Programme Specialist – Coordination

Since 70 years, UNICEF has been on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote the survival, protection and development of children. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence and abuse and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

This UNV assignment is part of UNICEF’s Resilience flagship programming in the Benin northern departments, affected by the spillover security crisis from the Sahel. The coordinate the resilience and nutrition project funded by the Germany under finalisation. The UNV will contribute to the overall strategic and operational work on resilience, including intersectoral and multisectoral coordination in support of the Deputy representative. The UNV will work with all UNICEF sectors and with external stakeholders, the government of Benin, the CSOs and NGOS. The UNV will be accountable for programme, planning, design, implementation and administration of specific projects within a major programme, in accordance with the Country Programme Recommendation and Country Programme Management Plan, focussed on achievement of UNICEF’s Priorities.

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
1. Knowledge Management for Programmes
– Ensure that area/country programmes are strengthened by knowledge management through data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting, as well as participation in the Programme Knowledge Network system of “lessons learned” and other corporate-level databases.
– Participate in information exchange through donor and media visits as well as in the development of training and orientation materials.
2. Programme Development and Management
– Contribute to the preparation of the Situation Analysis for programme development.
– Administer a consistent and transparent monitoring system, providing accurate analysis of country-level socio-political-economic trends and their implications for ongoing programmes and projects.
– Support preparation of programme work plans as required. Responsible for preparation of programme recommendations for inclusion in formal programme documentation, and new approaches, methods, and practices.
3. Optimum Use of Programme Funds
– Assist in establishing programme work plans and monitor progress and compliance.
– Help to manage allocation and disbursement of programme funds, ensuring that funds are properly coordinated, monitored, and liquidated.
-Take appropriate actions to optimize the use of programme funds.
– Ensure programme efficiency and delivery through a transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
4. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations
– Undertake field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decide on required corrective actions.
– Carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation and participate in major programme evaluation exercises in consultation with the Representative, the Operations Officer, the Evaluation Officer, and others to improve efficiency and quality of programme delivery.
– Participate in annual sector review meetings with government counterparts.
– Ensure the timely preparation of annual programme status reports.
5. Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach
– Assure the quality of child rights-based programmes through consistent and effective planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and/or evaluation of programmes and projects.
– Bring coherence, synergy, and added value to the programme planning and design processes using a results-based management approach.
– Ensure viable recommendations on project implementation, alternative approaches, and optimal utilization of resources that contribute effectively to the fulfillment of the rights of children and women, and provide recommendations on new programme initiatives and management issues to ensure achievement of stated objectives.
6. National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability
– Provide government authorities with technical support and guidance to plan and organize training programmes for the purpose of capacity building and programme sustainability.
– Ensure the building or reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of national and local partners by taking a strategic approach to the identification of these partners and partnerships.
7. Rights Perspective and Advocacy at the National, Community and Family Levels
– Conduct policy analysis from children’s and women’s rights perspectives and advocacy at the community and family levels for credibility in national and international policy debates.
– Promote the organizational goals of UNICEF through advocacy and policy dialogue.
8. Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration
– Develop partnerships and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the United Nations (UN ) and national partners, to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development data and information, exchange information on programme/project status and implementation, and movement/distribution of supplies.
– Establish and maintain linkage to the Regional Programme Knowledge Network to ensure the availability of current and accurate programme data.
– Collaborate with the Operations Section to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of programming endeavors and to coordinate financial and supply management requirements and accountability.
– Maintain collaboration with Regional Advisers and Headquarters (HQ ) Officers for effective overall coordination on programmes.
– Plan, develop, and implement sectoral programme(s) by collaborating with the government and other partners.
– Provide leadership in provision of technical advice, negotiation, advocacy, and promotion of area/country-level goals, leading to agreement on practicable and priority actions to be supported by UNICEF programme and country-level cooperation.