Re-advertisement: Programme Specialist (Coordinator), NOC, Kyiv, Ukraine - Open for Ukraine Nationals Only

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, hope

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. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give more children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Programme Planning and Coordination
2. Programme Management and Optimum Use of Programme Funds
3. Programme Monitoring
4. Partnerships Building

Programme Planning and Coordination

• Provides coordination support to UNICEF programme sections (WASH, social protection, child protection, education and others) and field offices for joint planning of multi-sector programming in line with originating donors’ grant agreements, and UNICEF policy and procedures
• Coordinates and supports the development of work plans through consistent and effective planning sessions ensuring synergies for integration in beneficiary targeting and service delivery
• Works closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine priorities and competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results
• Coordinates intra-office meetings and fora to establish and ensure progress against agreed work plans and targets
• Organizes and manages the relevant programme governance structures and processes with relevant stakeholders, both internally (across sections) and externally (including e.g. municipalities, donors, etc)
• Supports multi-sectoral programming in drafting proposals for funding (new and revisions)

Programme Management and Optimum Use of Programme Funds

• Provides guidance and direction to UNICEF programme sections and field offices in meeting UNICEF and donor grant management requirements
• Contributes to the development of multi-sector grant management and programme coordination practices by facilitating internal discussions, formulating guidance notes, standard operational procedures, and other materials for mainstreaming best practice
• Manages allocations of programme funds to sections ensuring that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated
• Takes appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds
• Ensures programme efficiency and delivery through a transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation
• Identifies the gaps in programm implementation and timely adresses them in coordination with UNICEF implementing partners, section specialists and management
• Develops dashboard as relevant to improve the financial management of multi-sectoral grants
• Takes appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds as per the work plans established
• Supports and coordinates the timely preparation and submission of narrative and/or financial progress/final reports and briefs as required

Programme Monitoring

• Monitors the project progress with all sections involved; prepares briefs on programme progress; outputs; products for stakeholders including government (on request)
• Gets timely inputs for donor report from sections and prepares the draft donor report
• Identifies the gaps in programm implementation and timely adreses them in coordination with UNICEF implementing partners, section specialists and management
• Undertakes or supports field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and advises relevant sections and management on required corrective actions
• Supports the office on relevant and required programme surveys, mid-term and end line evaluation exercises and participates in relevant programme evaluation exercises to improve efficiency and quality of programme delivery
• Ensures the existence of M&E plans for measuring results and reporting as well leads or supports regular field M&E visits
• Participates in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the local government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required actions and interventions to achieve results.
• Prepares and assesses monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in Project management
• Identifies lessons learned and uses knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.

Partnerships Building

• Develops partnerships and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development data and information, exchange information on programme/project status and implementation and movement/distribution of supplies
• Collaborates with local, regional and national-level municipalities to inform programming, collect data and facilitate relationships
• Collaborates with the Operations Section to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of programming endeavors and to coordinate financial and supply management requirements and accountability
• In collaboration with the Communications and Partnerships Teams, ensures regular engagement of the relevant donor counterparts and the effective delivery of any deliverables agreed in the Communications and Visibility Plan
• Participates and/or represents UNICEF in appropriate discussions and planning on programme implementation, ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and represented.

Impact of Results:

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Programme Specialist (Coordinator) to programme preparation, planning and implementation, contributes to the achievement of sustainable results for children. Success in the specific programme will contribute to the early recovery agenda of Ukraine.

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

Education:

An advanced 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, or another relevant technical field.

Experience:

Five years of relevant professional work experience is required, focused on results-based programme management, including involved in integrated programming. A background in government relations, financial management or field level implementation is an asset.

Experience working in a humanitarian or early recovery setting is considered as an asset, especially work that functioned across the humanitarian to development nexus.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is 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: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

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

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 women 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.

This position is based in Kyiv and the incumbent will be expected be work on-site. However, depending on the security conditions and advisory, s/he will be required to relocate within Ukraine.