Programme Specialist (Access Advisor), P3, TA, Kabul, Afghanistan #116646 (For non-Afghans only)

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, access

Afghanistan has been enduring a complex emergency for more than four decades. Not only due to conflict, but also with recurrent natural disasters, a deteriorating economy and increased poverty, internal displacement movement, unprecedented levels of food, continued returns of people from other countries, all compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan and the ongoing conflict between Government and Non-state actors leads represents a major risk on the ongoing peace talks and leaves the country in a serious situation of extreme vulnerability. UNICEF is committed to ensure children are accessing their basic rights by adopting the following 5 overarching dimensions of children’s rights:

1. Every child survives and thrives,
2. Every child learns,
3. Every child is protected from violence and exploitation,
4. Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, and
5. Every child has a fair chance in life.

Working for UNICEF: https://youtu.be/43aiG4w2q_M?t=2 

UNICEF in Afghanistan:  https://www.unicef.org/afghanistan/ 

How can you make a difference?

Key Duties & Responsibilities

1. Provide technical assistance on Access negotiation for UNCIEF programs

• Provide technical assistance to UNICEF Afghanistan Representative in the strategic and operational planning and engagement for Access negotiation and coordination of UNICEF programs with Non-state actors.
• Provide regular in-depth analysis on Afghanistan conflict environment to Representative office to inform assessment of risks factors, political sensitives, neutrality, and impartiality red lines to deepen a contextual understanding of conflict and ensure a solid common ground for design and implementation of programmatic interventions across sectors.
• Provide technical support to UNICEF programs with regard to the planning of engagement and Access negotiations and coordination with Non-state actors
• Develop clear access, negotiation and coordination guidance and framework for the CO, including sector specific guidance that is risk informed.
• Support UNICEF Representative office in development of position papers, official statements, and internal/external reports, advocacy papers, etc.

2. Coordinate and harmonize an integrated access approach within UNICEF programs

• Support creating an integrated comprehensive approach of engagement with Non-state actors through structured internal coordination.
• Provides timely, regular data-driven analysis for effective prioritization, planning, and development; facilitates results-based management for planning, adjusting, and implementing of UNICEF different programs.
• Ensure clarity and unified position among sections on risk factors guided by Representative’s office.
• Ensure smooth and transparent channel of information from programs to Representative’s office on engagement with Non-state actors on regular basis.
• Support inter-sectoral coordination and regular exchange of knowledge among sections on access negotiation, and coordination issues.
• Ensure application of a harmonized approach in UNICEF zonal offices with regard to engagement with Non-state actors.

3. Provide support to and coordinate work with UN Access teams in Afghanistan

• Act as UNICEF focal point in UNCT Access team representing UNICEF’s mandate for children, including advocating for resource mobilization and positioning, if needed.
• Support the UNCT Access team in facilitating access for development agencies.
• Support facilitating interaction with Humanitarian Access group led by OCHA.
• Participate in UN Access team meetings, provide inputs, and coordinate UNICEF engagement with the rest of UN sister agencies.
• Perform any actions within UN Access team related to UN coordination on engagement with Non-state actors on behalf of UNICEF.
• Develop briefing notes to UNICEF Representative office on discussions, actions and plans by the taskforce.
• Coordinate any necessary joint engagement and harmonize access negotiations with any other UN agency.

4. Engage in negotiation with Non-state actors with regard to access and coordination of work

• Engage effectively in negotiation access and coordination of work with Non-state actors with or on behalf of UNICEF Representative office.
• Participate in planning negotiation strategies and tactics for higher level engagement with Non-state actors, including provision of in-depth analysis, identification of red lines and adherence to Humanitarian principles
• Ensure effective preparation of required documentation, notes, talking points for UNICEF Representative office needed for high level engagement with or about Non-state actors.
• Ensure relationship between UNICEF and Non-state actors continues to grow effectively, desensitize conflict situations, remove access barriers through active communication and efficient coordination with focal points.

5. Build internal capacity of UNICEF office and its NGO partners on Access negotiations and Coordination with Non-state actors

• Strengthen the internal capacities of UNICEF programs and NGO partners on humanitarian principles, negotiations practices in humanitarian context, risk assessment and mitigation, etc.
• Establish and maintain sound risk-informed practices In UNICEF programme areas (CSD, Education, WASH, Child Protection, Social Policy)
• Develop and perform training sessions to UNICEF field staff, including technical extenders on negotiations skills and competencies.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in social sciences, psychology, political science, strategic management, or disciplines relevant to negotiations in complex environments. 
  *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 3 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of five of relevant professional experience in areas related to emergency contexts, emergency response, preferably with background of program management and access negotiations with non-state actors. 
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Field experience in complex, high-risk and/or conflict affected environments. 
• In-depth knowledge of Afghanistan conflict or regions of comparable complexity is highly desirable. 
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish), preferably Arabic, or a local language is 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 Competencies 

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Innovates and embraces change
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others
• Nurtures, leads and manages people

Functional Competencies

• Leading and supervising (II)
• Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
• Analyzing (III)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Persuading & Influencing (II)
• Planning & Organizing (III)

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:

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.

Candidates found to be suitable but not selected against this specific post will be placed in talent groups for 36 months and considered for similar employment opportunities.