Programme Officer (Convergence), NO-2, Harare, Zimbabwe #126084- Temporary Appointment (9 months) - Open only to nationals of Zimbabwe

Contract

This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 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, the opportunity

UNICEF has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1982. We are a team of passionate professionals committed to the protection and fulfillment of children’s rights.

Supporting the Government’s vision of a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society, the country programme is aimed at contributing to sustainable socioeconomic development that provides all children, including adolescents, with opportunities to fulfil their potential, lead a healthy life, access quality learning and protection and meaningfully participate in society.

For more information about UNICEF Zimbabwe please click here

You can also access and explore all new UNICEF vacancies and create job alerts via the UNICEF Zimbabwe website link below:

https://www.unicef.org/zimbabwe/work-us

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Zimbabwe seeks to hire a passionate and dedicated to provide professional technical assistance and support for programme design, planning and implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation of programme/project activities, data analysis and progress reporting, in support of programme goals and objectives. The Programme Officer (Convergence) will be responsible for programme coordination at sub-national level and is accountable for effective programme support to facilitate the application and adaptation of the Integrated Programme Approach strategies to achieve results for the women and children in Beitbridge district. He/she is responsible for stakeholder participation at the subnational level. He/She will be working with the Provincial and District Authorities and CSO Implementing Partner(s) responsible for direct implementation in liaison with the UNICEF Technical Group.

Summary of key functions/ accountabilities:

1. Programme development and planning

• Coordinate the planning process amongst District Stakeholders and Implementing Partner (s) and support development of the district workplan
• Support the District Stakeholders and Implementing Partner(s) in the development of quarterly workplans
• Work closely and collaboratively with District Stakeholders and Implementing Partner (s) to discuss strategies and methodologies that ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
• Ensure programme implementation is in alignment with the Convergence and Integrated Programming Operational Guidelines
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure clear linkages through integration, coherence, and harmonization of programmes/projects
• Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives and provide oversight to programme development, contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies in the district

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Coordinate the overall programme implementation processes at district level ensuring timely contribution to activities by all stakeholders as per jointly developed workplan
• Review the progress reports (narrative and financial) from Implementing Partners before submission to UNICEF
• Support the Implementing Partner in the development of a M and E Plan including reporting and monitoring tools in liaison with all stakeholders
• Support the Implementing Partner in the development of an M and E Framework to strengthen performance accountability, coherence, and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the Integrated programme in collaboration with all stakeholders.
• Coordinate active monitoring of the programmes by all stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks, potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant stakeholders
• Identify lessons learned and use knowledge from the monitoring processes to inform reprogramming/iterative planning to improve implementation.

3. Programme Governance and Partnerships

• Support district level coordination mechanisms and ensuring integration of the programme into Support district level coordination mechanisms and ensuring integration of the programme into the relevant sub-committees,
• Represent the Programme in technical working groups, other coordination platforms at district level,
• Keep the district stakeholders updated on key programme issues which requires their oversight and coordinate with stakeholders to trouble shoot any issues requiring their input,
• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts and Implementing Partner (s) on the interpretation, application and understanding of the Integrated Programme strategies and processes,
• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with all sub-national stakeholders,
• Through active networking, advocacy, and effective communication, build capacity and exchange knowledge and expertise to facilitate the achievement of programme goals on child rights
• Support capacity assessments for the programme in partnership with UNICEF Focal Technical Experts and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote sustainable results.

4. Finance and Administration

• Support the timely allocation of resources to IPs by reviewing and facilitating funding requests and liquidation
• Review financial reports submitted by IPs in line with workplan and allocation conditions
• Conduct programme grants monitoring activities
• Keep UNICEF updated on programme finance and administrative issues

5. Networking and partnership-building

• Build and sustain close working partnerships with provincial and district stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve output results.
• Support technical focal persons in developing relevant guidance to Implementing partners, RDCs to, formulate, implement and monitor planned key Interventions for the Integrated Approach
• Participate in sub-national stakeholder discussions, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the development planning and agenda setting.
• Identify complementary programmes and in liaison with the supervisor engage on potential synergies on the Integrated Programme Approach

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Support the Implementing Partner(s) in producing regular and mandated programme reports to keep UNICEF informed of programme progress.
• Develop programme document repository
• Consolidate best practices and lessons learned from the IPs report
• Support the implementation of a communication and visibility strategy for the programme

Education:

A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, Development Studies, or another relevant technical field

Experience:

• Two years of relevant professional work experience is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Experience in program coordination and support to projects across multiple sectors in an asset
• Experience working at sub-national levels is preferred.
• Experience supporting teams during project implementation and monitoring and evaluation of projects and reporting is an asset.
• Background/familiarity with emergency is considered as an asset

Language requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

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: competency framework here.

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 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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons 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 and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities are encouraged to apply

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. 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 visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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