Vacancy Announcement - Programme Officer (HACT), NOA, FT, Bauchi, Nigeria

Contract

This is a NO-1 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-1 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, innovation.

In Nigeria, UNICEF works in a complex humanitarian and development setting to fulfill and protect children's rights in partnership with government, civil society, children, and families. UNICEF Nigeria is one of the largest UNICEF Country Offices globally - click the link to learn more about UNICEF in Nigeria: https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/.

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, 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 all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. Therefore, 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?

The Programme Officer (HACT) reports to the Implementing Partnership Management Specialist or another supervisor as locally determined for close guidance and supervision. Level 1 is a professional entry-level and should therefore be normally used as a trainee level for acquiring organizational knowledge of rules, regulations, and processes to supplement academic and theoretical knowledge of the profession for upward mobility to higher responsibilities. Incumbents at this level are not expected to remain for an extended period of time in the post.

The Programme Officer (HACT) provides professional technical, operational, and administrative assistance throughout the programme cycle through the application of theoretical and technical skills in researching, collecting, analyzing, and presenting technical information to facilitate the integration of HACT plans in all programming activities and to ensure the application of HACT and related organizational rules, regulations and procedures in the CO.

Key responsibilities:

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

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

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

6. Support to HACT planning during the programming process

• Participate in discussions, collection, analysis, verification, and synthesis of HACT-related information/documentation to gain a good knowledge of HACT and programme planning and implementation.
• Participate in preparing HACT-related materials/documentation to ensure incorporation of HACT in the country programming process.

2. Support to implementation of HACT activities

• Serve as the reference person on HACT implementation in the office
• Participate in and assist with preparing and regularly updating CO micro assessment and assurance plans.
• Together with qualified/experienced CO colleagues, undertake spot checks of implementing partners to gain knowledge and experience.
• Provide technical and administrative support to external service providers in the execution of HACT activities to ensure timely and efficient delivery of results.
• Assist with maintaining records of relevant HACT-related documentation, including CO decisions related to HACT.

3. Review and use of HACT reports

• Assist with recording and updating of risk ratings of implementing partners in VISION through regular review of the Vendor Master and provision of information to relevant colleagues in the CO.
• Share with implementing partners and CO staff HACT-related reports, especially reports of assurance activities, to ensure adequate awareness and follow-up of identified issues.
• Participate in the review of micro-assessment reports of implementing partners to identify common weaknesses in financial and procurement management and propose capacity development actions that can be supported by UNICEF.
• Participate in reviewing assurance activity reports of implementing partners to identify issues that need follow-up and common weaknesses in financial and procurement management and propose capacity development actions that can be supported by UNICEF.

4. Networking and inter-agency partnership

• Exchange information and/or 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 by actively sharing HACT information and knowledge to facilitate/build their capacity to implement 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.

5. Innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building

• Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned from HACT and its implementation for integration into broader knowledge development planning and management efforts.
• Participate in the design, planning, and implementation of capacity development strategies/initiatives for implementing partners which can be supported by UNICEF through participation in the review of reports of micro assessments and assurance activities of significant and high-risk partners.
• Participate in designing and implementing capacity development strategies/initiatives for CO staff to ensure that staff has the knowledge and skills to fulfill their responsibilities related to HACT.

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

Education:

A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Development Studies, International Development, Business Administration, Financial Management, Economics, Auditing, Project/Programme Management, Accounting, or another relevant technical field. Further certification such as CPA, ACCA, CFA, and ICAN is desired but not essential.

Experience:

• A minimum of one year of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: programme development/management, financial planning, and management, or another related area.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• 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 the local language of the duty station is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

• The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...
• Builds and maintains partnerships (II)
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (II)
• Drive to achieve results (II)
• Innovates and embraces change (II)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (II)
• Thinks and acts strategically (II)
• Works collaboratively with others (II)
• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (II)

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:

UNICEF’s active commitment to 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. Appointments may 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.