Monitoring and Data Specialist (Humanitarian Performance Monitoring), (P4), TA, Port Sudan, Sudan (initially until 30 June 2024- Open for non-Sudanese national)

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, support.

UNICEF is dedicated to providing humanitarian, peace and development assistance to children, families and communities in Sudan, with with a focus on health, nutrition, WASH, child protection, social protection, learning and skills. 

The needs of children and young people at-risk of and affected by the conflict, epidemics and climate change, are at the heart of UNICEF’s work in Sudan. This includes large scale response to emergencies and lifesaving needs; investment in preparedness and resilience; seeking durable solutions for displaced people; supporting conflict prevention, social cohesion and peace; building and strengthening support to and partnerships with civil society, local and international NGOs, private sector, frontline workers and local institutions; and preserving and strengthening systems that deliver basic services.

UNICEF Sudan is committed to integrating and scaling up Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) in all of its programmes, especially in the context of the current Level 3 emergency. The AAP Programme Manager will lead the integration, building and mainstreaming of AAP components within UNICEF’s operations, porgrammes and partnerships.

The strategic and effective design and implementation of AAP interventions that put affected people firmly at the center of UNICEF’s work, directly impacts the ability of UNICEF and partners to reduce vulnerabilities, improve resilience and strengthen social cohesion in a manner that upholds the rights, dignity and well-being of children and their communities and ensures programmes not only meet quality standards but are designed in the best interest of the  communities we serve. This in turn contributes to enhancing the ability of UNICEF to fulfil its mission to achieve sustainable, locally owned and concrete results in improving the survival, development and wellbeing of children in Sudan.

UNICEF puts affected children, adolescents and their families at the centre of our work, as reflected in the Core Commitments for Children and a number of global commitments. This requires all UNICEF programmes, systems and procedures to systematically include participation of and accountability to affected populations (AAP) across all elements of the response, including through feedback mechanisms that ensure that the views and preferences from affected girls, boys, women and men inform decision making, and that UNICEF staff and partners understand, respect and systematically take their views into account

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, the role of the Monitoring and Data Specialist is to assist Programme Sections, Operations and Field Offices and in close collaboration and coordination with UNICEF-lead Clusters, in adapting and strengthening human rights and results-based management, with a focus on the humanitarian performance monitoring (HPM) systems and management of monitoring and information management function in Sudan Country Office overall.

The Monitoring and Data Specialist will be responsible for coordination and functioning of the office wide Information Management Hub, facilitate strengthening quality and reach of UNICEF Sudan HPM system, lead cross-sectoral data collection and analysis across the office by working closely with monitoring and IM specialists in the PME section, sections’ monitoring/data focal points and Cluster Information Management officers and ensure technical coordination of field monitoring, including the management of third-party monitoring institutions. S/He will ensure strong linkage and coherence with Clusters/Sectors and interagency monitoring frameworks, promoting harmonization of systems and solutions and support efficiency.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks  ToR – Monitoring and Data Specialist P4 PortSudan Sudan .doc

The position is based in Port Sudan with a national focus covering:

• Lead and coordinate the Sudan CO Information Management Hub covering programme sections, operations and UNICEF-lead Cluster IM functions.
• Develop and roll out of UNICEF Sudan Data for Children Strategy
• Ensure the alignment and consistency of key performance indicators across all planning and programme documents, including Interagency plans and donor proposals.
• Strengthen, adapt, and maintain monitoring systems for high-frequency partner reporting against a prioritized set of key performance indicators, in accordance with the Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal and the Interagency Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). The system should meet the needs of both the Country Office and Field Offices.
• Lead harmonization of HFPP system for UNICEF and UNICEF-lead Clusters in close coordination with Cluster Leads and Cluster IMs, ensuring coherence and coordination and duplication of efforts.
• Establish and maintain a systematic approach to field monitoring across UNICEF-supported programming to ensure adequate data on the quality of programmes (use of supplies, implementation bottlenecks, equity of access, do no harm, engagement with local capacities).
• Review and maintain the program monitoring strategy and plan to ensure consistent relevance to the evolving context, in close cooperation with Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist.
• Support the Programmes to ensure the prompt use of digital monitoring systems, including eTools Field Monitoring Module (FMM), and other mobile data collection tools such as Inform/Kobo, etc.
• Conduct monitoring training and relevant capacity-building activities for UNICEF staff and implementing partners.
• Support the development of periodic reports and information products, including situation reports (SitRep), and CO annual reports.
• Support and participate in need assessments and other data collection initiatives as required.
• Ensure collaboration with other agencies, organizations, and clusters to advocate for relevant disaggregated data collection and analysis plans at the interagency level.

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

Candidate Profile and Qualifications

Education:

• An advanced university degree in international development, information technology, geographic information system or another relevant technical field. (A first level university degree in combination with two years of additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.)

Language Requirement:

• Fluency in English is required. Good working knowledge of Arabic is a strong asset.

Experience:

• A minimum of eight years of experience in data, research, field monitoring and evaluation, statistics or related fields is required.
• Excellent writing and analytical skills.
• Knowledge of digital data management tools (Kobo, ONA or ODK), and statistical and analytical.
• Knowledge data visualization technics with PowerBI is highly desirable.
• Experience working in the context of armed conflict or complex emergency is highly desirable.

• Demonstrable understanding of international humanitarian response architecture and coordination mechanisms.
• Experience in leadership and coordination of diverse teams.
• Solid communications skills.

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 values and competency Required for this post are…

 i) Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

 ii) Core Competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

CRITICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge of the principle of gender parity and equality.
• Communicates effectively to varied audiences.
• Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.
• Analyzes and integrates potentially conflicting numerical, verbal and other data from a number of sources.
• Adjusts team or department’s approach to embrace changing circumstances.

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:

Eligible UNICEF Staff Members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to this TA may be able to retain a lien on their existing post for the duration of this TA.

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

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.