Organization: UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund
Location: Port Sudan
Grade: Administrative support – GS-6, General Service – No need for Higher Education – Locally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
Administrative support
Transport and Distribution
Project and Programme Management
Closing Date: 2025-01-20

Description:

The program associate assists the corresponding section or sections under the supervisor’s supervision and direction by performing a variety of program support tasks to aid in the creation, execution, and oversight of their national program, guaranteeing efficient and punctual delivery that complies with UNICEF policies. To support program design and implementation, the Program Associate collaborates closely with a variety of CO staff members, outside partners, and agency counterparts. By keeping an eye on milestones, he or she regularly updates stakeholders on the state of projects and offers suggestions for enhancements to keep things moving forward.

From infancy through adolescence, UNICEF works in more than 190 nations and territories to protect children’s rights, save lives, and enable them to reach their full potential.

We at UNICEF are dedicated, enthusiastic, and proud of the work we undertake. Encouraging the rights of all children is a calling, not simply a job.

Careers are developed at UNICEF because we provide a variety of professional and personal development options for our employees, enabling them to pursue lucrative careers while accomplishing a meaningful mission. We take great satisfaction in offering an alluring benefits and pay package together with a culture that fosters employee success.

Sudan is the third largest country by land area in Africa and is geo-strategically important being located at the cross-roads of Sub-Saharan Africa, East Africa and the Middle East. It has long been a center of trade and commerce and link between neighbouring countries. The country has significant natural resource endowments, including vast arable lands, water, forests, minerals, and precious metals.

Sudan’s history has been marked by coups, political instability, and conflict, which is hindering socio-economic development gains.

The past five years have seen a number of swift political shifts. The repercussions of COVID-19 made Sudan’s economic situation worse over time, despite efforts to protect the country’s poor from the consequences of the economic reforms. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) engaged in an open, brutal confrontation in April 2023, which gradually reactivated earlier fault lines in various regions of the nation. The military conflict runs the risk of plunging the nation into a state of collapse, given the already unstable economic situation that is made worse by social unrest, shortages of essential services and livelihood inputs, and the suspension of foreign aid.

Millions of people have been significantly displaced both domestically and over the border into neighboring countries as a result of violent hostilities in Khartoum and other metropolitan centers, as well as fighting between the RSF and the SAF in several states. Nearly every school in the nation is still closed as the conflict enters its second year.

To meet the urgent requirements, national and international NGOs are collaborating with UN agencies. Basic services across Sudan have been characterized by weak capacity for delivery, low levels of public expenditure, shortage of qualified personnel, and inadequate infrastructure; further strained by the conflict, including pressure by displaced populations.

UNICEF is providing comprehensive health, nutrition, WASH, education, child protection, and cash support in response to the crisis. UNICEF and other partners are working to expand on Sudan’s robust community-based organizations and the lessons acquired from previous programs in order to offer sustainable community-led basic services, even while a large portion of the response is concentrated on humanitarian operations.

Responsibilities:

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Ensuring the timely and accurate recording and administrative processing of government & NGO’s proposals and requests for direct cash transfers (DCTs).
• Helping conduct regular spot checks of partner’s projects to assess their financial record-keeping, expenditure controls and reporting systems.
• Assist in monitoring and tracking the efficient distribution of supplies that are required for effective programme delivery.
•  Carrying out transactions in VISION ensuring programme results, activities and programme coding are as per annual work plans (AWPs) and making amendments and alterations as per section revisions when necessary.
• Carrying out transactions in VISION pertaining to grants and programme-related items for his/her section including but not limited to raising sales orders, release orders, travel authorization requests for non-staff, etc.
• Preparing monitoring and reporting information for supervisor and team on agreed performance indicators to drive more efficient management and accountability for results.
• Supports capacity development activities related to programme development by preparing training materials and participating in exercises.

IV. Impact of Results

S/He is accountable for the full spectrum of administrative and project/programme support activities. The key results have an impact on the overall performance of the country office and success in the implementation of project/programme activities. Accurate programme monitoring and recommendations, data entry and presentation of information ensure proper programme decision-making.

Requirements:

• Education: Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization.
• Work Experience:A minimum of six (6) years of administrative or clerical work experience is required.

  Prior experience in programme support functions is an asset.

  Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset. Experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other UNICEF software such as SharePoint

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

• Skills

• In-depth knowledge of the administration which underpins UNICEF country office programme/project operations, including monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Strong organizational, planning and prioritizing skills and abilities.
• High sense of confidentiality, initiative and good judgment.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong office management skills.
• High attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively manage the section’s material resources and monitor its budget.
• Good analytical skills.
• Experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other UNICEF software such as SharePoint.

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

i) Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

Core Competencies (For Staff without Supervisory Responsibilities) *

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

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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.

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