Contractor roles are as follows:

• Coordination: Supervise the logistical, protocol and support functions of the Office of the Representative. Facilitate the coordination of high-level internal and external meetings that the Representative chairs or participates in, including the preparation of meeting briefing packs, the finalization of agendas, the preparation of aide memoires, the recording of key actions for UNICEF Uganda, and the monitoring of action points for timely closure.

Internal meetings: CMT, CO AMP, MTR, and all staff meetings, review meetings chaired by Representative, and field visits by the Representative.

External meetings: UNCT, SMT, LDPG, EDP, Steering Committee meetings of UN Joint Programmes and any other meeting requested by the Representative.

• Communication and management: Manage the flow of information to the Representative, identifying priority matters that need to be urgently addressed and proposing actions. Analyze supporting documentation and summarize the most relevant points, while working with responsible section heads to ensure that appropriate action is taken.
• Projecting UNICEF’s work in Uganda: Support technical sections in projecting and disseminating periodic updates of UNICEF’s broader work in Uganda. These updates may be general in nature—capturing success stories across relevant sections and how they fit strategically within the UNICEF-GOU Country Programme Document—or tailored to the specific advocacy and funding priorities of different partners.
• Editing, writing and quality control: Support the drafting of external communications when requested by the Representative. Review all written materials that come to the Representative for signature. Carefully edit all documents for external parties in coordination with sections and departments to ensure that writing is clear, well-formatted, and free of grammatical or typographical errors.
• High-level external visits from UN officials, diplomats, policymakers, and donors: In close partnership with the Communications team and the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation team, ensure that strategic trips involving high-level officials are well-planned and supported. Provide leadership in the preparation of any events in which the Representative will be expected to host high-level officials.
• Welcoming environment: Create a welcoming and friendly environment in the Office of the Representative for all UNICEF staff. Provide section chiefs and other colleagues with support, when appropriate, in following up on various requests from the Representative.
• External e-mail correspondence: Manage all correspondence that comes to UNICEF Uganda through the office’s general email account, ensuring courteous, kind, and helpful answers to general queries from the public. Promptly flag all urgent messages or reports concerning child wellbeing to the Representative for review and follow-up, maintaining discretion, sensitively, and confidentiality at all times.

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

Education

• An advanced university degree is required in International Relations, Political Science, Public Administration, or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience in external relations, public affairs, or international development cooperation, preferably within the UN, or in a government institution or NGO.
• Prior experience working in coordination, planning, editing, or in an executive office will be an asset.
• Working experience with the UN will be considered as an asset.

Language proficiency:

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

Other Skills:

• Skill in the identification of new opportunities or requirements to meet challenges and propose changes.
• Diplomatic communication and negotiation skills to establish and maintain trusted partnerships for achievement of objectives and to develop close and effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to contribute to formulation of strategies and policies.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• High standards of tact, discretion, integrity, and confidentiality.
• Proven ability to work effectively and efficiently as a team, coping with pressure and setbacks, as well as responding and adapting to change.
• Strong analytical skills, drive for results, as well as planning and organizing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.
• Ability to work proactively and with minimal supervision, following instructions, procedures and policies, and keeps to schedules delivering work on time.
• Excellent time management skills to deal with conflicting and urgent priorities.

Conditions:

• The Individual contractor will commence only when contract has been signed.
• Individual Contractor will be required to sign the Health statement for Individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, if applicable.
• The Form 'Designation, change or revocation of beneficiary' must be completed by the Individual Contractor upon arrival, at the HR Section.
• No contract may commence unless the individual contract provides a certificate of completion of a mandatory course on “prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse”. A certificate to be submitted with the signed contract should have been obtained in the last three months.
• Clearance from DHR will be required for former UNICEF staff
• Clearance from the Government required for civil servants
• Appointment under this consultancy is subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment.

How to Apply

Qualified and experienced candidates are requested to submit a letter of interest and CV which includes three (3) references. In their letter of interest, candidates should highlight their previous work experience relevant to the assignment and the attributes that make them suitable for the assignment. Application must include an all-inclusive financial proposal that will detail monthly rate (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference.

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 offers reasonable accommodation for individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

Individuals engaged under an individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Individual Contractors. Individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.