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, a chance

The Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM) is responsible for driving, shaping and guiding UNICEF’s evidence-informed analysis, policy advocacy and advice, strategic planning, programme implementation, monitoring and organizational performance management. DAPM is enabling the organization to deliver on results in a more coherent and effective manner at headquarters, regional offices and country offices, based on data, evidence, and analysis and the application of human-rights based and results-based management approaches.

Within DAPM, the Programme Effectiveness Team leads, regulates and coordinates the development and issuance of organization-wide procedures, policies, standards, guidance, and tools to strengthen programme effectiveness across all contexts, including programme planning, implementation, monitoring, organizational performance management, knowledge management and organizational learning, at all levels. It liaises with UN agencies, funds and programmes, specialized agencies, other technical organizations and the UN Development Coordination Office in the development and application of programme planning, monitoring, and reporting policies and procedures; and coordinates with EMOPS, Programme Group and regional offices on provision of direct planning, monitoring and programme implementation support to countries responding to humanitarian contexts.

This post reports to the Chief, Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) within the Programme Effectiveness Team (PET), under the overall leadership of the Deputy Director.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of the post is to provide technical leadership in UNICEF for programmatic risk management, principally addressing risks of inefficient/ineffective use of UNICEF Programme resources transferred to implementation partners. Each Year UNICEF engages with close to 10,000 entities of Implemeting Partners (IPs) for programme implementation, in over 130 coutnries and transfers over $3 billion  (over $2 billion in cash and over $ 1 billion in supplies). The post is the focal point for operationalizing the global/interagency framework of Harmonized Approach for Cash Transfer (HACT), as well as its adaptation to respond to context specific risk management including other programmatic resources (e.g., supplies). The post is expected to contribute to evolving reflection, at UNICEF, on strengthening enterprise risk management in general and representing programmatic risk management, including HACT, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), and Safeguarding Environmental and Social Standards (ESS). The post is also focal point for programmatic risk related technical backstopping to regional and country offices as well as internal and external programmatic risk related audits and ensuring timely and adequate response to partners including donors. The post represents UNICEF in the inter-agency HACT and various implementation partnership fora and contributes to greater harmonization of risk management approaches among UN agencies.

Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks

1. Technical leadership for programmatic risk management

• Coordinate the development and/or update of risk management aspects of the UNICEF Procedure on Programme Implementation as well as associated guidance, tools, and systems; ensuring that tools are co-created with users, are fit for purpose, user friendly and not burdensome.
• Ensure effective roll-out and use of global frameworks/procedure and associated tools to drive the organizational culture of programmatic risk management and there by managing for results.
• Serve as global technical lead on Harmonized Cash Transfer Approach (HACT)
• Contribute to and positively influence inter-agency harmonization of programmatic risk management.
• Provide guidance and support to specialists on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and safeguarding Environmental and Social Standards (ESS).

2. Develop and implement a global strategy to strengthen programmatic risk management knowledge and capacity of UNICEF staff and Implementing Partners

• Lead and coordinate the development of a global strategy with accompanying materials/tools aimed at increasing programmatic risk management awareness, capacity and reporting by UNICEF staff and implementing partners.
• Incorporate programmatic risk management in organizational knowledge management and exchange platforms.
• Identify and share good practices on implementing partnership management in general and programmatic risk management (HACT, PSEA and ESS) and exchange/share internally and with other agencies at global level.
• Promote programmatic risk management in global and regional senior management and other fora, building awareness, promoting good practice, and highlighting areas of risk.
• Participate in global ERM exercises with a particular emphasis on ensuring that risks for implementing partnership management are appropriately identified and relevant mitigating measures put in place.

3. Oversight, planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of global programmatic risk management related activities.

• Ensure development, review, and adaptation of global programmatic risk management workplan and budget, including influencing alignment with other relevant divisions/offices. 
• Regularly review implementation of the plan, ensuring adaptation as required.
• Provide oversight and ensure quality assurance and follow-up and escalation of findings from assurance activities consistent with the HACT component of IP Procedure, that is currently going under revision.
• Periodically monitor and report on the status of the imlementation of  HACT (and other programmatic risks management) measures at the country and regional level using corporate tools and systems such as tools and InSight and identify high risk areas requiring special support.

4. Risk-informed and needs-based technical support on programmatic risk management, at global, regional, and country level

• Advise/support regional and country offices in identifying programmatic risks and ensuring the planning and implementation of mitigation measures.
• Support offices, as necessary, on risk allegations and escalation management.
• Undertake other tasks aimed at supporting regional and country offices in preventing, identifying, or mitigating programmatic risk across all regions (including through deployment, including support to initial humanitarian response surge missions).
• Contribute to evolution of UNICEF ERM, though proactive participation and input in relevant platforms.
• Guide, advise and support regional and country offices in the use of UNICEF tools and systems (i.e., eTools, InSight, VISION) as it relates to implementing partnership management and their application for evidence-based decision making.
• Support/guide specialists in emerging areas of risk management (PSEA and ESS) in analysis, monitoring, and reporting.

5. Provide technical support to ROs and COs on Programmatic risk related audits (internal and external) as well as Donors’ specific reviews.

• Focal point for facilitation of  global annual and thematic audits, as well as donor specific reviews, in programmatic risk management.
• Facilitate the implementation of the outcomes/recomendations of global audits and donor specific reviews.
• Contribute to donor briefings and negotiations as needed.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Development studies, International Development, Auditing, Business Administration, Financial Management, Economics, Accounting, Risk Management or another related field is required.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in programme/project development and management or operations/finance is required, some of which should be with the UN System and/or in a developing country. 
• Prior experience in implementation and technical leadership of organizational risk management tools and systems is an asset. Familiarity with UN/UNICEF’s programming and risk management procedures and experience and work experience at Country and Regional Level on risk management is an asset. Familiarity and proven knowledge of Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT), Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Environmental and Social Standard frameworks is a strong asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local 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: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others.

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

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 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:

*Priority will be given to all the eligible candidates participating in 2022 Mobility Exercise and Staff on Abolished post 

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. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. 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.