Planning Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

After a successful of the 2018-2023 programme of cooperation, the Government of Guinea and UNICEF have jointly developed and agreed on a new five-year programme cycle covering the period of 2024-2028. This programme is derived from the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2024-2028 and aligned with the Interim Government Reference Programme 2022-2025, in coherence with UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and Gender Action Plans 2022-2025. The vision of the country programme is “a Guinea where children, and especially adolescent girls and those living in the most vulnerable families within the most deprived geographic areas, have equitable opportunities for access to, and sustained use of, quality essential social services and social protection, and to realize their full potential, including in a context characterized by climate-related vulnerabilities and emergencies”.

Within this vision, the programme effectiveness component will ensure effective and efficient programme management and coordination. Through this result, the country programme will ensure that programming standards are met in planning and achieving results for children, build positive partnerships at all levels and strengthen communication. This cross-cutting outcome will be essential to support the implementation of the four programmatic outcomes corresponding to the pillars identified, namely:

 Learning and acquiring the skills needed for children and adolescents to reach their full potential, with care and attention, including nutrition and with a specific focus on adolescent girls.  Promoting legal identity through birth registration, preventing, and responding to violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect, and harmful practices affecting children and adolescents, especially girls, enabling access to integrated and quality child protection services that help ensure their physical, mental, and social well-being.  Quality integrated health, nutrition, drinking water, sanitation, hygiene services, mitigation of climate-related risks.  Access to inclusive social protection for the most vulnerable children and adolescents.

Guided by the principles of results-based management, the Management for Results (M4R) or otherwise known as 'planning, monitoring and evaluation' is a cross-cutting function that ensures that the country programme is designed, monitored, managed, and implemented effectively and efficiently to meet programming quality standards and achieve results. To achieve this, M4R will ensure that UNICEF staff and partners have the technical guidance, tools, and resources to adequately plan, implement, monitor, and report on results.

As member of the Management for Results (M4R)’s team, the planning officer (International UNV), will contribute to this effort of strengthening the programme planning and coordination to ensure that UNICEF reaches expected results.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Chief Planning and M&E or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Planning Officer will: • Provide technical support as necessary to the process of developing and monitoring Annual Work Plans, including reporting on progress of the equity and gender marker as outlined in the Programme Policy and Procedures Guidance. • Provide technical support as necessary in organising and managing annual & mid-year programme reviews ensuring consistency with objectives and goals set out in the Country Programme Document (CPD) and contribute to the Annual Management Plan (AMP). • Provide technical support to the Zone offices quarterly planning and progress monitoring to facilitate programme coherence, convergence and intersectoral programme results where appropriate, as part of the coordination of the programme implementation. • Participate in appropriate inter-agency meetings/events on planning and M&E to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on the UNSDCF implementation, and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF position and strategies with the UNDAF development and planning process. • Contribute to strengthening Innovation and knowledge management through identification, capturing, synthesizing and share lessons learned, best and cutting-edge practices for development planning of knowledge products using appropriate UNICEF channels to improve future programmes and projects. • Performs other related duties as assigned by the supervisor to ensure the success of the team, including guiding, training, and coaching short-term staff, including interns and consultants, as needed.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs • As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

Output 5.3: By the end of 2028, stakeholders in the implementation of the cooperation programme have increased capacity to design, implement and ensure effective monitoring of interventions and results for children, including the production and use of quality data, focusing on gender and equity.

• Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment. • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary. • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance, and commitment towards UNICEF mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

project management, or other relevant programmes at the national and/or international level. • Working experience with the UN or other international development organization. • Fluency in English or French is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset. • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting skills. • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Guinea is in West Africa and is capital is Conakry which is largest city and the main economic and financial centre of activities with a high population density.

• Climate: Guinea has most of the time a tropical monsoon climate, and a rainy season is influenced by the harmattan. Temperature average is 29°C-30°C, the rain season is from June to October. May-June is the beginning of the rainy season in Conakry. Heavy thunderstorms and strong winds are typical for the season. • Population: the population size was approximately 13.6 million in 2023. The population of Guinea is comprised of about 24 different ethnic groups, with Fulani who make up 40% of population. Other major ethnic groups include Mandingo, Susu, Kissi, Kpelle and non-African groups. • Religion: about 85% of the population is Muslim, the other religions practiced are Christian, Hindu and others. • Safety: Guinea is generally a safe country to visit, but there are times when persist socio- political crises with frequent violent demonstrations, especially in Conakry. It is advised to not circulate during the night. Safety Guidelines have been elaborated and are updated by UNDSS Office for reference. • Currency: the local currency is the Guinea Franc (GNF), 1 GNF is about 0,0012 USD.

Since September 2021, Guinea is going through a transitional period, with a leadership engaged for positive change, hence a period favourable for ambitious reforms. The country provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of social-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 potentially harsh conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

Conditions of Service

A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), which is composed of a Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three).

The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs. The VLA can be calculated using by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate US$ 1,651. The VLA base rate is a global rate across the world, while the PAM is duty station/country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis according to cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website - http://icsc.un.org.

In non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, international UN Volunteers receive a Well-Being Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station. UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements). UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for periodic home visit and for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). Resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment. UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate.