Chief Field Office P4 FT, Gao – Mali # 85168

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 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, nutrition, 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. 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.

Given the extremely complex programmatic environment in Gao region (covering Kidal and Menaka regions as well) (major insecurity, integrated mission presence, presence of multiple actors involved in securing the northern region, political transition, ongoing administrative decentralization, humanitarian crisis, pandemic covid-19 …), the position of the Gao head of office requires specific experience and skills, in addition to the minimum requirements set in the job description and mobility requisition. 

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Chief Field Operations & Emergency, the Chief Field Office (CFO), P4, # 85168 in Gao is accountable for managing and leading the Zone Office in the prevailing Covid-19 context, recurring emergencies and epidemics and in persisting insecurity. He / she leads the Gao Zone Office toward the achievement of key results for children under the life cycle approach of the 2020 – 2024 country programme (with a strong focus on multisectorial approaches to building resilient systems and communities) in full compliance with UNICEF policies, strategies and guidelines in accordance with the local context; in full respect of gender principles and with a focus on linking humanitarian and development interventions. The field presence of UNICEF Mali facilitates access to vulnerable people in a high-risk operating environment and makes it possible to respond to the “Stay and Deliver” and “Leave No One Behind” need. The UNICEF field office in Gao counts  20 staff members and oversees the regions of Gao, Kidal and Menaka.

The incumbent will be responsible for:

Effective management of UNICEF presence, staff and assets

• Represent UNICEF in the region, by participating in meetings and events, moving forward the agenda for children.
• Facilitate, take and implement measures to ensure safety and security of UNICEF staff and assets.
• Effectively lead the Field Office team and manage the performance and conduct the staff members to deliver results for children

Knowledge Management for Programmes

• Ensure that area/country programmes are supported by knowledge management through data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting as well as participation in the Programme Knowledge Network system of “lessons learned” and other corporate-level databases.
• Participate in information exchange through donor and media visits as well as in the development of training and orientation material.

Programme Development and Management

• Identify critical intervention points and measures by administering a consistent and transparent monitoring system; analyse country level socio-political-economic trends and their implications for ongoing programmes and projects.
• Draft changes to/or prepare programme work plans as required. Establishes programme workplans, monitors compliance and provides training, support and guidance to the programme team in order to meet objectives. Identifies human resources requirements and on-going staff development needs.
• Reviews and evaluates the technical, institutional and financial feasibility and constraints of programme/projects in collaboration with Government and other partners.
• Prepares relevant programme reports required for management, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, etc.

Optimum Use of Program Funds

• Establish and supervise programme work plans and monitor progress and compliance.  Monitor the overall allocation and disbursement of programme funds, making sure that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated. Take appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds. Ensure programme efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation.

Programme Monitoring and Evaluations

• Undertakes field visits and ensures that his/her staff conduct field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decides on required corrective action.
• Carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluate and participate in the major programme evaluation exercises in consultation with the Representative, the Operations Officer, the Evaluation Officer and others to improve efficiency and quality of programme delivery. Participate in annual sector review meetings with government counterparts.  Ensure the timely preparation of annual program status reports.

Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach

• Adopt rights-based programmes approach in the formulation of programme goals and objectives and development of strategies and implementation frameworks. Formulate consistent and effective planning, design, implementation, monitoring and/or evaluation of programmes and projects. Bring coherence, synergy and added value to the programming planning and design processes using a results-based management approach to programme planning and design.

Rights Perspective and Advocacy at the National, Community and Family Levels

• Conduct policy analysis from a children’s and women’s rights perspective and advocacy at the government, community and family levels for elevating credibility in national and international policy debates. Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through active advocacy and communication in line with UNICEF national advocacy guidelines and strategy.

Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration

• Develop partnership 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. Linkage to the Regional Programme Knowledge Network to ensure the availability of current and accurate programme data.
• Collaborate with the Operations Section to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of programming endeavours and to coordinate financial and supply management requirements and accountability. Maintain close collaboration with heads of sectoral programmes in the CO, Regional and HQ advisers for effective overall coordination on programmes.
• Plans, develops and implements sectoral programme(s) by collaborating with the government and other partners. Provide leadership in provision of technical advice, negotiation, advocacy and promotion of area/country level goals, leading to agreement on practicable and priority actions to be supported by UNICEF programme and country level cooperation.

To be successful in the role, the ideal candidate should have

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, international relations, public administration, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of eight years of professional work experience in programme management, planning, monitoring and evaluation, project administration, Operations Management or another relevant area is required of which at least 2 years of experience as a Chief field office at the P4 level or at least 3 years of experience at the P3 level in a programmatic context comparable to Gao or should have been exposed to the CFO function
• Several years of experience in field offices as programme specialist or operations specialist at P4 level in emergency settings
• Experience in managing complex and sensitive situations in an integrated mission setting
• Experience in managing the triple nexus and DDR program for children in a context of armed conflict with presence of non-state entities/armed groups
• Experience in WASH program management would be an asset in a region where 60% of the field office budget goes to Wash actions.
• Team leadership and capacity to manage an expanding office with a 30% increase in human resources structure, bringing the staffing of Gao field Office to 20 staff (all contractual types included).
• Prior experience of leading teams in hardship duty stations and proven capacity to exercise duty of care for staff
• Good health and ability to work in extreme climatic conditions
• Familiarity/ background with emergency is required
• 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.
• Fluency in English and French is required (written and oral). Knowledge of another UN language or the 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 functional competencies required for this post are…

• Analyzing [ 2 ]
• Persuading and Influencing [ 2 ]

The Core Competencies (Required)

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3)
• Works Collaboratively with others (3)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (3)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (3)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (3)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)

Technical Knowledge  

 a) Specific Technical Knowledge Required

(Technical knowledge requirements specific to the job can be added here as required.) 

• Rights-based and Results-based approach and programming in UNICEF.

• UNICEF programme policy, procedures and guidelines in the Manual.

  b) Common Technical Knowledge Required (for the job group)

•  Methodology of programme/project management

• UNICEF programmatic goals, visions, positions, policies and strategies.

• Knowledge of global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current UNCEF position and approaches.

• UNICEF policies and strategy to address on national and international issues, particularly relating to conflicts, natural disasters, and recovery.

• UNICEF emergency programme policies, goals, strategies and approaches.

• Gender equality and diversity awareness.

c) Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced (for the Job)

• UN policies and strategy to address international humanitarian issues and the responses.

• UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions

• UN security operations and guidelines.

• Security Management training for members of Security Management Team.

• UNICEF policies, strategies promoting and supporting gender equality and diversity.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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:

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.