Programme Specialist

The Programme Specialist will be responsible for the overall management of the childhood obesity programme including its implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation in the context of the Greece Country Programme 2022-2026 already agreed with the Government. The Programme Specialist provides technical guidance and management support to counterparts and partners to facilitate the administration of the programme and the achievement of agreed results. This is carried out according to country-specific plans, approaches and methodologies, under the umbrella of UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, institutional standards of performance, and accountability framework.

Technical Leadership, Oversight and Optimum Use of Programme Funds

• Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for the project “Addressing Child Obesity”, ensuring the integration, quality and sustainability of interventions.
• Provide day-to-day technical oversight and oversee programme implementation, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, the Country Programme 2022-2026, and coherence/integration with national priorities, plans and agreed targets using results-based methodologies.
• Supervise technical staff and manage a team of highly qualified staff to ensure rapid and sustainable results.
• Manage technical contributions of contractors and implementing partners, including defining scopes of work and terms of reference.
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of programme resources confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations, procedures, donor commitments, and standards of accountability.

Programme monitoring and delivery of results

• Establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, and UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurements, to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results.
• Actively monitor the UNICEF GCO childhood obesity programme through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners and stakeholders to assess progress; and participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises and programme reviews with government and other partners to assess progress and to determine required action to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in programme management and delivery; identify lessons learned and bottlenecks and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention.
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations, procedures, donor commitments, and standards of accountability.
• Ensure timely reporting for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress; and ensure timely liquidation of resources.
• Capacity building, networking and knowledge management
• Provide technical guidance to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners on UNICEF policies, best practices, and approaches on child wellbeing, nutrition and on addressing child obesity, to support programme implementation and delivery of results, including in relation to the design of social and behavior change strategies.
• Collaborate with, advise and/or consult all local stakeholders, especially Greek Government Ministries and implementing partners to promote the nutrition agenda in relation to the prevention and management of overweight and obesity and to ensure that all activities conform to requirements and regulations.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use and/or information.
• Work closely with the Ministry of Health and actively participate in relevant technical advisory/working groups (Steering Committees, Center of Excellence etc).
• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders, and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best and cutting-edge practices in nutrition management and information systems; assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Social Sciences, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Nutrition, Public health, or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of five years of professional experience in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF, Government/ EU–funded projects or other internationally funded programs is required.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Greek and English is required.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/574978