Budget Specialist, P3, TA, 364 days, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, hope

DRC ranks third among countries with the highest number of children who have not received any vaccine doses in the WHO African region and sixth globally, highlighting coverage gaps vaccination. In 2021, one in five children (i.e. 734,000 children) had not received the DTP1 vaccine, and almost one in two children (i.e. 1.7 million) had not received all the vaccines required in the vaccination schedule (WUENIC and ECV 2021). Thus, the country regularly records vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles and poliomyelitis. To this, it must be added that cholera is endemic epidemic in the provinces of the two Kivus and Tanganyika, increasingly significant cases of Mpox are recorded in several other provinces of the country and finally resurgences of cases of virus disease. Ebola in the provinces of Equateur and North Kivu.

These conflicts have caused unprecedented humanitarian needs, with more than 6.3 million internally displaced people (IDPs) living in the DRC, including 6.1 million (97%) in the region alone from the east. These factors, in addition to the half a million refugees in the country, have further aggravated protection needs and increased the risks of gender-based violence (GBV), as well as the risks of abuse and exploitation for women and children, while limiting humanitarian access to the most vulnerable populations. 

Furthermore, health emergencies, conflicts and resulting population displacements have strained the health system, while weaknesses in health governance, financing and delivery, compounded by socio-cultural barriers, hinder access to quality health care. To that ; he adds, the shortage of human resources and its unequal distribution, the insufficiency of medical supplies, the low performance of health information systems and the existence of a weak health system at the community level (including the non- operationalization of the community health strategy) constitute other key gaps in the health system that urgently need to be addressed to ensure the health and well-being of the most vulnerable children in the DRC. One opportunity is to work on an HDP (Humanitarian-Development-Peace) approach; Nexus approach to strengthen links between different interventions and help build more resilient health systems and communities while contributing to risk reduction. 

How can you make a difference? 

Under the direct supervision of the Polio Coordinator, you will:

• Support on planning and coordination of financial mapping for planned and outbreak response polio activities.
• Work with field offices and health/Immunization section at national level to develop biannual polio workplans and associated budgets.
• Be responsible for polio grants management, includes contributions review, timely allocations of funds to right outputs and field offices, monitor and complies DRC country office planned and outbreak grants expenditures report and conduct variance financial analysis of grants utilization at national and field office level for senior management review and timely submission to Polio finance team in HQ.
• Monitor field offices’ budgets and workplans based on donor approval and approved allocation, assess implementation using data reflected in VISION and other sources for increased financial transparency.
• Prepare detail budget in coordination with country office technical team for donor proposals and finalization, incorporating financial gaps and cash flow analyses {if required}, to prioritize funding approval.
• Support field offices to improve grants management and efficient administrative system.
• Initiate tailored donor reports, liaising with technical team at national and field offices, and provide quality assurance of all financial and programmatic inputs given in the report (including reconciliations) before final submission to the donor.
• Ensure compliance of project financial arrangements and reporting in line with UNICEF’s and relevant donor regulations
• Ensure compliance with closure of Projects (including Grants conditionalities and closure).
• Provide technical assistance to field offices to increase capacity and understanding of UNICEF financial system and reporting requirements.
• Provide periodic operational support to national and field offices polio teams, specifically for year-end closure and if any, internal audit preparation activities.
• Responsible to keep track of polio approved budget/ceiling of each year and ensure funds request should be within the approved ceiling of the year for each GPEI approved budget category for DRC country office and utilization will be plan accordingly.
• Provide technical support in the management of all other grants in the health section.
• Assist on regular donor coordination related finance matters. Proactively identify and investigate issues that may arise and take corrective actions required to ensure timely disbursement of funds, smooth implementation, and accurate reporting.
• Liaise with counterparts internally and externally to collaborate, support analyses and reporting on GPEI funding disbursed for planned and outbreak response activities.
• Ensure that all frontline actors involved in POLIO campaigns are paid and all grievances are well managed, and solutions found.
• Be able to use HOPE for the payment of the frontline actors.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

Have a master’s University degree in Accounting, Business Administration and/or Economics is required [Or have a university degree (bachelor’s or Bac+4) with a minimum of 2 additional years in relevant experience in Budget and Finance Management may be considered for the position].

Work Experience:

• A minimum of Five (5) years of relevant professional experience in managing donor funded projects and financial management or related field.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Experience in Polio Budget and Knowledge of polio donors’ procedures (Rotary, CDC, BMGF, …) would be an asset
• Demonstrable problem solving, quantitative and analytical skills; strategic and creative thinking.
• Strong organizational, planning and coordination skills. Exceptional project management skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to articulate and present ideas both in written presentation and orally to senior management as well as external audience.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and in a rapidly changing environment to meet deadlines.
• Professional, positive demeanor with collaborative, team, and service-oriented attitude.

• Language Requirements:

  Fluency in French and good Knowledge in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The 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 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.