Programme Specialist

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Description

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The purpose of the post is to provide technical support for Implementation Partnership (IP) engagement and management, facilitating programme delivery globally with CSOs, Government and other entities. Each Year UNICEF engages with close to 10,000 entities of Implemeting Partners (IPs) for programme implementation, in over 130 coutnries and transfers over $3 billion  (over $2 billion in cash and over $ 1 billion in supplies). The post contributes to the development, rollout, maintenance as well as evolution and agility of instruments/tools used for engaging with IPs and supporting users as needed. The post contributes to the development and implementation of a strategic approach to strengthen UNICEF and Partners’ capacity, and maintaining up-to-date global analysis on the volume, value, quality, geographic distribution, diversity, and results achieved through implementation partnership, to inform decisions at all levels, as well as contributing to reporting on major global commitments such as rapid humanitarian response, localization, linkages between humanitarian and development etc. The post engages with Implementing Partners, as needed and in designated consultation fora, particpates in inter-agency technical coordination platforms and support the advocacy and action towards more harmonized approaches among UN agencies. The post contributes to  technical backstopping to regional and country offices as well as internal and external IP related audits and providing inputs for timely and adequate response to partners and briefings to donors and senior management, as needed.

While the post will support the continuous improvement and agility of engagement/management of all types of Implementing Partners, it will focus on government related tools and processes, area that have lagged behind as compared to tools and systems with CSOs. 

Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks:

Technical Support on Implementation Partnership engagement/management:

• Serve as techical focal person in evolving tools and systems for Government  Implementation Partnership management across all contexts.
• Support the development and/or update of partnership engagement and management aspects of the UNICEF Programme Implementation procedure and associated guidance, tools, and systems; ensuring  tools and processes are co-created with users, are fit for purpose, and user friendly.
• Support rollout and use of global procedure and associated tools to drive organizational culture of principled engagement with and management of IPs as well as results and rights-based approaches when implementing with CSOs, Government and other entities.
• Participate in relevant inter-agency collaboration forums towards better harmonization of tools and processes.
• Collaborate and support with other specialists engaged on IP related programmatic risk management,  including Harmonized Approaches to Cash Transfer (HACT) Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and safeguarding Environmental and Social Standards (ESS).

Support the development implementation of a global strategy to strengthen knowledge and capacity of UNICEF staff and Implementing Partners on principled, efficient, and effective partnership:

• Contribute to the development of a global strategy with accompanying materials/tools aimed at improving awareness and capacity among UNICEF staff as well as Implementing Partners, particularly local/national partners.  
• Contributes to identification and incorporation of IP management materials and tools in organizational knowledge management and exchange platforms.
• Contributes to identificaiton and sharing good practices on implementing partnership management and exchange; share internally and with other agencies at global level, ensuring effectiveness in communication.
• Promote optimal IP management in relevant global and regional and other foras, building awareness, promoting good practice, and highlighting areas of risk.
• Contribute to inter-divisional coordination and collaboration in support of IP engagement/management and capacity development.

Support the oversight, planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of global IP related activities:

• Contribute to planning, budgeting and review/analysis of work of the unit and wider programme effectivenesss team.  
• Support global analysis of implementing partnership trends and results to inform management decisions and input to global report; including but not limited to localization, Humanitarian-Development Nexus, etc.
• Contribute to periodic analysis and global quality reviews of implementation partnership to demonstrate efficiency gains, value for money and share lessons from systematic review of IP management practices in various operating contexts (e.g., humanitarian, development, and other typology considerations).
• Support the preparation of global reports for senior management, as may be required, including to facilitate action/decisions in humanitarian response, including Level 2 and Level 3 emergencies.

Needs-based technical support on IP management at global, regional, and country level:

• Support regional and country offices, especially those in acute and complex humanitarian context, in the formalization of partnerships with government, civil society organizations and other implementing partners in line with relevant policies, procedures and guidelines while ensuring agility and fit for purpose.
• Support regional and country offices in resolving bottlenecks related to implementing partnership management, as needed.
• Support regional and country offices in improving planning, implementation, and reporting practices with implementing partners.
• Undertake other tasks aimed at supporting regional and country offices in support of principled, effective, and efficient IP management across all regions (including through deployment on surge to humanitarian contexts as needed).
• Support regional and country offices in the use of UNICEF tools and systems (i.e., eTools, eWP, InSight, VISION) as it relates to implementing partnership management and their application for evidence-based decision making.

Provide technical support to ROs and COs on IP management related audits (internal and external) as well as  donor specific reviews:

• Support, as needed, on IP related aspects of global annual and thematic audits, as well as donor specific reviews.
• Support the monitoring and implementation of the outcomes/recommendations of global audits and donor specific reviews related to IP management.
• Contribute to donor and senior management briefings, as needed.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Development studies, International Development, Business Administration, and Programme/Project Management or another relevant field is required.
• 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 five (5) years of relevant professional experience in Programme/project development and management at the national and international level some of which is with the UN and/or in a developing country is required.
• Experience working in complex Programme and operational environments (required). Experience in data and trend analysis (an asset). Experience in undertaking value for money assessments (an asset).
• Prior experience in implementation partnership management, particularity with Government partners is an asset. Familiarity with UN/UNICEF’s programming and IP management procedures and work experience at Country Level is an asset.
• Familiarity with wider risk and partnership management frameworks including Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT), Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Environmental and Social Standard (ESS) frameworks is a strong 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.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/560529

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