Programme Associate, GS6 (3 posts: Post # 121799; # 12187; # 121876) in Public Partnership Division (PPD) Outpost to Budapest, Hungary

Contract

This is a G-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 6 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-6 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, results.

The Public Partnerships Division (PPD) works to strengthen UNICEF's position as a partner of choice for children's rights among governments and public actors around the world. The Division is doing this by positioning children's rights in the intergovernmental and multilateral fora and engaging with governments and public institutions as resource, policy and programme partners. A key premise for PPD is that the engagement with countries should be holistic based on multiple aspects of partnerships, including policy advocacy and resource mobilization.

How can you make a difference?

The post is responsible to support the PPD Cluster Team in partnerships management with focus on support to grant agreements negotiation, pipeline monitoring, quality assurance of translation of signed grant agreements into UNICEF systems, including grant creation and amendment, monitor and support submission of timely donor reports and facilitate grant closure in line with donor agreements.

This vacancy announcement is for 3 Programme Associate posts in Public Partnership Division (PPD) Outpost to Budapest, Hungary. These positions are outposted to Budapest with a direct reporting line to the teams locates in PPD New York and PPD Washington D.C.

Key functions, accountabilities, and related tasks:

Assist the PPD Team in donor funding management and in responding to inquiries by:

1. Supporting donor agreements negotiations and managing requests for information and support from internal and external stakeholders:

• Respond to requests from country offices, regional offices and Headquarters (HQ) divisions (i.e., PG, DFAM, PFP, etc.) and other PPD teams for information related to grant management policies and procedures, including contributions and grant-specific issues.
• Research and understand donor countries/regions in order to prepare correspondence, based on knowledge of the PPD Cluster’s work.
• Research and extract statistical and other funding data (reports and financial updates) from UNISON, Service Gateway, Insight Cubes and Vision.
• Assist in responding to funding queries and other matters from field offices and donors served by the PPD Cluster. Redirect issues/queries to concerned divisions for action, providing pertinent documentation.

2. Monitoring of opportunities negotiations and tracking in-pipeline funding opportunities in UNISON:

• Ensure monitoring system of OR funding, including opportunities and agreements in pipeline are up to date in UNISON; monitor grants implementation status through Insight Cubes and other tools and dashboards; update PPD Cluster specific funding management tracking system.

3. Quality assurance of translation of grant agreements conditions and accountabilities into UNICEF systems:

• For HQ negotiated and signed agreements, initiate grant creation and amendment, including reporting and extension requests, for OR contributions from public sector donors.
• For locally negotiated and signed agreements by country offices, ensure that OR from the public sector donor partners are appropriately allocated to the business area level in line with signed agreements and donor conditionalities, in consultation with the country office, regional, HQ or PPD colleagues, as required.

4. Collection and application of funds and clearance of unapplied receipts:

• Follow up on disbursements and outstanding payments from contributions with country offices and donors and ensure that disbursement requests have been submitted to donors by country offices or at HQ level.
• Respond to all donor/region/country office/GSSC and DFAM queries relation to the funds disbursement/receipts.

5. Donor reporting:

• Monitor timely submission of narrative and uncertified financial utilization reports and follow up with country, regional office and HQ. Update reporting schedule monitoring in the Donor Report Tracker.
• Download draft report from Donor Report Tracker, share with supervisor and support review of donor reports to ensure quality reporting in line with donor conditions/requirements, including format, as required.

6. Unspent balances and grant closure:

• After financial closure and issuance of certified financial statements by DFAM, follow-up with donor and or/country office on refund/banking information required.
• Prepare and follow up with GSSC/DFAM to request to process refund or reprogramming of unspent balances based on donor’s instruction; follow up with DFAM/GSSC and donor until completion of refund or reprogramming process is confirmed.

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

Education:

Completion of Secondary education (high school degree) is required. University level courses in the field of management and business is an asset.

Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of relevant administrative work experience is required. Prior experience in programme or partnerships support functions is an asset. A completed university degree from an accredited institution will be counted toward the minimum work experience requirements. i.e. in the form of one year of completed education being equivalent to one year of relevant work experience (for fully completed degrees only)
• Good knowledge of UN and /or UNICEF automated systems and software applications (SAP, Service Gateway, Fiori, Sales Force/UNISON), is desirable.
• Proficient in the use of standard MS Office applications (SharePoint, Word, Excel and PowerPoint).
• Training in the field of accounting, financial administration or related field is desirable.
• Experience with the UN and/or UNICEF rules and regulations including finance systems (budget, contracts procedures) will be an asset.
• Experience in a UN system agency, large private or public company, or working in a developing country and/or humanitarian/ emergency context is an asset.
• Fluency in English (verbal and spoken) required.
• Knowledge of an additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish), or local language of the duty station, is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/Competencies

UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: UNICEF's Competency Framework here.

As an advocate for every child, you will receive

• A competitive salary which is exempted from paying national income taxes in Hungary on United Nations emoluments. Access here the UN Salary Scale for Hungary, and here a salary calculator for simulation.
• Holidays and leave, including 30 days of annual leaves per year
• Parental leave
• Dependency allowance
• United Nations sponsored medical insurance plan
• Pension plan
• Optional life insurance plan
• Access to professional development and learning programs, online learning and learning path
• Access to staff well-being support
• Access to career development support

Please visit Compensation and Benefit site on UNICEF Career page

General Service (GS) staff are locally recruited staff and therefore, candidates are personally responsible for any travel and accommodation arrangements. UNICEF does not facilitate MFA accreditation for locally recruited staff.

Applicants must be nationals of EU countries or in possession of a valid work permit. Please attach a copy of your work permit to your application submission.

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

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to A diverse and inclusive workforce to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of Compensation and benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID).

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a valid work permit or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

This VA is open to all (internal and external candidates) for two weeks.