Coordinator (Polio Frontline Worker Payments), P-4, Polio Eradication Programme, Nairobi, Kenya #129731 [temporary appointment: 6 months]

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For every child, Health

Polio eradication campaigns implemented by UNICEF and WHO deliver close to 0.6 billion doses of vaccines to 38 countries on a yearly basis. This vaccination endeavor requires large scale mobilization of frontline workers to perform last mile tasks such as community mobilization and vaccine administration. WHO and UNICEF are responsible for the payment of different individuals involved in such campaigns. 

UNICEF has relied in the past on the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) to delegate to implementing partners the payment of its share of frontline workers. This approach resulted in payment delays to frontline workers that jeopardized UNICEF effectiveness for Polio eradication and outbreak management. For this reason and to strengthen fiduciary risk mitigation measures and segregation of duties, UNICEF wishes to assume direct payment oversight of frontline workers starting with two prominent country offices with active Polio outbreaks immunization campaigns: Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision of the Senior Programme Manager for Polio Outbreak Response, the Coordinator (Polio Frontline Worker Payments), P4 will focus on documenting programmatic requirements and objectives to support Health Sections in country offices with an initial focus on Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to deliver timely payments to frontline workers involved in Polio immunization campaigns. The payment coordinator will lead a coherent design of program interventions considering delivery requirements across programme design, beneficiary data management and financial pillars. The Payment Coordinator will be responsible for the alignment of intervention design with established country office operating procedures and strategic focus on cash transfers, and translation of programmatic technical requirements into operational delivery needs to be coordinated with relevant internal and external stakeholders. To that end the Frontline Workers Payment coordinator P4 will work closely with the HQ PG Humanitarian cash transfer team, in addition of the oversight provided by the PG Polio outbreak team.

Key tasks and responsibilities include the following:

1. Programme Development and Coordination

• Provide oversight for timely payments of health frontline workers payments in Nigeria and DRC and other country offices as required.
• Develop, review and maintain work plans with time frames and deadlines for key activities; based on its changing and emerging needs; ensure standard operating procedures are developed.
• Support relevant colleagues, remotely and in person to manage UNICEF Implementing partners and coordinate with relevant government offices in the field.
• Conduct regular operational analysis of the programme, identify areas of poor performance, bottlenecks, and identify solutions such as design improvements, additional trainings and technical support.
• Ensure relevant analysis of complaints and feedback received through different sources and ensure implementing partners relevant follow up.
• Prepares relevant programme reports required for management, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, etc.
• Establish and supervise programme work plans and monitor progress and compliance. 

2. Monitoring

• Works closely with the relevant colleagues to implement a sound monitoring and evaluation system for the Frontline workers payment; undertakes field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decides on required corrective action.
• Provide guidance to the relevant colleagues on the integrated use of a diversified set of data collection tools and methodologies including leveraging existing government and implementing partner systems,
• Produce relevant knowledge management products on the cash transfer programme through data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting as well generating and documenting lessons learned.
• Ensure the timely preparation of annual program status reports.

 3. Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration

• Develop partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development data and information, exchange information on programme/project status.
• Collaborate with the Operations Section to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of programming endeavors and to coordinate financial and supply management requirements and accountability.
• Maintain close collaboration with Regional Advisers and HQ Officers (Polio and Humanitarian Cash Transfers HQ team) for effective overall coordination on programmes.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced university degree in international development, social sciences, public policy, public health, or relevant field
• Work Experience / Skills: 
  • Eight years of relevant professional work experience.
  • Developing country work experience is required.
  • Background/familiarity with Emergency and Humanitarian Cash Transfers.
  • Experience in coordinating grievances redressal mechanisms in cash transfers / large scale individual payments programme
  • Ability to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner.
  • Experience in polio immunization frontline workers payments programmes is an asset.
  • Experience in emergency programme implementation.
  • Demonstrated knowledge in use of cash in emergencies.
  • Familiarity with UNICEF’s programmes in emergency contexts preferred.
  • Experience in multi-stakeholder co-ordination and facilitation.
  • Excellent communication & presentation skills (written & verbal) across multiple audiences with the ability to influence others while working in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
  • High motivation, and dedication to deliver results within strict timeframes.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English as a working language. Knowledge of French is highly recommended.

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. 

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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

The UNICEF Executive Director has reconfirmed polio eradication as a top corporate priority and declared the application of UNICEF Polio Emergency Procedures (PEPs) for all polio related activities at UNICEF Headquarters (HQs), Regional Offices (ROs), and in Endemic and Outbreak countries. Eligible UNICEF Staff Members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to this TA may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.