Programme Specialist (Beneficiary Data) P-3, Fixed-Term, Kabul, Afghanistan (Non-Afghan Nationals)

Overview

Lead and support beneficiary data management for humanitarian projects in Kabul.

You have:

• An advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in Economics, Social Science or related field is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional work experience of data or humanitarian program/project management experience, including with multiple stakeholders.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Experience in emergency contexts highly desirable.
• Experience in implementing humanitarian cash transfer programmes.
• Detailed knowledge of the Project Lifecycle and fluency in project management methodologies.
• Excellent communication & presentation skills (written & verbal) across multiple audiences with the ability to influence others while working in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Experience supervising data management staff.

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 102,568 USD and 134,304 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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 situation in Afghanistan remains exceptionally complex, with a protracted emergency situation, characterized by recurrent natural disasters, an increased number of people living in poverty, continued internal displacement, unprecedented levels of food insecurity, further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. This complexity has greatly impacted the situation of children and women in the country. The withdrawal of United States military forces from Afghanistan in August 2021 and the establishment of a de-facto government by the Taliban has exacerbated the complexity and uncertainty of the situation. UNICEF is required to rapidly adapt our ways of working to address the multiple operational constraints present in the highly volatile and unpredictable context. This includes the need to establish a Programme Management Unit that will provide operational and transactional capacity to the Afghanistan Country Office to ensure urgent lifesaving and resilience building programmes can continue.

The Programme Management Unit’s (PMU) Beneficiary Data Specialist will report to the PMU Deputy Team lead. He/she will be based in Kabul and will support the team in delivering beneficiary data management services to the PMU.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Personal Data Services Management
   1. Provide guidance, coordinate and oversight for the adequate use of HOPE for UNICEF and partners
   2. Escalate to PMU management risks related to personal data management
   3. Perform budget management function, monitor spending, and take corrective actions accordingly
   4. Ensure quality of data analysis, reporting, TPM, GRM and Data protection standards
   5. Provide oversight of personal data use for efficient and effective delivery of individual payments / cash transfers
   6. Coordinate with interagency counterpart’s data inter-operability initiatives or forums
2. Data Management representation function
   1. Coordinate with HQ HOPE team on prioritized support
   2. Represent data management function with external stakeholders including de facto authorities
   3. Represent Personal Data Management PMU function within ACO and interagencies
   4. Represent PMU Data Management function in donors briefing and reporting
   5. Contribute in PMU and ACO management exercise on data
3. Partners Support in the use of Humanitarian cash Operations and Programme Ecosystem (HOPE)
   1. Support with training relevant implementing partner staff in data collection in KoBo using standardized beneficiary registration form for HOPE, standardized post-distribution monitoring form for cash transfer programmes
   2. Support with training relevant implementing partner staff in the use of HOPE’s features, including deduplication, data changes, and recording of grievances and feedback
   3. Oversee user roles allocation and perform capacity building on the use of HOPE with partners in concert with Data Processing and Analytics specialist
   4. Oversee data collection exercise in the field
4. Reporting and Third-Party Monitoring
   1. Provide technical oversight on the ToRs of the Third-Party Monitoring, assessment of technical proposal based on agreed criteria, and selection of the third party for verification of existing payees’ lists
   2. Draft Process and output monitoring report based on data available in HOPE and TPM sources
5. Data Protection Standards
   1. Ensure that PMU Data management workstream is aligned with UNICEF Data Protection Policy
   2. Coordinate with HQ technical counterparts to ensure:
   3. Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) are carried out with appropriate frequency on PMU supported programmes
   4. UNICEF partners are trained on Data Protection and Responsible Data for Children principles
   5. UNICEF CSO and private sector partners comply with relevant data protection legal tools such as Non-Disclosure Agreements
   6. Timely implementation of DPIA recommendations
   7. Ensure timely arrangement and signature of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) with UNICEF’s implementing partners, financial service providers and other entities who will require access to personally-identifiable information on UNICEF beneficiaries 6. Efficient and effective supervision
   8. Provide exemplary management and leadership, motivating and developing colleagues to perform at their best, while building diverse and inclusive teams
   9. Supervise the Data Processing and Analytics Specialist and Personal Data IM Officer NOB

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Economics, Social Science or related field is required. Bachelor's degree complemented with relevant industry certifications and work experience can be considered.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional work experience of data or humanitarian program/project management experience, including with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience in emergency contexts highly desirable.
• Minimum 5 years of program/project management experience, including with multiple stakeholders
• Experience in Beneficiary Data system for humanitarian cash transfer at field level
• Experience in implementing humanitarian cash transfers programmes
• Experience in business operation environments with a proven track record of interfacing with multiple stakeholders (internal and external) and successful project completion.
• Experience in working with UN agencies (UNICEF experience preferred) at interagency level
• Detailed knowledge of the Project Lifecycle and fluency in project management methodologies.
• Experience collaborating across multiple functions and working with operational subject matter experts, technical resources and architecture teams.
• Excellent communication & presentation skills (written & verbal) across multiple audiences with the ability to influence others while working in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• High motivation, and dedication to deliver results within strict timeframes.
• Experience supervising data management staff
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability.

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 (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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:

The VA is open to internal and external candidates.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either: a role with direct contact with children, works directly with child, is a safeguarding response role or has been assessed as an elevated risk role for child safeguarding. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) applies.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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 be 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.

Potential interview questions