UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

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Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, results.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, 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 re 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.

Strategic Office context:

The position is based in Bhairahawa Field Office under UNICEF Nepal Country Office and serves Lumbini and Gandaki Provinces of Nepal. The office extends collaboration and partnerships with provincial and local governments and coordinates with government authorities, development partners, Civils Society Organizations (CSOs), stakeholders and communities to synergize programme objectives and to contribute in improving children’s wellbeing and in bringing sustained results in Lumbini and Gandaki Provinces.

The Senior Programme Associate reports to the Chief of Field Office as the direct supervisor. The position coordinates and supports all the programe officers in the field office and receives technical support and guidance from the Chief of Field Office, PM section, Programme sections and Finance team in the Country Office. In addition, the position performs HACT and warehouse management functions to ensure the quality performance and to serve smoothly in emergency responses and end-uses monitoring.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose for the job:

Under the general supervision and guidance of the Chief of Field Office, the Senior Programme Associate supports the field office in carrying out a range of programme support functions to develop annual work plan of the field office, flow of UNICEF’s cash assistance to implementing partners and monitor timely and effective utilization of the assistance complying with UNICEF rules and regulations. SPA works with field office program officers for the preparation of work plans and project documents, monitors milestones and advises on the improvement to keep the activities on track, and closely follows the status of prepositioned supplies and ensures its timely and best utlization in emergencies.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to programme development, planning and execution
2. Support to monitoring and reporting of programme results
3. Support in resource mobilization
4. Support in knowledge management and capacity building
5. Perform other duties as required

Support to programme development, planning and execution

• Researches, analyzes, verifies, synthesizes and compiles qualitative and quantitative data and information from a variety of sources on subject matters relevant to the work of the province office to facilitate preparation of reports, working papers and presentations. 
• Drafts project documents, work plans, budgets, and proposals on implementation arrangements.
• Carries out transactions in VISION ensuring alignment with programme results, activities and programme coding are as per annual work plans (AWPs)and Field Office contribution plans and makes amendments and alterations as and when necessary.
• Coordinates with program implementing partners including government counterparts and NGO partners as well as program/project officers for ensuring effective and timely utilization of cash assistance and compliance with Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) assurance policies and activities.

• Serve as the focal person for program management indicators for the Field office, ensuring accuracy, promptness and appropriateness of information and reports to the Chief of Field Office.

• Support Programme Officers in the planning of sector-wise supplies to be prepositioned and raise Release Orders (RO) in VISION 

Support to monitoring and reporting of programme results.

• Prepares monitoring and reporting information for supervisor on agreed performance indicators to drive more efficient management and accountability for results.

• Monitors financial expenditures of province field office, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations, keeping supervisor informed and advised on actions for decision and/or follow up.

• Collects, registers and maintains information on project activities by reviewing reports and through first-hand sources. Undertakes periodical field visits with government, NGOs and UNICEF staff members for monitoring programme effectiveness and efficiency as well as for capacity building of government counterparts and NGO partners.
• Contributes to the preparation of status and progress reports by providing information, preparing tables and drafting selected sections of it.  Prepares background material for use in discussions and briefing sessions.
• Monitors project/programme funds and grants aligned with annual workplan activities for the field office by reviewing a variety of records, including activities by reviewing a variety of records, including control plans, progress reports, project inputs, budgets and financial expenditures, including VISION and other organizational tools.
• Serves as the focal person to provide support in conducting audits, spot checks, and micro assessments of partners for the office.

Support in resource mobilization.

• Performs budget focal person role for the office Field Office including monitoring of grants, fund allocations as per programme results areas for timely utilization of funds and reporting of expenditures and contribute to donor reporting.
• Monitors budget of province office, analyze budgetary information in VISION and other organizational tools and keep supervisor informed and advised on actions for decision and/or follow-up.
• Researches, analyzes, verifies, and synthesizes data and information in support of preparing reports pertaining to donors (both current and potential).

• Researches, analyzes, verifies, and synthesizes data and information to assist in the preparation of periodic or ad-hoc financial reports relating to province office to support the office in optimizing use of programme funds.
• Carries out transactions in VISION pertaining to grants for his/her province office such as tracking expiring programme grants and monitoring of open commitments.

Support in knowledge management and capacity building.

• Supports capacity development activities related to performance monitoring, programme development, and related internal UNICEF systems/tools by preparing training materials and participating on exercises pertaining to programme processes and procedures which aim to build capacity of stakeholders.
• Researches, analyzes, verifies and synthesizes information on best practices and lessons learnt to support knowledge development and capacity building.

Perform other duties as required to support the field office level programme implementation

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Completion of secondary education is required.

Or University degree (Bachelor’s) in accounting, financial management, business administration/business studies is desirable.

Work Experience:

For a candidate with secondary education only, a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in administrative, accounting, or financial management work, of which at least one or two years closely related to support of programme activities.

Note:

For a candidate with bachelor’s degree is required to have a minimum four years of progressively responsible experience in administrative, accounting, or financial management duties including one or two years closely related to support of programme activities.

Additional technical skills:

• Knowledge of planning, budgeting and experience in monitoring of programme effectiveness and efficiency.
• Additional experience in facilitation of trainings, financial monitoring, planning and report writing is desirable.
• Knowledge of government planning and financial management systems and relevant experience of working in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Good knowledge of working with computers (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other software) is a must.

Language Requirements:

Knowledge of English and Nepali require for reading, writing, and speaking and translating.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are:

Core Competencies

• 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.

Remarks:

Female candidates and candidates from the under-represented ethnic groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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.