UNICEF Mauritania Stretch Assignment: HACT Officer, NO2/P2 -NO3/P3, Nouakchott, Mauritania (4 months).

UNICEF Mauritania country office is offering a stretch assignment opportunity for the HACT Officer during the paternity leave of the incumbent.
Under the general supervision of Chief PME, contributes to monitor HACT activities and manage the portfolio of Micro-Assessment, Spot-checks, Audits and support management of implementing partnerships. The HACT officer will also contribute and support in the ongoing
internal audit.

Stretch Assignment: 

Title: HACT Officer
Level: NO2/P2 -NO3/P3
Reports to: Chief PM&E 
Duration: 4 months
Section: PM&E
Location: Nouakchott, Mauritania  
Dates/Duration: End of July / beginning of August 2024 to 19 October 2024/31 November 2024. 
Eligibility: All Fixed-Term, Permanent or continuing appointment UNICEF staff members currently working in UNICEF worldwide.

Background

This UNICEF Mauritania stretch assignment is based in Nouakchott. UNICEF team here is committed to realizing the rights of all children to help them build a strong foundation and have the best chance of fulfilling their potential. UNICEF Mauritania has just started a new Country Program 2024-2027 and its goal is to improve the health, nutritional status, protection, education and wellbeing of children, focusing on those who are poor, vulnerable or at risk. In 2023, the Mauritania UNICEF office signed around 30 partnership agreements for an annual total budget of USD 6 million with national and international NGO partners. The total number of partners, including Governments partners fluctuates around 50-70 every year. In 2023, UNICEF completed 99 program visits and 33 spot checks (119 and 97 percent of minimum requirements, respectively). In 2023, all active CSO partners have been familiarized with ePD and underwent PSEA (re)assessments.  

Purpose of the Position

Under the general supervision of Chief PME, contributes to monitor HACT activities and manage the portfolio of Micro-Assessment, Spotchecks, Audits and support management of implementing partnerships. The HACT officer will also contribute and support in the ongoing internal audit.

Duration

This stretch assignment will be for a period of six (4) months.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties or tasks: 

Under supervision of Chief PME and general guidance from the Deputy Representative, the HACT officer will:  

1. Support to the HACT planning during the programming process:

•  Participate in HACT planning and discussions and support the development and completion of HACT plans through research, collection, analysis and reporting of related information/data to facilitate planning and priority setting for HACT activities.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout the process by executing/administering technical, operational and administrative transactions and preparing related materials/documentations to ensure the incorporation of HACT into the country program
• Prepare CO-wide micro assessment and assurance plans in collaboration with other program staff and relevant operations colleagues.
• Prepare information on shared implementing partners to facilitate joint planning and execution of micro assessments and audits in line with the UNICEF HACT procedure
• Prepare information on a monthly basis for CMT presentation on the status of HACT activities (progress of Spot-checks, PVs, Audits, MAs, Actions points pending following assurance activities, etc)

2. Support to implementation of HACT and Implementing Partnership Management

•  Serve as the reference person on HACT implementation.
•  Facilitate the execution of HACT activities undertaken by external service providers through scheduling, arranging briefings and related administrative needs to ensure service providers have appropriate and comprehensive information for effective and efficient completion of assignments.
•  Ensure oversight of spot-checks’ execution in collaboration with other CO staff members.
•  Review Audit findings and communicate with Deputy Representative Operations in case of high risk finding or ineligible expenses.
• Support partners in the registration via UNPP and through the due diligence/verification process to ensure a wide array of partners (national and international partners) and maximize competitive selection of partners.
•  Support, Implementing partners, Staff and PRC members and staff with the online review of PD through and utilization eTools platform, in general.
•  Contribute to the development and monitoring of implementation of CO HACT related SOPs and internal procedures, including for escalation of issues identified through assurance activities.
•  Support to close recommendations/findings related to HACT management.
• Support MDM for IPs

3. Review and use of HACT reports

• Support the recording and updating of risk ratings of implementing partners in VISION through review of the Vendor Master and provision of relevant information to appropriate colleagues in the CO.
• Liaise with Audit and micro-assessments service providers and internal spot checkers to ensure all final reports are uploaded in eTools financial module in a timely fashion.
• Establish a central repository for HACT decisions, documentation and reports to provide timely and current information to facilitate implementation of HACT in the CO
•  Review assessments and assurance reports, to identify areas of weaknesses related to the implementation of HACT and keep supervisor/partners informed of findings for timely action and/or intervention.

4. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Identify, synthesize and share lessons learned from HACT and its implementation for integration into broader knowledge development planning and management efforts.
• Provide guidance and support to the implementation of any new tools/guidance pertaining to the HACT, PRC/PD development.
• Contribute to design and implementation of capacity development strategy/initiatives for implementing partners which can be supported by UNICEF through identification of common weaknesses in financial and procurement management from review of micro assessment and assurance activity reports of high and significant risk partners.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of capacity development strategy/initiatives for CO staff to ensure that staff has the knowledge and skills to fulfill their responsibilities under HACT. 

Minimum Qualifications and Competencies

Qualifications:

Education: University degree in finance, accounting, audit procedures or other related field.

Experience: At least Two years of professional work experience in a UNICEF office, and familiarity with the HACT framework, E-tools and training of implementing partners.

Language Requirements: Fluency in French is required. Knowledge of English and/or Arabic is an asset. 

UNICEF required competencies.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1) 
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)  

Funding arrangement: 

This is a temporary development opportunity and there will be no changes to the staff member’s status (position number, level, etc.).The staff member’s salary will continue to be paid by the releasing office during this assignment. Mauritania Country Office will cover the ticket for economy class travel and 100% of Nouakchott DSA rate for the first 4 weeks and 50% for the remain of the period. 

Interested UNICEF staff should discuss this opportunity with their supervisor and seek the approval of their management before applying.