Programme Specialist HACT, NO-3, Nairobi, Kenya, UNICEF SOMALIA SUPPORT CENTER

Contract

This is a NO-3 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-3 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, a champion

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. UNICEF has adopted the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) as an approach for obtaining assurance that results have been achieved in line with resource utilization. It aims at managing risk related to cash transfers made to implementing partners in support of programme implementation, reducing partner transaction costs and allowing progressive use of national systems for management and accountability of results and resources.

How can you make a difference?

The Programme Specialist (HACT) reports to the Implementing Partnership Management Specialist or other supervisor as locally determined for supervision. The Programme Specialist (HACT) main role is preventive detection of potential irregularities through financial and programmatic data analysis as a result of the HACT assurance activities. Provides professional financial, operational and programmatic assistance throughout the programming process by preparing, managing and/or executing a variety of technical and administrative tasks to facilitate the effective implementation of HACT in line with the UNICEF HACT Policy and UNICEF HACT procedure..

KEY FUNCTION, ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RELATED DUTIES/TASKS

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to HACT planning during the programming process
2. Support to implementation of assurance activities
3. Review and use of HACT reports
4. Networking and inter-agency partnership

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

6. Support to the HACT planning during the programming process

• Participate in HACT planning and discussions and support the development and completion of HACT plans through research, collection, analysis and reporting of related information/data to facilitate planning and priority setting for HACT activities.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout the process by executing/administering technical, operational and administrative transactions and preparing related materials/documentations to ensure the incorporation of HACT into the country programme.
• Prepare CO-wide micro assessment and assurance plans in collaboration with other programme staff and relevant operations colleagues.
• Prepare information on shared implementing partners to facilitate joint planning and execution of micro assessments and audits in line with the UNICEF HACT procedure.

2. Support to implementation of HACT activities

• Serve as the reference person on HACT implementation in the office.
• Facilitate the execution of HACT activities undertaken by external service providers through scheduling, arranging briefings and related administrative needs to ensure service providers have appropriate and comprehensive information for effective and efficient completion of assignments.
• Conduct and/or coordinate spot checks of implementing partners in collaboration with other CO staff.
• Support in tracking to ensure that management response to the findings and recommendations of both financial and programmatic monitoring is completed, recorded, and followed up for implementation.
• Support the preparation of HACT implementation status report in InSight through collation of implementation information from relevant CO colleagues.
• Contribute to the development and monitoring of implementation of CO HACT related SOPs and internal procedures, including for escalation of issues identified through assurance activities.
• Align the financial findings highlighted by financial assurance activities and/or financial reporting by the partner with the programmatic monitoring data collected either by programmatic visits and/or TPM’s in order to inform the risk strategy.
• Detect irregularities highlighted by triangulation of financial and programmatic analysis and escalate to the attention of the Implementing Partners Management Specialist (P4) for further action.

3. Review and use of HACT Reports

• Support the recording and updating of risk ratings of implementing partners in VISION through review of the Vendor Master and provision of relevant information to appropriate colleagues in the CO.
• Under the leadership of the P4, support the establishment of a central repository for HACT decisions, documentation and reports to provide timely and current information to facilitate implementation of HACT in the CO.
• Review financial assessments and programme assurance reports to identify areas of weaknesses related to the implementation of HACT and keep supervisor/partners informed of findings for timely action and/or intervention.

4. Networking and inter-agency partnership

• Support Programme and Financial HACT Officers to provide technical information and operational support to implementing partners, UN system partners and other stakeholders in the CO on the implementation of HACT to reinforce UN/CO harmonization and coordination.
• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of HACT information and knowledge to facilitate/build their capacity for implementing HACT.
• Participate in appropriate inter-agency meetings/events to facilitate and promote sharing of information, knowledge, experiences and best practices.
• Interact regularly with other country offices and the regional office on HACT when deemed necessary by the Implementing Partnership Management Specialist.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Identify, synthesize and share lessons learned from HACT and its implementation for integration into broader knowledge development planning and management efforts.
• Identify, synthesize and share lessons learned and best practice in the implementation of HACT.
• Under the leadership of the P4, support the the design and implementation of capacity development strategy/initiatives for implementing partners which can be supported by UNICEF through identification of common weaknesses in financial and procurement management from review of micro assessment and assurance activity reports of high and significant risk partners.

• Under the guidance of the P4, support the design and implementation of capacity development strategy/initiatives for CO staff to ensure that staff has the knowledge and skills to fulfill their responsibilities under HACT framework.

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

Education:

An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Development studies, International Development, Business Administration, Financial Management, Economics, Auditing, Project/Programme Management or another relevant technical field.

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: programme development/management, financial planning and management, or another related area.
• Demonstrated experience implementing and monitoring HACT or other grant management oversight approaches.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset. Financial and programme monitoring experience in development agencies or an international organization is highly desirable.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core Competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing (2)
• Applying technical expertise (2)
• Relating and networking (2)
• Learning and researching (2)
• Planning and organizing (2)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

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:

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