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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, Hope

Background and Strategic Context

Sudan, bordered by the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Libya, and South Sudan, is located at the crossroads of East, West, South, and North Africa. By size, Sudan is the third-largest country in Africa, home to a diverse population of 50 million people. Children comprise half of the total population. Sudan is in the grip of one of the world’s most complex and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crises. Multiple internal conflicts, including the devastating war that erupted on 15 April 2023, have combined with deep-rooted political instability, economic collapse, and the breakdown of basic public services. These overlapping crises have created a near-impossible environment for the delivery of essential services, especially for children. As the conflict continues into its third year with no signs of resolution, the future of Sudan’s 50 million people, half of whom are children, hangs in the balance. The situation is driving unprecedented levels of humanitarian need and threatening not only national but also regional stability.

Children are bearing the brunt of this crisis. Over 15.6 million children—accounting for more than half of those in need—require urgent humanitarian assistance to survive. Education has been deeply disrupted, with an estimated 17 million children now out of school. Sudan is facing the largest child displacement crisis in the world, with 11.5 million people displaced internally, including nearly six million children. 

The crisis is also spilling over Sudan’s borders, with more than 3.8 million people—many of them women and children—seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. In many regions, especially areas hosting large numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs), access to health care, nutrition, clean water, and protection services has either been severely curtailed or completely cut off. The scale of need is staggering: 3.3 million children under five are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2025, including 772,000 from severe acute malnutrition (SAM). The collapse of health and WASH systems, repeated disease outbreaks, growing hunger, and widespread violence are creating a lethal environment for children, particularly in areas already classified or at risk of famine.

Purpose of the Job

The Senior Liaison works under the overall guidance of and reports directly to the Sudan Country Representative. S/He works in close coordination with the Deputy Representatives of Programme and Operations, the Chief of Field Operations and Emergency, and the Central Field Office CFO.  In a phased and flexible approach, the position is accountable for establishing and sustaining UNICEF's presence and operations start-up in Khartoum, including relationships with the central and Khartoum State governments of Sudan, UN sister agencies, and other international and national partners based in Khartoum. The Senior Liaison is instrumental in increasing and sustaining field presence and intelligence in Khartoum. In addition to UNICEF’s critical humanitarian development and peace nexus work, the Senior Liaison supports building a strategic UNICEF field “raison d’être” and reputation in Khartoum.

When delegated, this post will represent UNICEF at senior strategic humanitarian coordination forums with the central and state governments based in Khartoum, participate in HCT meetings, Humanitarian Coordination Forum, and ICCG in Khartoum, should these forums rotate between Port Sudan and Khartoum, and with donors. 

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheUNICEFSudan

How can you make a difference?

The Health Specialist reports to the Health Manager (Level 4) for guidance and general supervision.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Representation, Advocacy, Partnership, and Collaboration

 Representation: Represent UNICEF in Khartoum as the assigned Area of Responsibilities (AoR) by participating in meetings and events and moving the agenda forward for children. Build strong and collaborative relationships with national and Khartoum State authorities (political, administrative, and military) through regular communication, collaboration, and information sharing to ensure a coordinated response that addresses the specific needs of Khartoum locality, maximising UNICEF’s impact. Represent UNICEF at the UN Hub level at various fora, which may include the Area Humanitarian Coordination Team (AHCT), Area Security Management Team (AHCT), Inter-agency Coordination, and other relevant meetings.

Advocacy: The Senior Liaison advocates and strategizes with the recognized authorities and maintains contact with officials, including technical policy makers in different line ministries. Advocate with the recognized national, state, and locality authorities, civil society organizations, and media, to direct attention to the rights and needs of children, as well as specific policies, strategies, and plans in support of those rights and needs. Undertake communication activities supporting the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF Policy, and the UNICEF-supported Country Programme.

 Partnership & Collaboration: Maintain UNICEF leadership position within the broader humanitarian and development community. This involves actively engaging with sister UN agencies, ensuring clear lines of communication, and advocating for UNICEF's priorities. Support resource mobilisation efforts, including leading donors’ visits.

2. Effective management of UNICEF presence, staff, and assets

Staff management: Ensure a ‘boots on the ground’ action-oriented leadership of the UNICEF operation in Khartoum.  Effectively lead the Khartoum Hub Office team in managing performance and helping the staff members deliver results for children. Provide inspiring leadership and clear direction and expectations to the UNICEF Khartoum Hub Office team in terms of UNICEF's mission, guiding principles, policy interpretation, guidance on procedures, development, and maintenance of positive attitudes, constructive team behavior, and positive relations with all partners. 

 Office Operations and Assets Management: Develop an annual budget for the operational/running costs of the Khartoum Hub Office. Propose, develop, and manage various service contracts as needed with the support of Operations staff in consultation with the Sudan Country Office in Port Sudan and Central Field Office. Ensure proper plans are in place for operational needs (space, Admin/Finance Management, ICT management, Supply and Warehouse, Human Resource Management, etc.), including business continuity plans (BCP). Ensure operational coordination with UN agencies. 

Staff Safety: Facilitate, take, and implement measures to ensure the safety and security of UNICEF staff and assets. Ensure sufficient measures are undertaken for the safety and security of the staff. Comply with UN security standards, ensuring other security advisories are implemented. Negotiate with various authorities regarding humanitarian access for UNICEF supplies, services, and staff.

3. Situation Analysis

Prepare Situation Analysis of the Khartoum Area of Responsibility (AoR), including recommendations for critical programme intervention points and measures, opportunities available, and challenges of the context. Conduct a continuous analysis of socio-political and economic trends in Khartoum and their implications for UNICEF's operations and programs. This analysis should focus on supporting humanitarian development and stabilizing programming, particularly within the context of an unstable environment, as returning Sudanese citizens come back to Khartoum. This situation is compounded by severely damaged infrastructure and weak social services. Ensure a continuous flow of strategic information on the risks and vulnerabilities facing children and women in Khartoum AoR.  Actively share information and coordinate with FoE and Central Field Office, advising on the necessary programmatic orientation of the central and Khartoum State governments. Oversee the analysis of information and identification of the trigger mechanism for early warning and preparedness.

Facilitation of technical assistance: Actively support national and state government authorities to improve their humanitarian and development leadership and response capacity, and service delivery for children. This may involve consulting with the UNICEF Central Field Office to deliver orientation workshops, training programmes, and resource sharing to enhance their effectiveness. Coordinate with the government counterparts to ensure human resources requirements and ongoing staff development needs. In collaboration with the government and other partners, reviews and evaluates the technical, institutional, and financial feasibility and constraints in planning. Facilitate relevant technical and institutional capacity measures and knowledge sharing for humanitarian and development partners to achieve programmatic goals and expand coverage of services for children and women.

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

• Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, international relations, public administration, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or another relevant technical field.
• Experience: At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible, professional international work experience in emergency and large-scale programme and field operations management, planning, monitoring and evaluation, project administration or another relevant area is required, with emphasis on strategic planning.  A strong background and field experience in complex humanitarian operations are necessary. Experience working and living in an insecure environment is considered an asset. Relevant experience in UNICEF or another UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is highly desirable, while another official UN language (French, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

Core Values

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

Core Competencies

• Nurtures, Leads, and Manages People (3)
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3)
• Works Collaboratively with others (3)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (3)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (3)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (3)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)

 Functional Competencies

• Deciding and Initiating Action - Level (3)
• Following Instructions and Procedures- Level (3)
• Entrepreneurial Thinking – Level (3)
• Analyzing – Level (3) 

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

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

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female are encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.