Programme Manager (Migration and Displacement Data), (P-4), Fixed Term, Data & Analytics, DAPM, #99843

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, a chance

Children are at the heart of one of the biggest movements of people in history. Aligning with the global initiatives in protecting migrant and displaced children, UNICEF is responding to the rapidly increasing risks for children on the move and promoting priorities for these children through integrating UNICEF’s advocacy, communication, campaigns, policies, programmes and fundraising efforts. UNICEF has been working to address data gaps and strengthen data capacity to protect children on the move. With partners, it formed the International Data Alliance for Children on the Move (IDAC) which has been addressing and overcoming the challenges in data on migrant and displaced children. The IDAC is composed of a group of experts mostly from national statistical offices, migration-relevant line ministries, international and regional organizations, NGOs, academics, and civil societies.

With the emphasis on equality, orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration in the Sustainable Development Goals and the fundamental mission of UNICEF to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, UNICEF aims to enhance its specific emphasis on migration and displacement  by leveraging partners, a contribution that will be crucial in advancing results for migrant and displaced children.

Strategic office context:

The Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM) was established in 2019 to drive decision making and organizational learning, improve effectiveness and achievement of results of UNICEF and its partners to realize the rights and improve the life of every child. DAPM promotes the use of data and monitoring to achieve transformative impact on lives of children.

The Division is responsible for driving, shaping and guiding UNICEF’s evidence-informed analysis, strategic planning, programme monitoring and organizational performance management. As such, DAPM enables the organization to deliver on results in a more coherent manner, based on agile and contextualized programming process, and on data, evidence, and analysis, as well as the application of human-rights based and results-based management approaches.

Within DAPM, the Data & Analytics Team (DAT) is the global go-to for data on children. It leads the collection, validation, analysis, use and communication of the most statistically sound, internationally comparable data on the situation of children and women around the world. For this purpose, both traditional and innovative data and analysis – including administrative and household survey data as well as geospatial analysis, big data and machine learning – are used. DAT upholds the quality, integrity and organization of these data and makes them accessible as a global public good on the data.unicef.org website.

DAT provides leadership, strategic and normative guidance and technical support to generate data and evidence on children. The team works together with other teams within UNICEF as well as partner organizations, to support statistical systems strengthening at the country level. DAT is also fostering a data-driven transformation in how UNICEF works internally and together with partners that includes positioning UNICEF as a leader on data for children, protecting children through governance of data and building an organization-wide culture of data.

How can you make a difference?

The work of this post focuses on the areas with regard to migration and displacement highlighted by the Sustainable Development Goals, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, the Global Compact on Refugees and UNICEF’s Strategic Plan.

Under the supervision of the Senior Adviser Statistics and Monitoring (Demographics) in DAT, the Programme Manager (Migration and Displacement) leads the coordination, organization and operational work of the IDAC which is an important initiative led by UNICEF, including developing strategic plans, managing programmes, organizing IDAC activities and implementing IDAC projects, building strong partnerships and mobilizing resources. The post also leverages countries and partners to fill data gaps on children on the move and advocates for data availability, quality, visibility and accessibility. The function is carried out in collaboration with other divisions in UNICEF, national governments, UN agencies and other organizations with expertise in this area.

1. Strategic planning, organization, coordination, operation, and programme management of the IDAC and relevant migration and displacement data work

1. Develop strategic plans for IDAC and map out detailed activities and timelines
2. Support the work of Secretariat Chair of IDAC in day-to-day operations
3. Organize IDAC Secretariat, Advisory Board, and Regular Members’ meetings including preparing presentations for meetings, minutes, and other relevant documents, organize interpretation where needed
4. Advance work of the IDAC working groups and ensure working groups being on track for deliverables
5. Manage and IDAC programmes and projects by preparing and organizing meetings, leading and supporting relevant activities, coordinating with countries and partners
6. Organize high level-panel events, IDAC annual conferences and other meetings including identifying co-hosting partners, venues/format, agenda, invite external speakers and secure buy-in from senior management at UNICEF

2. Country support and capacity strengthening

1. Contribute to data system and capacity development of countries to monitor migration and displacement indicators. The incumbent will support learning agenda, facilitate/coordinate workshops or country missions, giving presentations and providing technical support as applicable. The post will also support the implementation of Integrated Data Ecosystem Assessment and Strengthening (IDEAS) project with IDAC participation in countries, including liaison with UNICEF regional and country offices and partner
2. Contribute to developing capacity within the organization for evidence-based policy, planning, programming and advocacy

3. Strategic partnerships and representation

1. Build, establish and strengthen partnerships with government agencies, UN agencies, EU and organizations/institutions/NGOs working in relevant areas
2. Leverage countries and partners to implement relevant projects related to migration and displacement
3. Lead or participate in interagency groups and partnerships related to migration and displacement
4. Represent UNICEF at international meetings and other areas of work as relevant.
5. Contribute to regular information sharing with partners at the global, regional, and country levels

4. Advocacy and communication

1. Amplify the voices to protect children on the move through social media, engaging with relevant partners and stakeholders, or other channels
2. Advocate the data work on migration and displacement, particularly the IDAC work by organizing events, meetings, workshops, webinars and engaging with relevant partners and stakeholders
3. Support dissemination of data, publications and other products to maximize the use for advocacy, programming and planning purpose.

5. Fundraising

1. Conduct fundraising activities for IDAC and related work on migration and displacement, create and update donor repository, pro-actively contact and set up and prepare materials for donor meetings; promote fundraising with PPD, PFP, and PD as well as ROs and COs
2. Coordinate and prepare grant reports to donors for the IDAC work and activities

6. Analysis, research and reporting on issues related to migrant and displaced children. The incumbent will ensure a particular focus in the following:

1. Organize preparation and production of reports, brochures or issue briefs, including collecting information and feedback from members, synthesizing input, coordinating production process of research, data analysis, writing, design and input from UNICEF and other partners
2. Support production where needed of guidance materials, e-course, tools, advocacy documents, newsletters and other documents related to IDAC and general data work
3. Support other analysis, research and reporting work as needed

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Demography, Sociology, Economics or in one of the social sciences with statistical and quantitative training and experience being considered an asset.
  *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in the area of migration or displacement
• Extensive experience in analysing, and writing technical and advocacy reports in migration and displacement
• Extensive experience in planning, coordinating and implementing projects
• Excellent partnership building skills and extensive experiences working with states, government agencies, civil society, private sector and international organizations
• Advanced communication skills both orally and in writing and high level diplomatic and policy engagement skills
• Experience in fundraising
• Experience in data or statistical work
• 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:

The Division is currently undergoing organizational changes, therefore the location of the post is subject to change. As such, the selected candidate has the option of starting the assignment remotely or should the candidate already be in New York, s/he would be expected to relocate to another location as the case may be, during the contractual period. Please note that the new location for DAPM is set to be Florence, Italy.

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.