Programme Officer

United Nations Children's Fund

New York, United States of America

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.

Advocating for and carrying out child-centered action on disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change (CC), environment, and risk-informed development benefits all targeted SDGs, and UNICEF has a unique comparative advantage not only to help reduce impacts on children/youth, but to also enable them as key agents of change—a true opportunity for paradigm shift in countries’ socio-economic trajectory post-Covid. The world is at a crossroads of great opportunity with Covid recovery plans and growing youth activism to ensure that economic recovery and development is sustainable, disaster and climate- smart, and environmentally sound. UNICEF aims to support this through well-established partnerships and innovative programming across multiple key sectors including WASH, education, health and nutrition, child protection, and social policy.

For every child, a safe and clean environment….

UNICEF’s Climate, Energy, Environment, and Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED) Team works towards Goal Area 4 in UNICEF’s Strategic Plan: “Every child lives in a safe and clean environment” along with multi-sectoral results mainstreamed across all Goal Areas. You will be accountable for the development of UNICEF policies, strategies and operational capacities for disaster risk reduction (DRR) (including partnerships and field support). Consistent with the UNICEF strategic plan 2022-2026, advancing DRR will be aligned with UNICEF’s response to climate change and environmental degradation as well as broader resilience and humanitarian operations.

How can you make a difference?

Programme Development and Management

Support the further development and implementation of UNICF’s global programme guidance and tools regarding DRR and Recovery.  This includes advancing tools and guidance on risk assessment, the inclusion of DRR/Recovery in sector approaches and the integration of DRR (including risk assessment) into UNICEF systems of planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting (in accordance with indicators in the Office Management Plan and Strategic Plan).

Field Support

Support Regional and Country offices through technical support, capacity development for staff and partners, access to tools and guidance and generation of, and access to, knowledge regarding DRR and Recovery.

Research, Evidence and Knowledge Management

Support Regional and Country offices through technical support, capacity development for staff and partners, access to tools and guidance and generation of, and access to, knowledge.

Optimum Use of Programme Funds

Assist in establishing programme work plans and monitors progress and compliance.   Help to manage allocation and disbursement of programme funds, ensuring that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated. Takes appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds. Ensure programme efficiency and delivery through transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation.

Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration

Develop partnerships and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners so as to contribute to global DRR and Recovery developments carried out under the Sendai Framework, Paris Agreement and other DRR-related SDG frameworks to ensure that UNICEF is appropriately positioned and influences various global DRR, recovery and resilience processes.  This includes collaborating on technical support, supporting guidance and capacity development for preparedness and risk assessment (including platforms such as CADRI and tools such as PDNA / CRNA).

Perform any other duties as required.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

  • Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development and/or in relevant field is required.
  • A minimum of two (2) years of solid professional work experience at the national and/or international levels in project or programme management, programme development and management for disaster risk reduction or related area is required.
  • Experience working for international organizations such as the United Nations is desirable.
  • Experience working in a developing country is desirable.
  • Background/familiarity with emergency is desirable.
  • Experience working in intergovernmental and/or inter-agency processes is desirable.
  • Experience in the economic and financial dimension of disaster risk reduction and/or climate risk is desirable.
  • Experience in engaging with multi-stakeholders (e.g. youth, parliamentarism, private sector) in disaster risk reduction is desirable.
  • Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

Source:https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/job/557049/programme-officer-drr-and-recovery-p2-programme-group-wash-nyhq-temporary-appointment-364-days