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.
For every child, a chance.
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. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
How can you make a difference?
The position will be part of the Planning, Monitoring and Reporting section, which is responsible for planning, programme monitoring, HACT, and budget functions including salary and contribution management for the Country Office. Under the guidance and supervision of the Monitoring Specialist P3, the Monitoring Specialist NOC will provide support to and facilitate the monitoring functions for the country programme. This will be done in close collaboration with other P&M Section members –and sectoral programme staff from Kabul and zonal offices.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
Planning for programme monitoring
Provide support in preparation, review and analysis of strategic programme monitoring processes and documentation, including Mid-Term Reviews, the development of the Country Programme Document (CPD), Programme Strategy Notes (PSNs), and facilitate ACO mid/end year reviews.
Supports the development of the country programme framework, including indicators, baselines and targets, the identification of PIDB codes, and quality assures its reflection in VISION.
Support and facilitate development of equity-focused, results-based, risk-informed, and rolling work plans and review exercises of the same.
Drawing on monitoring and analysis of key programme performance indicators, provide professional inputs to management reports including the End of Year narrative report, including RAM and CSIs Work in close collaboration with the staff of the Planning and Monitoring section and other sections and zonal offices to provide technical support for establishing quality assurance mechanisms related to improved planning and effective use of monitoring tools in field offices and programme sections in line with the results based management principles and standards.
Support programme sections in Results Assessment Module planning.
Support periodic programme reviews internally as well as with government counterparts and other partners. Identifies problems or alternative courses of action to accelerate/improve programme delivery.
Support and facilitate the regular conduct of the Programme Management Team meetings, with two monthly meetings – one on KPIs and one on thematic issues.
Support monitoring and reporting of joint UN initiatives and processes relating to the UNSDCF or One UN
Programme Monitoring
Provide technical support to the programme and zonal offices staff to establish and roll-out programme monitoring mechanisms including mid-year and annual reviews, mid-term reviews, strategic moments of reflection, to record the progress and identify potential bottlenecks to be addressed by the programme sections and field offices.
Provide technical support and inputs on setting up programme monitoring systems/tools, including the use of digital platforms. This includes field-monitoring, third-party monitoring (TPM) – including the management of TPM contracts – humanitarian performance monitoring and community-based monitoring.
Support programme staff and zonal offices in the implementation of the programme monitoring system and provide inputs for regular adjustment of the standard operating procedures to ensure optimal monitoring results.
Provide technical support to the HACT Unit to ensure that HACT monitoring makes an integral part of the ACO comprehensive monitoring system.
Facilitate the semi-annual and annual updates to the Results Assessment Module
Monitoring Capacity Building
Promote the awareness and understanding of the shared responsibility of RBM among staff members, including in zonal offices, and national partners through communication, training, learning and development activities organization-wide.
Support the Planning and Monitoring Section in development and implementation of a strategy/approach for RBM capacity building and adoption through a participatory process with sectoral and zonal staff as well as national partners.
Work closely with programme sections and the Resource Mobilization Unit in conducting quality reviews of donor proposals and reports, as well as draft partnership documents, from an RBM perspective.
Coordination and Networking
Collaborate with regional advisors, peers from other UNICEF offices as well as with the UN agencies in the duty station, zonal offices and national partners for overall coordination of priority monitoring activities, especially those of national/subnational scope requiring the coordinated effort of multiple countries.
Partner with the relevant regional staff to ensure that current and accurate planning and monitoring data and results are included in regional reports, multi-country studies, and knowledge sharing networks.
Undertake lessons-learned reviews on successful and unsuccessful monitoring practices and experience at the national and subnational level, and ensure they are shared as appropriate.
Liaise with UNICEF and other professional P&M knowledge networks to identify innovations and lessons learned that may be relevant for the CO and partners to improve their P&M function.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields: social sciences, statistics, planning development, planning
*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible relevant professional work experience at the national level in programme monitoring. Practical experience in monitoring large programmes will be an asset.
Field work experience.
At least one instance of exposure to emergency programming, including preparedness planning. Active involvement in a humanitarian crisis response programme preferred.
Fluency in English and the national language of the duty station is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or another local language is an asset.
