UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.

For every child, passion.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. UNICEF works in partnership with a wide range of implementing partners, both government and CSO partners, to deliver results for children across the globe. Effective implementing partnership management is therefore essential for ensuring that resources are utilized as intended and results are being achieved.

UNICEF has adopted the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) as an approach for obtaining assurance that results have been achieved in line with resource utilization. It aims at managing risk related to cash transfers made to implementing partners in support of programme implementation, reducing partner transaction costs and allowing progressive use of national systems for management and accountability of results and resources.

The Niger Country Programme has been expanding to respond to both development and humanitarian challenges facing the country. Starting the current programme cycle (2019-2021), the Country Office has established a new Planning and M&E Section with the aim of increasing production of quality data and knowledge on children, as well as strengthening programme monitoring and the implementing partnership management for increased programme performance and better results for children.

How can you make a difference?

The Implementing Partnership Management Specialist reports to the Chief of Programme, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) and contributes to implementing and monitoring implementing partnership management activities.

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Support to implementing partnership management

• Provide technical support to the country office in the formalization of implementing partnerships with government, civil society organizations and other implementing partners in line with relevant policies, procedures and guidelines, including the CSO Procedure and guidance on work plans.
• Provide technical and administrative support in the implementation of HACT in line with the HACT policy and procedure and other relevant organizational policies, procedures and guidelines, including the DFAM Policy 5: Cash Disbursements Supplement 3-Cash Transfers (HACT). This includes coordinating the preparation of CO annual assessments and assurance plan, facilitating its execution and coordinating with other adopting agencies as appropriate.
• Coordinate with and/or seek technical support of the Regional Office on implementation of the CSO and HACT procedures.

Quality Assurance

• Contribute to the design of and implement quality assurance strategies/processes for the implementation of the CSO procedure. This includes processes to ensure that implementing partners are selected and assessed in accordance with the CSO procedure and that all documentation is in line with corporate standards as stipulated in the CSO procedure.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of quality assurance strategies/processes to ensure that HACT assessments and assurance activities are undertaken in accordance with corporate terms of reference and guidance and that appropriate follow-up action and escalation steps are taken as needed.

Analysis, monitoring and reporting

• Analyze and monitor cash transfers at the country office level, paying particular attention to outstanding direct cash transfers more than 6 months.
• Using appropriate corporate tools and systems including InSight and e-Tools, report on status of implementation of HACT and identify high risk areas requiring special attention and/or support from the regional office.
• Monitor internal country office processes for formalizing implementing partnerships with CSOs to ensure that corporate timelines are adhered to, especially in humanitarian responses.
• Prepare reports for the country management team and regional office as may be required.Provide required technical support to ensure that the CO has evidence-based information, as per the assurance plan, to assess whether progress reported by partners is in accordance with work plans and that resources provided by UNICEF are safeguarded.
• Prepare reports for the country management team and regional office as may be required.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Serve as the custodian of all implementing partnership documentation such as assessment and assurance reports, PCAs, SSFAs and programme documents, ensuring that they are adequately circulated in the office and properly archived.
• Design and implement capacity building strategy/initiatives for CO staff to ensure that CO staff are knowledgeable and comply with the HACT and CSO procedures and other relevant corporate policies, procedures and guidance that impacts on implementing partnership management.
• Design and implement capacity building initiatives for staff of implementing partners to ensure that they are knowledgeable on all aspects of partnering with UNICEF, with particular emphasis on the HACT and CSO procedures.
• Review the findings from micro assessment and assurance activities to identify common weaknesses in financial management, especially of high and significant risk partners, and propose capacity development actions that can be undertaken by UNICEF and provide administrative and technical support for their implementation.
• Participate in country office ERM exercises to ensure that risks for implementing partnership management are identified and mitigation measures put in place.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Development studies, International Development, Business Administration, Financial Management, Economics, Auditing, Project/Programme Management or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: programme development/management, programme monitoring and evaluation, financial planning and management, or another related area.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in English and French is required.

For every Child you demonstrate:

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

Functional Competencies

• Formulating Strategies and Concepts (II)
• Analyzing (III)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Deciding and Initiating action (II)
• Applying technical expertise (III)

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Source:https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=525790