Programme Specialist

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of the Job

Programme Planning Development and Management

• Manages and ensures the effective, equitable and efficient operations of the health section including programme management systems to support and facilitate the attainment of programmatic goals and objectives by meeting changing operational requirements. Coordinates promptly with the Chief, health, output managers and operations teams and where required for smooth operations management.
• Specifically, lead the health section efforts to review and streamline shifts on managing capacity injection to government in line with newly introduced donor conditionalities. This includes analysis of the data available of capacity injection to government. Review the current practice in place and alignment to new donor guidelines around visibility, strengthened monitoring and verification of capacities on ground. As part of this effort, work closely with the HACT to explore options, capacities for a digital cash transfer.
• Additionally, analyze existing data against requirements, identify additional data needs and develop a monitoring plan required for a digital cash transfer shift.
• Support field offices in effective implementation of RWP, ensure strengthened planning and implementation, use of Qzips for streamlined funds management and timely delivery of results and improve timely and appropriate response and support from the SCO team.
• Draft changes to/or support output leads to develop workplans as required. Prepare programme recommendations for inclusion in formal programme documentation, new approaches, methods, and practices.

Capacity building, innovation, knowledge management

• Provide hands on technical support to newly recruited teams at the state level on UNICEF systems and processes to streamline programme implementation through government and partners to ensure that programme management KPIs are consistently met, and results are delivered.
• As UNICEF transitions to deliver more through government, support field offices to build capacity of state level MOH on UNICEF HACT procedures, operational shifts on capacity injection payment modalities, effective follow up and implementation of tools such as RWP and establishment of regular engagement with government to review progress and identify areas for further support.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.

• Strengthen implementation of monitoring and assessments approaches against aid diversion. This includes close follow up with teams to ensure that programmatic visits are conducted and look at key risk areas around last mile monitoring of supplies, strengthened monitoring and verification of capacity injection provided by UNICEF and key recommendations are tracked and implemented in a timely manner.
• Work closely with the SBC, field offices and emergency teams to ensure that AAP is systematically integrated in routine programme implementation and monitoring.
• In line with donor conditionalities review capacities available for reporting and grievance reporting, monitoring management mechanisms.
• Contributes to effective communication and visibility of results; Draft programme briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration.

Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration

• Support partnerships and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development data; support through capacity injection and mapping of support through different partners to ensure UNICEF health section complementarity to other support in the sector.
• Lead internal engagement with HACT teams, other sections and regional office and HQ team on shifts related to payment modalities for capacity injection in line with donor conditionalities.
• Linkage to 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 endeavor’s and to coordinate financial and supply management requirements and accountability.

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, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, Public Health or another relevant technical field.
• Work Experience: At Five years of relevant professional work experience is required. Experience working in large and diverse health programmes. Especially experience coordinating closely with government and supporting implementation of health programmes or projects funded by global partnerships like GPEI, GFATM, GAVI, FCDO and WB.
• Skills: Strong report writing skills and knowledge of UNICEF systems and policies on financial and grant management.
• Relevant experience in UNICEF or similar UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset especially in an emergency setting country that manages both development and emergency funding. Work experience in Emergency is an asset.
• Language Requirements:  Fluency in spoken and written English is essential.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/577194