Programme Associate

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Description

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Job organizational context:

• The Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) supports Country Offices and Governments to advance towards the full realization of all child rights across the region, with country offices in 22 countries and territories to ensure that no child is left behind. The Regional Office plays both a technical advisory and oversight role, guiding country offices in designing, implementing and documenting results for children.
• The ECARO Emergency section focuses on ensuring and strengthening capacities for humanitarian action in the region, in line with UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children in Emergencies (CCCs). The Emergency section encompasses the emergency preparedness and response, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme for the region.

Purpose for the job:

• Under the supervision and guidance of the Regional Adviser Emergency (P5), the Programme Associate supports the respective section by carrying out a range of programme support functions to help develop, implement, and monitor the annual work plan and programme, ensuring effective and timely delivery that is consistent with UNICEF rules and regulations. The Programme Associate works in close collaboration with a range of staff in the RO, and very closely with colleagues in the Emergency section (Emergency, DRR and WASH), external partners, and agency counterparts in support of programme design and delivery. S/He provides regular feedback on the status of the workplan, projects and programmes through monitoring milestones, and advises on improvements to keep activities on track.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Participation in effective knowledge management of regional office support / information to strengthen the emergency programme management and activities, including important information sharing/exchanges of best practice.
• Support to regional and subregional online and in-person events and meetings organized by the Emergency section.
• Effective support to implementing changes in regional programme work plans, balancing programming and partnership priorities.
• Effective monitoring of programme funds for optimum use, including funds related to specific grants and projects.
• Supporting drafting of annual and grant reports and narratives based on program inputs.
• Conducting Programme monitoring across the Emergency Section to improve programme performance, synergies, partnerships and effective use of resources (both human and financial).
• Support as required programme implementation and oversight to multi-country and country specific regional office engagement.
• Support the development of TORs and recruitment and onboarding of consultants and contractors.
• Facilitating the development of programme cooperation agreements (PCAs) and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) by providing information and drafting selected sections. 
• Ensuring the timely and accurate recording and administrative processing of proposals and requests for direct cash transfers (DCTs).
• Helping conduct regular spot checks of partner’s projects to assess their financial record-keeping, expenditure controls and reporting systems.
• Supporting the programme section in researching, compiling and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data and information from a variety of sources on subject matters relevant to the work of the section to facilitate programme delivery as well as preparation of reports, working papers and presentations.  
• Carrying out transactions in VISION ensuring programme results, activities and programme coding are as per annual work plans (AWPs),and making amendments and alterations as per section revisions when necessary.
• Carrying out transactions in VISION pertaining to grants and programme-related items for his/her section including but not limited to registering grant allotments and tracking expiring programme grants.
• Preparing monitoring and reporting information for the supervisor and team on agreed performance indicators to drive more efficient management and accountability for results.
• Regularly monitoring budgets and financial expenditures of section by employing applicable tools, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations, keeping supervisor informed and advised on actions for decision and/or follow up.
• Helping prepare periodic or ad-hoc financial reports relating to country office and donors to support the office in optimizing use of programme funds.
• Supports capacity development activities related to programme development by preparing training materials and participating in exercises.
• Support ongoing section management and coordination through weekly meetings, note taking and follow up actions needed.

Impact of Results

• S/He is accountable for the full spectrum of administrative and project/programme support activities. The key results have an impact on the overall performance of the country office and success in the implementation of project/programme activities. Accurate programme monitoring and recommendations, data entry and presentation of information ensure proper programme decision-making.

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

• Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization.
• A minimum of six years of administrative or clerical work experience is required.
• Prior experience in programme support functions is an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, or Spanish), working proficiency in Russian language is an asset.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/575093

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