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, future

The position is based in Dhangadhi field Office of UNICEF Nepal Country Office for Sudur Paschim Province and Surkhet field office for Karnali province. The office provides financial and technical support to the provincial and local governments and coordinates with key government authorities as well as other development partners to synergize programme objectives to improve children’s wellbeing and bring sustained results. The Programme Officer reports to the Chief of Field Office at NOC level as the direct supervisor and Chief Climate Resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Environment Sustainability section and Chief of Planning & Monitoring Section as the technical supervisor who are at Level 4. The position will support the decentralized planning, field monitoring and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Emergency Response in Sudur Pashchim and Surkhet Province and will receive technical support and guidance from the Planning & Monitoring and DRR/Emergency Sections.

How can you make a difference?

The Programme Officer (Planning & Disaster Risk Reduction) will support strengthening the integrated planning, monitoring and evidence based reporting system that keep track of programme results, annual work plan implementation, programme performance monitoring in the field including prevention from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), HACT and implementing partnership management, build capacity of staffs and partners for results and rights-based management, build capacity of staffs and partners for results and rights-based management and reporting.   This position will provide technical support to the provincial and local governments in identifying disaster related risks and formulation of emergency preparedness and response plans, development of Local Disaster Climate Resilience Plan as well as ensure the mainstreaming of DRR, climate change, energy and environmental sustainability components- prevention, mitigation, preparedness and adaption into the local plans and sectoral plans. Provide technical support to strengthen the institutional capacity of provincial and local governments to effectively prepare and respond to emergencies through well-established community-based mechanisms and will also establish a knowledge management mechanism to document best practices and lessons learnt in relation to DRR, climate change, energy and environmental sustainability as well as emergency preparedness and response.  In regular consultation with the supervisor, be responsible for the planning, implementation, monitoring of the normal development and emergency interventions to advance the survival and well-being of children, mothers and the affected communities in emergency situations.

1. Rights-based and results-based and risk informed programming approach fully incorporated into all phases of sub-national and local programme and processes.

• Provide technical support to the process of developing and monitoring Annual/Rolling Work Plans, including reporting on progress of the equity and gender marker as outlined in the Programme Policy and Procedures Guidance.
• Provide technical support in organising and managing annual/mid-year/mid-term/end
• term programme reviews at sub-national and local levels ensuring consistency with objectives and goals set out in the Country Programme Document (CPD) and contribute to the Annual Management Plan.
• Monitor follow-up actions at sub-national and local levels based on management decisions resulting from Country Office performance monitoring and evaluation.
• Support the Chief Field Office in liaising with provincial and local governments and coordinate with sectoral colleagues to strengthen decentralized planning, provide technical support on results-based planning working in close collaboration with Social Policy sector that leads on budget analysis, preparing provincial/municipality level profiles and generating/collating other evidence as relevant.
• Support the programme components to effectively monitor and report on the inter-sectoral programme results, cross sectoral programme component results and field office results to facilitate programme coherence and convergence where appropriate.
• Contribute to development of programme monitoring framework for the learning zones including technical backstopping to the field office team for results-based planning (RBM), monitoring and assessing results.

2. Effective partnership and collaboration achieved and maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, and programme development/management/coordination, information sharing and networking

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts and provinces and local levels stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate child focused result-based planning and monitoring in coordination with Social Policy and under overall lead of the CFO.
• Facilitate partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to disseminate and exchange information on DRR, CEE and Emergency preparedness and response.
• Provide support in provision of technical advice and advocacy, leading to agreement on practicable and priority actions to be supported by UNICEF programme.
• Facilitate government counterparts at subnational and local levels to strengthen emergency preparedness, response and DRM network non-government organizations, humanitarian organizations, local government to strengthen their capacity in humanitarian situation.

3. Emergency preparedness response and disaster risk management

• Provide technical assistance in risk analysis at the provincial level to identify emergency-prone conditions/situations and contribute to early warning and ensure timely and effective emergency preparedness and response.
• Provide technical assistance to local government and partners for the development of integrated contingency plans, integrated disaster and climate risk management plans and ensure its integration in province and local level plan and programme.
• Assist local government in integrating integrated Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change, Energy and Environment Sustainability (CEE)in province and local levels policies, plans, and sectoral programs.
• Ensure the mainstreaming of DRR and CEE components: disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and adaptation in the sub-national and local annual plans and ensure their effective & timely implementation.
• Support in the design, implementation and monitoring of programmes related to Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Sustainability (CEE) including policy advocacy and multi-sectoral coordination on CEE interventions/programmes at provincial and municipal levels.
• Coordinate and facilitate capacity building of government counterparts, partners and UNICEF staff on CEE.
• Support in capacity strengthening on Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) and disaster risk reduction and CEE of field office staff, partners and stakeholders.
• Monitor the preparedness and response action for effective emergency response at sub-national and local levels.

4. Programme monitoring effectively conducted to improve programme performance, and programme status report timely prepared.

• Take a lead to develop and adapt a structured and harmonized field monitoring plan and implement it to track the implementation progress at the field offices level.
• Coordinate implementation of Field Monitoring Module and Trip Modules in eTools for planning, reporting and monitoring of programme assurance activities and field monitoring by field offices.
• Provide technical assistance, quality assurance and oversight in the application of these tools and advise on corrective action required, if necessary.
• Strengthen programme monitoring through the field monitoring process, including the monitoring of programme supplies and verification at end-user level
• Undertake field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and provide inputs for better programming and results.
• Strengthen programme monitoring through the field monitoring process, including the monitoring of programme supplies and verification at end-user level.
• Collaborate with sub-national and local government partners and conduct joint monitoring and supervision visits to improve efficiency and quality of programme delivery.
• Participate in annual sector review meetings with government counterparts.
• Collaborate and prepare annual program status reports for both periodic and thematic reporting in a timely manner, as required.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Identify, capture, synthesize and share lessons learned from field level experiences related to planning processes in the operationalization of federalism, decentralization and emergency preparedness, response and DRR/CCA mainstreaming.
• Provide support to subnational and local governments in strengthening their capacities to develop plans that are inclusive and address the needs of the most vulnerable populations including women and children.

Participate as resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders in convergent planning   and emergency preparedness and response and Disaster Risk Reduction

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

Education

A University Degree in sociology, rural development, business administration or other social science related disciplines is required.

Experience

A minimum of two (2) years of professional experience in social development analysis, planning and programming is required.

Experience of working in emergencies and the knowledge on emergency planning, preparedness and response and DRR is highly desirable.

Relevant experience in program/project planning and monitoring in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and Nepali language is required.  Knowledge of another official UN 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.

During the recruitment process, we assess 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:

 “Candidates are required to indicate their preferred duty stations in the order of first and second in their application letter”.

Female candidates and candidates from the under-represented ethnic groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates from underrepresented groups who meet the requirements for the position are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. 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.