Organization: UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund
Location: Port Sudan
Grade: Junior level – NO-B, National Professional Officer – Locally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
Transport and Distribution
Project and Programme Management
Closing Date: 2025-02-04

Description:

In support of the Child Protection Program, and specifically the Sudan Free of FGM Initiative, which is jointly implemented by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund, and the World Health Organization, the incumbent will carry out a variety of knowledge management, program/project/financial monitoring and analysis, and secretariat functions under the supervision of the Chief of Section, with dotted lines with the Programme Partnership Manager. This will strengthen overall management of the Joint Program and the analysis of Value for Money.

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 purpose. We take great satisfaction in offering an alluring benefits and pay package together with a culture that fosters employee success.

The job’s organizational context and purpose

Promoting the rights of every child, everywhere, is UNICEF’s primary goal, and it guides all of its initiatives, campaigns, and day-to-day activities. This dedication to children’s rights is put into practice through the equity approach, which prioritizes the most marginalized and underprivileged kids and families. According to UNICEF, equity entails providing every child with an equal chance to live, grow, and realize their full potential free from prejudice, discrimination, or favoritism. Any child’s rights are infringed to the extent that they are denied an equal opportunity in life, including in the social, political, economic, civic, and cultural spheres. There is mounting proof in the medical field thatAddressing inequality via education and protection of a society’s most vulnerable members would not only allow all children to reach their full potential but also contribute to the long-term stability and prosperity of nations. This is the reason why equity is so important. In addition to promoting the fair development of countries, it expedites the realization of all children’s human rights, which is UNICEF’s worldwide mandate as stated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Sudan is situated in the Middle East and surrounded by pre-existing crises and complicated catastrophes in a region that is unpredictable, volatile, and changing quickly. With a diversified population of almost 42 million, it is the third largest nation in Africa by area. Over the past 20 years, the lives of Sudan’s children, who make up half of the population, have greatly improved: the country is still polio-free, primary school attendance is rising, vaccination rates are high, and fewer girls and boys are dying before turning five.

New chances and difficulties have been brought up by recent events like the global Covid-19 outbreak and the 2019 revolution. The area designated for civic involvement, particularly for women’s and youth organizations, expanded and offered a venue for new forms of participation. A stronger foundation for achieving the rights of women and girls was also established via policy development and legislative change when the old dictatorship was overthrown.

Following the military takeover on October 25, 2021, the implementation landscape became more unpredictable and more volatile.

The Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) engaged in fierce combat.

Organizational context of the job:

With dot lines to the Program Partnership Manager (for the Sudan Free of FGM Initiative), the Program Officer answers to the Chief of Section.

Goals for the position:

In support of the Child Protection Program, and specifically the Sudan Free of FGM Initiative, which is jointly implemented by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund, and the World Health Organization, the incumbent will carry out a variety of knowledge management, program/project/financial monitoring and analysis, and secretariat functions under the supervision of the Chief of Section, with dot lines with the Programme Partnership Manager. This will strengthen overall management of the Joint Program and the analysis of Value for Money.

Responsibilities:

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Knowledge Management for Programmes and Reporting
2. Financial Management
3. Program Monitoring
4. Coordination and Partnership
5. Programme Development and Management

1. Knowledge Management for Programmes and Reporting
• Contribute to the child protection program by supporting knowledge management through providing professional assistance in 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 with partners as well as in the development of training and orientation material by providing professional technical assistance.
• Participate in the preparation of, and making professional contribution to, the preparation of programme reports required for the management.
• Identify and maintain a solution for a secure, cloud-based file-sharing platform to archive and organize all shared programme files for the three participating agencies and the donor
• Organize and arrange administrative aspects of meetings, workshops, trainings, and other events, including joint monitoring visits and field-based activities
• Ensure case studies, human interest stories, lessons learnt, and learning/adaptive actions are documented and shared with all relevant stakeholders, partners, donor and beneficiaries.

2. Financial Management
• Monitor programme implementation progress and compliance.
• Monitor the allocation and disbursement of programme funds, making sure that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated.
• Takes appropriate recommendations or actions to optimize use of programme funds.
• Support the development of financial management strategies and tools, including a framework and system for financial analysis of key activities to determine costing and value for money, flow of funds, and donor accountability
• Collate required financial tracking information, including flow of funds to government partners, from the participating UN agencies, and identify gaps and other quality issues
• Prepare consolidated quarterly and annual financial reports with the participating agencies
• Monitor financial plans and expenditures including monthly cash forecast for funds, providing routine updates and flagging any emerging concerns with the Partnership Manager

3. Program Monitoring
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, annual reviews, and other learning events with key stakeholders to assess progress, formulate recommendations and lessons learnt, and engage stakeholders to take action and find proactive and efficient solutions
• Undertakes field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decides on required corrective action.
• Collaborate with partners to carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation and participate in 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. Collaborate and prepare annual program status reports in a timely manner, as required.

4. Coordination and Partnership
• Organize and, in the absence of the Programme Partnership Manager, facilitate meetings amongst the participating agencies based on programme governance requirements
• Support the participating agencies to monitor activities to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and share information with the Partnership Manager
• Ensure timely communication with partners on all program related issues through meeting minutes, action points, Gantt charts, and other programme management tools and support
• Support effective integration and synergy of all activities by all agencies
• Update participating agency staffing profiles, context/event log (related risk register) and support partner and intervention mapping, as necessary

5. . Programme Development and Management
• Provide professional technical assistance in the preparation of the Situation Analysis for programme development and management by collecting and analyzing data and monitoring implementation progress.
• Contribute to the identification of critical intervention points and measures by administering a consistent and transparent monitoring system;
• Analyse country level socio-political-economic trends and their implications for ongoing programmes and projects.
• Draft or prepare programme work plans as required.
• Propose adjustments/changes in work plans
• Propose program recommendations for inclusion in formal programme documentation, and new approaches, methods and practices for supervisor.

IV. Impact of Results

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Program Officer to programme preparation, planning and implementation, contributes to the achievement of sustainable results to create a protective environment for children against harm and all forms of violence, and ensures their survival, development and well being in society. Success in child protection programmes and projects in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide programme services for mothers and children that promotes greater social equality in the country.

Qualifications

Education:

University degree in in Business, Public Administration, Financial Management, Social Sciences, Development Planning, Planning, or other related field or comparable academic and professional qualifications

Experience:
A minimum of two years of professional experience Program Development, Program Management and Monitoring, and Financial Management, or related areas, is required.

Experience working in a conflict-affected context is an asset.

Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is considered an added advantage

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) 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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

VI. UNICEF values and competency Required (based on the updated Framework)

i) Core Values Core Values: · Care · Respect · Integrity · Trust · Accountability · Sustainability

ii) 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)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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.

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