Mission and objectives

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children. UNICEF insists that the survival, protection and development of children are universal development imperatives that are integral to human progress. UNICEF mobilizes political will and material resources to help countries, particularly developing countries, ensure a "first call for children" and to build their capacity to form appropriate policies and deliver services for children and their families. UNICEF is committed to ensuring special protection for the most disadvantaged children – victims of war, disasters, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation, and those with disabilities. UNICEF responds in emergencies to protect the rights of children. In coordination with United Nations partners and humanitarian agencies, UNICEF makes its unique facilities for rapid response available to its partners to relieve the suffering of children and those who provide their care. UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority. UNICEF aims, through its country programmes, to promote the equal rights of women and girls and to support their full participation in the political, social and economic development of their communities. UNICEF works with all its partners towards the attainment of the sustainable human development goals adopted by the world community and the realization of the vision of peace and social progress enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

Context

UNICEF started work in Timor-Leste in 2001 with the signing of the first Country Programme of Cooperation between the Government of Timor-Leste and UNICEF. UNICEF works in partnership with the Government, other UN agencies, development partners, community-based organizations and civil society partners, to enable children and their families to realize their rights, fulfill their potential. The UNICEF Country Programme is fully aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, which reflects the global, national and United Nations priorities. Under the supervision of Chief Child Protection, the Programme Assistant supports the PMESP and Communication section the programme assistant supports the Child Protection and Health section by carrying out a range of procedural, administrative, and operational tasks, to help develop, implement and monitor their country programme, ensuring timely and effective delivery that is consistent with UNICEF rules and regulations.

Task Description

• Collecting invoices and filing documents for approval and thereafter processing in VISION. • Preparing and maintaining records, documents and control plans for the monitoring of project/programme implementation and financial expenditures. • Supporting the management of administrative supplies and office equipment. • Maintaining office calendar and arranging meetings. Taking minutes of meetings and keeping the correspondence of the team well organized. • Providing travel assistance to staff members in section for travel arrangements and entitlements based on the organization’s rules and policies. Liaising with relevant travel focal points to ensure that the organization obtains the best service and price for all travel. • Maintaining and updating a system which monitors the absence of staff. • Preparing and maintaining records pertaining to programme planning and development for his/her respective section. • Carrying out transactions in VISION ensuring programme results, activities and programme coding are as per annual work plans (AWPs), and makes amendments and alterations as per section revisions when necessary. • Supporting capacity development activities, meetings and conferences by making the logistical arrangements, through engaging with facilitators, caterers and hosts; arranging times through liaising with participants over availability; liaising with budget focal points and section over costs and needs; and preparing background materials for participants.

Competencies and values

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☐ Building Trust ☐ Client Orientation ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☐ Creativity ☒ Empowering Others ☒ Ethics and Values ☐ Integrity ☐ Judgement and Decision-making ☐ Knowledge Sharing ☐ Leadership ☐ Managing Performance ☐ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☐ Technological Awareness ☐ Vision ☒ Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

The UNICEF Office is located on the UN compound, along with most UN agencies. UN House is in the city center, and safe accommodation options are available nearby as well as further away. Dili is a small city, and most expatriates live within a 6km radius / a 10 to 20mn car ride from UN House. As public transport is not recommended for international staff, most expatriates purchase a motorbike (price range: $700 to $2,000) or a car (price range: $4000 to $20,000), which they then resell upon leaving the country. The UNICEF office, and particularly the drivers, can help with purchasing a vehicle. There are a range of housing options in Dili, that range from the very basic to adequate, although many private houses in Dili have been renovated to a reasonable or even considered ‘luxurious’ level of comfort. Many expatriates live in fully serviced compounds, usually in individual houses but sometimes in apartments. Some choose private houses, which tend to be cheaper than compounds. Houses are very often fully furnished in Dili. Housing prices start at about $750 per month for a studio or one-bedroom place. Two-bedroom houses in a compound range from $1,000 to $2,500.