Programme Planning and Monitoring Officer

Mission and objectives

UNICEF is committed to realising the rights of all children to help them build a strong foundation and have the best chance of fulfilling their potential. We believe that ensuring a child is happy and healthy begins before birth: from ensuring their mother has access to good health care to reaching adulthood as a healthy, empowered and informed young person of the next generation. This journey relies on every child having access to quality health care, good nutrition, education, and growing up in a safe environment free from violence.

Context

UNICEF was established in 1946 and is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to protect children’s rights, help meet their basic needs and expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. The UNICEF South Africa Country Programme for 2026 –2030 supports national priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework through four programme outcomes: investing in children; child survival and adolescent well-being; education; and child protection, enabled by effective programme coordination, planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation. The country programme emphasizes stronger government accountability, strategic use of evidence, interdepartmental coordination, effective public finance management, robust data systems and meaningful participation of children and young people. This National UN Volunteer assignment will strengthen the Planning, Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation function within the Programme and Programme Effectiveness. Working under the guidance of the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and in close collaboration with the Deputy Representative, programme sections, management, government counterparts, United Nations entities and implementing partners, the UN Volunteer will help address capacity needs in programme planning, results-based monitoring, corporate and donor reporting, knowledge management, evidence use and programme review processes. The assignment will directly support the UNICEF South Africa Office’s 2026–2027 workplan priorities, including quality assurance of workplans and programme documents, mid-year and end-year reviews, corporate reporting, results-based management, donor and corporate reporting, programme monitoring systems, the Data for Children Dashboard, evidence for planning and reporting results.

Task Description

Working under the guidance of the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and in close collaboration with the Deputy Representative, programme sections, management, government counterparts, United Nations entities and implementing partners, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Programme planning: Provide technical and administrative support for the development, revision and monitoring of annual and rolling workplans, ensuring alignment with the Country Programme Document, UNSDCF and results-based management principles.
• Programme reviews: Support the planning, organization, documentation and follow-up of annual, mid-year, mid-term and end-year programme reviews, including consolidation of inputs and tracking of agreed actions.
• Corporate reporting: Support preparation and quality assurance of mandatory corporate reports, including results reporting, the Country Office Annual Report narrative, Situation Reports and relevant corporate indicators.
• Results-based monitoring: Support implementation of monitoring frameworks aligned with the Country Programme results framework, workplans and the UNICEF Strategic Plan; track output and outcome indicators; and help maintain indicator reference information, targets, data sources and means of verification.
• Data quality and analysis: Facilitate systematic collection, validation, analysis and presentation of programme performance information, including disaggregation where relevant, to support timely management decision-making.
• Programme monitoring and verification: Contribute to standardized programme monitoring tools, programme visits, partner reviews and follow-up processes to assess implementation progress, verify reported results, identify bottlenecks and track corrective actions.
• Data systems and dashboards: Assist in maintaining monitoring databases, trackers, dashboards and information management systems, including support to the institutionalization and use of the Data for Children Dashboard for sub national planning.
• Donor reporting and proposals: Maintain the donor reporting schedule; communicate deadlines and requirements; support drafting, review and quality assurance of donor reports and proposals; track submissions; and maintain complete records in accordance with established procedures.
• Knowledge management: Support day-to-day management of Enterprise Content Management repositories, including document organization, tagging, user guidance, troubleshooting and staff capacity-building; organize learning events and promote exchange of good practices.
• Partnerships and capacity strengthening: Participate in relevant inter-agency monitoring and evaluation processes; support joint UNSDCF planning and reporting; and maintain effective working relationships with government, civil society, academia and other partners.
• Other support: Undertake related planning, monitoring, reporting, evaluation and knowledge-management tasks as assigned by the supervisor, consistent with the assignment’s scope.

Competencies and values

Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability; builds and maintains partnerships; demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness; drive to achieve results for impact; innovates and embraces change; manages ambiguity and complexity; thinks and acts strategically; and works collaboratively with others.

Living conditions and remarks

Bigger cities in South Africa can be highly cosmopolitan. In Johannesburg and Pretoria, you will find an abundance of world class gyms, restaurants, bars, recreational classes, galleries, parks etc. The bigger shopping malls host a large selection of international brands. There is a plethora of international cuisine to be sampled, and quirky independent cinemas to be discovered. OR Tambo International Airport is a world class airport, offering highly sophisticated facilities. It is located just outside of Johannesburg, in Kempton Park. It has many international airlines that fly into this airport. Crime rates in South Africa are ranked on the high end, petty theft and opportunistic crimes are common, and armed robberies, smash & grabs and hijackings are also fairly frequent in certain areas. One needs to remain vigilant especially at night and at road intersections. There are usually sign posts that indicate such hot spots. Periodic security information updates are sent via email providing information at national level, with regards to circumstances such as incidents of civil unrest, transport security, computer and networking safety and trends in criminality. UNDSS sends weekly security updates via email. Updates from wardens are on an ad hoc basis, following security related events in your residential area. Updates from UNDSS are provided weekly. UN Volunteers receives the below entitlements:

• A Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): R23 820.16 per month,
• A once off entry lumpsum at the start of the assignment,
• Medical insurance; Life cover, and annual leave,
• Access to all learning platforms,
• A once off exit lumpsum at the end of the assignment. For more information on UN Volunteer benefits, entitlements and support, please visit: https://www.unv.org