Individual Contractor (11.5 months, full-time, home-based): Programme Planning and Monitoring Specialist, Country Relations, Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP)

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, an advocate.

UNICEF’s Child Rights Programming and Advocacy Team in PFP provides UNICEF’s 33 National Committees in high-income countries with guidance and technical support for their child rights programming activities, working closely with other relevant UNICEF Divisions. 

The Team, in close collaboration with Programme Division (PD), the Division of Data, Analysis, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM) and all other relevant divisions and offices in UNICEF, works to support effective results-based programming for the advancement of child rights, in countries with a National Committee office. 

This entails support for coordination with, and among National Committees, on their advocacy programming on domestic, regional or global child rights issues, through managing information exchange among thematic working groups, and providing localized support and guidance to National Committees, aligned with the programming in high income countries agenda, and the UNICEF Strategic Plan. 

How can you make a difference?

Under the overall guidance and direction of Child Rights Programming and Advocacy (CRPA) and the Child Programme Guidance Unit (PGU) in DAPM, the purpose of the Programme Planning and Monitoring Specialist would be to 1) Facilitate the engagement across Divisions with regards to the programming planning cycle in National Committees, supporting the team and PFP to deliver on new planning and reporting standards linked to the Strategic Plan and recent programming guidance for High Income Countries (HICs); 2) Facilitate capacity building and knowledge management towards National Committees on how UNICEF programmes are designed, implemented, monitored and managed, in close collaboration with PD and DAPM.

In the context of Programming in HICs, all parts of the UNICEF family will be expected to come together to jointly contribute to a country specific enhanced Joint Strategy Plan (JSP), which will include a results framework and a rolling plan, encompassing the programmatic elements agreed for that particular country. This means that National Committees will be required to expand/invest in their own PME (Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation) capacity. It also means that PFP’s role in discussing the JSP with the Natcoms will get much more complex, given the need to involve other key stakeholders, ensure they provide the support needed and promote a swift and constructive dialogue across all parties.

MAIN TASKS  

Strategic planning

• Contribute to the strategic planning process of National Committees, through qualitative support across the whole programme planning cycle, including the Situation Analysis, prioritization exercise, definition of the programmatic strategy and formulation in the enhanced JSP.
• Secure the adequate involvement of key divisions and offices needed in the planning cycle (i.e. DAPM, Office of Research, PD and relevant Regional Office), acting as the main port of entry for the National Committee and facilitating a dialogue conducive to agreement around the final plan.
• Lead the revision of the JSP tool and methodology, to make them respond to the needs of an “enhanced JSP” that reflects the depth of programming in HICs in each country.

Monitoring, Reporting and Learning

• Establish monitoring practices to support high quality, evidence-based and results-oriented programming in National Committees.
• Act as a focal point for the provision of adequate content -i.e. results, learning, etc- for the relevant reporting mechanisms, including through the SP M&E system.
• Regularly document the learnings of the PiHICs implementation, including updates to the Board if requested and acting as focal point for any revisions of the methodology and programming guidance.

Cross-cutting capacity building

• Develop and roll out a capacity building package for National Committees on results-based management aligned to the new UNICEF Rights and Results Based management course.
• Enhance National Committee skills in applying a systematic approach to the country programming process, with a particular focus on the normative framework and results-based management
• Directly guide and support high quality programming planning and monitoring that applies UNICEF’s core policies and processes.
• Provide qualitative and quantitative data analysis and integration for the purposes of HICs programming, planning, monitoring, and reporting.
• Track knowledge of the evolving global context and key drivers of UNICEF programming in HICs.
• Build capacity and knowledge on how UNICEF programmes are designed, implemented, monitored and managed in HICs.

DELIVERABLES 

• Enhanced JSP tool is developed and approved by all key stakeholders.
• All 33 National Committees have 2022 JSPs approved, including dedicated annex for Programming in HICs with results framework in the case of 6 practice countries.
• The Advocacy Monitoring Tool is rolled-out and results are reported as part of the 2021 monitoring cycle. Consolidated results are submitted as a result of that.
• Regular updates on the learning of the PiHICs implementation are prepared upon request.
• Capacity building plan is designed and implemented, including the design and roll out of a training package informed by UNICEF learning materials on rights and results-based management.

ESTIMATED DURATION OF THE CONTRACT AND PROPOSAL 

• 11.5 Months, full-time. 

REPORTING TO   

• Mainly reporting to, Chief of Child Rights Programming and Advocacy, Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division (PFP), and with a dotted reporting line to Chief of the Programme guidance Unit (DAPM)

WORKPLACE 

• The job would be home-based. Pending on the evolution of COVID restrictions -related to travel and office presence- the individual contractor may be requested to travel in order to provide support to particular national committees, attend network and team meetings.

To qualify as an advocate

for every child you will have…

Education:  

• An Advanced University Degree in the social sciences, economics, public policy, statistics, research methods or related fields is required.
• Alternatively, a first level university degree in a relevant field combined with additional years of experience maybe accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience:  

• Minimum of five year of relevant work experience in planning, monitoring and evaluation of social programmes is required. Experience in M&E of advocacy-related interventions will be highly valued.
• Working experience in High Income Country settings is an asset.
• Experience working with UNICEF and/or National Committees is an asset.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of any other UN language will be valued.

Others:

• Strong communication, written and presentation skills.
• Strong data analysis and management skills.
• Ability to work well with others, including in distant settings.

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.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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

Remarks: Please indicate your ability, availability, and gross daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered. Also, please mention the earliest date you can start. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein. Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

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.