Planning and Monitoring Assistant
Enhance monitoring of UNICEF Sudan's humanitarian and development programs.
Overview
Enhance monitoring of UNICEF Sudan's humanitarian and development programs.
You have:
- Minimum 3 years of experience in program planning, monitoring, and/or research and data analysis.
- Excellent data collection, analysis, and interpretation skills.
- Proficiency in data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Proficiency in relevant software (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, statistical software).
- Experience working in complex and challenging environments.
- Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments, and living conditions.
Contract
This is a UNV National Youth contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Youth contracts.
UNICEF is a global leader in advancing children’s rights and well-being, operating in over 190 countries to ensure every child has a fair chance in life. In Sudan, UNICEF plays a pivotal role in addressing the needs of children and women affected by ongoing conflict, displacement, and climate change. With over 24 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, including millions of vulnerable children, UNICEF Sudan focuses on delivering life-saving interventions and promoting sustainable development across several key sectors including Health, Nutrition, Water & Environmental Sanitation, Education, and Child Protection, with Social and Behavior Change and evidence and social policy mainstreamed. In response to the complex humanitarian crisis, UNICEF’s programming in Sudan emphasizes both emergency response and long-term development. Through partnerships with the government, NGOs, CBOs and other UN agencies, UNICEF ensures that interventions are aligned with national priorities and global standards, while being adaptable to the ever-changing situation on the ground. Project description: This UNV post is designed to enhance UNICEF Sudan's ability to monitor and assess the impact of its humanitarian and development programs across key sectors, including health, nutrition, education, child protection, and WASH. With the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, including conflict, displacement, and environmental challenges, effective program monitoring is critical to ensuring that UNICEF’s interventions are both timely and impactful for the most vulnerable populations. Under the general supervision of the Programme Specialist and the technical guidance of the Planning & Monitoring Specialist, The Planning and Monitoring Officer (UNV) will work closely with program teams, government partners, and other stakeholders to ensure that programs are planned efficiently, monitored systematically, and evaluated effectively to achieve the best outcomes for vulnerable populations. the incumbent will be responsible for the accomplishment of the stated key results by providing professional expertise and assistance in conducting monitoring visits to UNICEF project sites (10 visits a month at least) to assess local conditions, monitor UNICEF inputs (supplies and cash), delivery and utilization. Also, information/data collection, statistics and data analysis, monitoring, preparation of reports, communication, and partnership with a specific focus on routine and administrative data collection, for better preparedness, targeting and coordination of effective humanitarian responses and UNICEF commitments to the CCC (humanitarian performance monitoring system).
Under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist and the technical guidance of the Planning & Monitoring Specialist, the National UN Youth Volunteer will be responsible for the following tasks: I. Programme Planning and Monitoring: • Provide technical support and assist the Planning & Monitoring Specialist in developing and reviewing work plans, emergency preparedness, and response plans. Ensure that the quality of these plans meets established standards. • Assist in designing and updating monitoring tools and methodologies to ensure accurate and reliable data collection. • Conduct field visits on a systematic and regular basis to monitor program implementation, track progress, and collect data on program outcomes and challenges in coordination with program teams and implementing partners. • Collect, analyze, and make data available for key programme and management indicators reports to inform decision-making at the field office management level. • Compile and synthesize data to provide actionable insights to the Section and national partners to support planning efforts. • Monitor and coordinate the performance of the Third-Party Monitoring (TPM) firm and Third-Party Monitoring Facilitators, ensuring timely, accurate data collection and reporting. This includes preparation of the monthly monitoring plans, tracking field activities, ensuring adherence to monitoring standards, addressing operational challenges, and facilitating the integration of TPM findings into program improvements. • Assess the impact of programmes and policies, and regularly report on progress. II. Humanitarian Response and Emergency Preparedness: • Assist the Planning and Monitoring Specialist in leading UNICEF's technical efforts to gather critical information on populations affected by emergencies and disasters. • Participate in assessment missions, including interagency missions, and intersectoral assessment to support emergency preparedness and response. • Monitor high-frequency humanitarian indicators, focusing on the use of routine and administrative data collection to enhance preparedness, targeting, and coordination of effective humanitarian responses. III. Information Management and Coordination: • Support office overall coordination function, including organizing weekly meetings, preparing meeting minutes, tracking action points, and ensuring necessary follow-up. • Assist in the collection and analysis of data related to program activities, humanitarian response efforts, and sectoral performance. • Support the development and maintenance of Sector/Sub-Sector information management systems to ensure that information is accurate, accessible, and up to date. • Contribute to the compilation of key statistics, visual reports (charts, graphs, maps) on sectors activities, and data dashboards for internal and external stakeholders. • Support the programmes in ensuring data is appropriately disaggregated by gender, age, disability, and other key variables for effective reporting and decision-making. • Assist in data validation and quality control to ensure that information presented is reliable, accurate, and coherent.
IV. Capacity Building and Technical Support: • Provide technical support to UNICEF staff and implementing partners on PM&E systems and practices, ensuring capacity building and knowledge-sharing. • Organize training sessions and workshops for UNICEF staff and partners on the use of PM&E tools and systems. V. Governance Support: • Assist in facilitating dialogue between UNICEF, government counterparts, and key partners to support child-focused governance initiatives. • Help organize and document meetings, consultations, and workshops between UNICEF and government stakeholders to advance child rights governance. VI. Additional Responsibilities: • Provide general assistance to the Planning and Monitoring team in any other related activities as requested by supervisors. • Participate in meetings, workshops, and other events as required, representing UNICEF in discussions related to planning and monitoring.
-Accountability -Adaptability and Flexibility -Building Trust -Commitment and Motivation -Commitment to Continuous Learning -Communication -Creativity -Empowering Others -Ethics and Values -Integrity -Knowledge Sharing -Planning and Organizing -Professionalism -Respect for Diversity -Self-Management -Technological Awareness -Working in Teams
program planning, monitoring, and/or research and data analysis. • Excellent data collection, analysis, and interpretation skills. • Proficiency in data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau). • Strong organizational and time management skills. • Excellent written and oral communication skills. • Proficiency in relevant software (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, statistical software). • Experience working in complex and challenging environments. • Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments and living conditions.
Sudan is a unique country facing a unique (humanitarian) operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.
Allowances The purpose of allowances for the National UN Volunteers Youth is to enable the National UN Volunteers Youth to sustain a modest and secure standard of living at the duty station. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for volunteer work. Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): All National UN Volunteer Youth are entitled to a monthly volunteer living allowance of USD 1,661.14 The purpose of this allowance is to cover the basic living costs of the National Youth UN Volunteer. The allowance is to ensure that the volunteer can sustain a basic, adequate, and safe lifestyle. The monthly allowance rate is a fixed rate for the duty station as established by UNV headquarters.
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe a situation where you had to adapt your program plans due to unforeseen challenges? | This question assesses your adaptability and flexibility in planning under changing circumstances. | Share a specific example and highlight the changes you made to achieve desired outcomes. |
| How do you ensure the reliability and accuracy of data you collect during field visits? | The interviewer wants to understand your approach to data integrity in program monitoring. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe a time when you enabled a team to achieve a challenging goal. What was your role? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies do you employ to communicate complex information effectively to diverse stakeholders? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you give an example of how you have contributed to capacity building within a team? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you manage competing priorities in a monitoring and evaluation role? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Discuss a time you used data analysis to inform a program decision. What was the outcome? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What do you see as the biggest challenges in conducting program monitoring in humanitarian contexts? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |