Programme Specialist (Polio) Team Lead, NOC, Fixed Term, #111990, Quetta, Pakistan

UNICEF Pakistan Country Office is seeking a qualified, experienced, and seasoned professional to take on the role of Programme Specialist at the NOC level to join the dynamic team in Baluchistan.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, Commitment!

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges.

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among other things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilisers, communities and families, and of course the children and adolescents themselves. 

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

• Every child survives and thrives — being in good health, immunized, protected from polio and accessing nutritious food.
• Every child learns.
• Every child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.
• Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. 

To learn more about UNICEF work in Pakistan, please visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan and videos on YouTube and Vimeo

Job organizational context:

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is in its third year of implementation of Polio Eradication Strategy 2022-2026: Delivering on a Promise which remains focused on the dual emergency of interrupting wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Pakistan and Afghanistan and stopping polio outbreaks. Pakistan is one of the two remaining polio endemic countries globally. There is cautious optimism about the progress made toward stopping polio in both countries, with cases at their lowest levels in history. Epidemiology confirms the impact of polio eradication efforts. The proportion of children missed during immunization campaigns is decreasing, and overall population immunity is improving.

Working under the leadership of the Government and through the One Team under One Roof approach, UNICEF has been supporting the National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) for Polio Eradication by ensuring uninterrupted vaccine supply, increasing the number of children receiving polio vaccines in the hardest to reach districts through evidence-based social and behavior change and communication (SBCC) efforts to build trust and increase demand within communities for vaccination. The polio program faces several challenges, including demand-based refusals, organized community boycotts, low routine immunization, and inaccessible areas for multiple reasons. The UNICEF polio program is responding by widening the scope of services in areas with numerous challenges and where children are exposed to multiple deprivations by working closely with Nutrition, Health, WASH, and SBCC sections to deliver integrated essential services in the polio high-risk areas to address community demand and need beyond polio vaccination.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Under the guidance of the Chief of Field Office, accountable for programme, planning, design, implementation and administration of specific projects within a major programme, in accordance with the Country Programme Recommendation, Country Programme Management Plan, the National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) focussed on achievement of UNICEF’s Priorities.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS 

Within the delegated authority and the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be accountable for all or assigned areas of the following major duties and end results.

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 program 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 monitors progress and compliance.   Help to manage allocation and disbursement of programme funds, ensuring that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated. Takes appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds. Ensure programme efficiency and delivery through transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation.

4. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations

Undertakes field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decides on required corrective action.

Carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation and participate the 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 programming planning and design processes using a results-based management approach to programme design.

Ensure viable recommendations on project implementation, alternative approaches, and optimal utilization of resources that contribute effectively to the fulfilment of the rights of children and women, and 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 supports 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 the national and local partners starting with taking a strategic approach to the identification of these partners and partnerships.

7. Rights Perspective and Advocacy at the National, Community and Family Levels

Conducts policy analysis from a children’s and women’s rights perspective and advocacy at the community and family levels for credibility in national and international policy debates. Promote the organization 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 UN and national partners, in order 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 endeavours and to coordinate financial and supply management requirements and accountability.

Maintain collaboration with Regional Advisers and HQ Officers for effective overall coordination on programmes.

Plans, develops and implements 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.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s) in one of the following fields is required: Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or another relevant technical field.

• Five years of relevant professional work experience is required in programme management.

• Experience working in polio programme is considered as an asset.

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is an asset.

• Proven track record for leadership / managerial skills is highly desirable.
• Fluency in English and Urdu is required. Knowledge of another 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. 

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be 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 canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.