Programme Coordinator

Contract

This is a UNV National Expert contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Expert contracts.

The Governments/UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean (ECA) multi-country programme covers 12 countries and territories: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos Islands.

To improve country presence and programme support at the national level, the UN Volunteer Expert Programme Coordinator will support Government/UNICEF country programme and contribute to the coordination with authorities and partners, to position children’s rights. Under the guidance of the supervisor, the UNV will advise and guide overall technical, managerial and operational support and be accountable for planning, design, implementation and administration of programmes and specific projects, focused on achievement of UNICEF's Priorities under the UN Joint Country Implementation Plan in close cooperation with the UN Resident Coordinators Office (RCO) and their National Coordinators, present in selected countries of the ECA. The emphasis is on increased demand for and delivery of integrated and inclusive services through a focus on four key windows of opportunity in (i) Education, (ii) Child Protection, (iii) Social Protection, and (iv) Climate Action and Resilience, supported by three cross-cutting programme components: recovery from COVID-19; (mental health and well-being; and disaster risk reduction (DRR), with gender transformative programming across all areas.

Anticipated 48-month assignment with annual (12-month) contract renewal; subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Section for Education, the national UN Volunteer Expert will undertake the following tasks:

• Support programme planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting, to ensure programme performance with national partners and institutions. To include providing and supporting gender/sex disaggregated data and inputs relevant to country programme as integral part of programming. Support programme work plans/recommendations/reports. • Provide regular updates on the Situation Assessments/Analysis, identifying opportunities and provide strategic advice to UNICEF and national authorities to address advance critical programme interventions and address complex issues in support of the implementation of country-level needs. • Coordinate with UNICEF staff to ensure that programme funds are optimally used and provide technical guidance to implementing partners for: i) the development of workplans, reporting tools and requirements, including Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers HACT. • Support a joint inter-agency approach for coordinating intersectoral work in collaboration with the RCO national coordinators, focused on achievement of UNICEF's priorities; liaising with other UN agencies to develop joint communication and community engagement initiatives. Support the development of joint proposals/concept notes. • Contribute to increasing and strengthening national partnerships and financing for development opportunities in support of the UNICEF multi-country programme document MCPD, Country Implementation Plan and joint programming initiatives. • Contribute to developing and maintaining partnerships and network with Government, national authorities, youth organizations, NGOs, cultural and religious organizations, the private sector, local media and academia for advocacy, technical cooperation, programme development/management/coordination, information sharing and networking to advance children’s agenda. • Facilitate knowledge management, sharing, and capacity building on UNICEF programmes with partners. • Identify the required support and resources to strengthen national disaster risk and response efforts and mechanisms within the context of regional frameworks or programmes, including those under the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). Support adequate emergency preparedness measures through the development and updating of country contingency plans and establishment of early warning mechanisms, which leads to more effective preparedness and response to specific emergencies; and supports in the coordination of emergency response

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • 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 IVD). • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities. • 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 Output: • Government/UNICEF ECA’s programmes are effectively implemented with and in support of national authorities and partners, including children to maximize results for children, demonstrating results at country-level context and UNICEF’s contribution towards achieving them. • Joint UN programmes/projects are efficiently and effectively developed, funded, implemented, monitored and reported, with UNICEF’s contributions. • Strengthened advocacy and communications and knowledge management at country level. • Increased national partnerships and financing for development opportunities in support of UNICEF’s MCPD, Country Implementation Plan and joint programming initiatives. • Comprehensive preparedness and coordination for disaster risk management and humanitarian response, linked to Core Commitments for Children. • Partnerships and networks are harnessed for promotion and leveraging of results for children; and government and stakeholders are aware and supportive of UNICEF’s mandate. • Best practices and results at national levels are documented and shared as knowledge management • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

• Demonstrated professional experience (15 years) in programme/project management, and/or related technical area; including in the following technical areas: (protection, social protection, education and skills development, climate and DRR, etc).

• Experience in at national or international levels coordination of various entities/sectors in programme management, joint planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation.

• Experience in leading advocacy efforts, including representation, and presentation skills to a wide and diverse audience.

• 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.

• Background/familiarity with emergency is considered as an asset.

• Knowledge about the UN is desirable

Eastern Caribbean countries and territories are characterized by notable political stability, with open and competitive democratic systems. Social indicators are relatively good among ECA countries/territories, which points to the commitment of governments to improving the quality of life of its residents. The security level in Grenada is low (2). All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UN Department of Safety and Security procedures and recommendations during their assignment.

In relation to housing, different types of short and long-term accommodation are available: standalone houses, houses in gated compounds, apartments. Accommodation options are varied and include fully furnished and/or fully serviced, or unfurnished.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.