Implementing Partnership Management Specialist – P4

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

 

For every child, results. 

As an Implementing Partnership Management Specialist, you will report to the Regional Chief of Operations, and in coordination with the Regional Chief Programme Planning and its Monitoring Specialist. The Implementing Partnership Management Specialist is responsible for providing technical and administrative support to ensure quality, effective and efficient management of implementing partnerships in the country office in line with respective operational policies, procedures and mainstreaming of risk-based implementing partnership management at the regional level. 

 

How can you make a difference?

• Support to implementing partnership management.
  • Provide technical assistance to country offices in the formalization of partnerships with government, civil society organizations and other implementing partners in line with relevant policies, procedures and guidelines including the CSO procedure and guidance on work plans.
  • Provide technical assistance to country offices in the. implementation of HACT in line with the Programme Implementation Policy and Procedure and other relevant organizational policies, procedures and guidelines, including the Finance and Administrative Policy 5: Cash Disbursements Supplement 3- Cash Transfers (HACT).
  • Guide, advise and support country offices in Implementing Partnership Management processes and the development of country level assessment and assurance plans.
  • Guide, advise and support country offices in the use of UNICEF tools and systems (i.e. eTools, InSight, VISION) as it relates to implementing partnership management.
  • Support COs in strengthening risk management related to Implementing Partnerships and assurance activities, making sure that (i) systemic issues are identified, analyzed and addressed holistically across the region, (ii) linkages with other work streams (partnerships/Donor relations, supply/procurement, finance and administration, human resources, planning and monitoring, emergency, etc.) are systematically pursued and strengthened for coherent and synergized risks management efforts.
• Oversight and quality assurance.
  • Provide oversight and ensure quality assurance process are in place on the implementation of HACT assurance activities and the use of the FACE form at the country level. This includes the quality of assurance reports and follow-up and escalation of findings of assurance activities consistent with the HACT Procedure.
  • Provide oversight and ensure quality assurance processes are in place on the implementation of the Programme Implementation Procedure. This includes ensuring that partners are selected in accordance with the Programme Implementation Procedure, time limits for operationalizing partnerships are met, especially in humanitarian responses, results are clearly articulated and SMART and budgets reflect actual requirements for achieving results.
  • Contribute to or lead joint Operations and Programmes peer reviews to assess gaps in risks management and address them, as well as good practices that can be expanded across the region.
• Analysis, monitoring and reporting.
  • From a regional perspective, monitor and report on the status of HACT implementation at the country level using corporate tools and systems such as eTools and InSight and identify high risk areas requiring special support.
  • Prepare regional reports for Regional Office and Headquarters as may be required.
  • Analyse and monitor cash transfers at regional and country level.
• Risk management support.
  • Provide guidance and support the regional office and Country Office in the region in the annual risk assessment process and monitor reliability of reports and their compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
  • Ensure the monitoring of risk mitigation action plans including a mid-term review.
  • Lead the office peer reviews process, undertake visits to project sites and field offices to verify the quality of performance.
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.
  • Support and facilitate country office capacity and knowledge exchange on in-country implementing partnerships management intra-office processes.
  • Support and facilitate country office capacity development activities of staff and implementing partners on implementing partnership management with a special focus on implementation of HACT and CSO Procedures.
  • Identify and share good practices on implementing partnership management in general and HACT and CSO partnerships in particular; and interact with NYHQ and other agencies at global, regional, and country level on matters concerning implementing partnership management.
  • Promote HACT in regional senior management and other forums, building awareness, promoting good practice and highlighting areas of risk.
  • Support ERM exercises with a particular emphasis on ensuring that risks for implementing partnership management are appropriately identified and relevant mitigating measures put in place and considering the larger risk picture in the region and countries.
  • Support country offices in the roll-out and implementation of eTools for implementing partnership management, in coordination with relevant staff.

 

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

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: accounting, business administration, economics, developmental studies, or another relevant field.
• A minimum of eight years of professional experience at the national and international level in Operations/Finance Management, Risk Management, Audit and/or programme management.
• Proven successful experience in training professionals in different contexts (technical/cultural).
• Practical experience in planning, undertaking, and reporting on financial management assurance activities related to HACT and/or similar grant management oversight systems used by donor and funding agencies.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or 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

 

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 (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

 

Remarks:

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

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also 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 cancelled.

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.

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

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

 

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