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.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, the right to a Future

How can you make a difference?

• Programme Planning: The ZO and partners have well-prioritised and realistic planning & monitoring activities, developed collaboratively, that provide all the relevant and strategic information needed to implement the ZO contribution to the Country Programme.
• Programme Monitoring: Programme monitoring of the Country Programme under the ZO yields quality information, collected and disseminated with the participation of all concerned partners, to assess progress towards expected annual and multi-year results.
• Planning and Monitoring Capacity Building: The Results-Based Management (RBM) and evidence-based planning and monitoring capacities of the Country Office staff and implementing partners –and civil society – are enhanced with the contribution of UNICEF knowledge and partners to meet the requirements of their positions.
• Coordination and Networking: The UNICEF Zonal Office is linked to wider UNICEF P&M developments in way that both contributes to and benefits from organizational learning on effective P&M management.

Key accountabilities, duties and tasks  

Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primarily, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

1.  Programme Planning

Support the Zonal Office and partners to develop an equity-focused, results-based and measurable ZO Programme and annual workplans that provide the basis for implementation, performance monitoring and reporting.

Duties & Tasks

• Provide support in preparation, review and analysis of strategic programme planning processes and documentation, including Mid-Term Reviews at ZO, including a contribution to 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 results framework, including indicators, baselines and targets, the identification of Programme Information Database (PIDB) codes, and quality assures its reflection in VISION.
• Support and facilitate development of equity-focused, results-based and risk-informed work plans and review exercises of the same.
• Lead the oversight of Programme Documents (PDs) to ensure HACT, ESS, gender and integration are well addressed.
• Drawing on monitoring and analysis of key programme performance indicators, provide professional inputs to management reports including the ZO 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 planning tools in field offices in line with the results-based management principles and standards.
• Support to design, plan and implement cash-based programming and social protection interventions, including through effective coordination among relevant implementing partners and Financial/Money Service Providers, and troubleshoot field level operational challenges. 
• Support Humanitarian Response and Basic Human Needs (BHN) programme planning in line with the Humanitarian Reset.
• Support emergency program planning and humanitarian data analysis,
• Support the ZO in area-based coordination, working closely with the Emergency Officer, OCHA and the humanitarian community.
• Support programme integration initiative. Take leadership in coordinating the integration programme including reviews, working closely with ZO program officers to facilitate delivery of results.
• Support ZO in Results Assessment Module planning.
• Support periodic programme reviews at Zonal offices internally as well as with partners. Take the initiative to identify challenges or alternative courses of action to accelerate/improve programme delivery.
• Support and facilitate the regular conduct of the ZO Programme Management Team meetings, with a focus on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and one on thematic issues.
• Support planning, monitoring and reporting of joint UN initiatives and processes relating to the UNSDCF or One UN, including Durable Solutions.
• Support CFO in managing the programme including the overall planning/work plans development,
• Support the Field Office in area-based coordination, working closely with the Emergency Officer, OCHA and the humanitarian community.
• Support programme management in one or two districts as assigned by the CFO.

2. Programme Monitoring

Ensure that the Zonal Office has quality information to assess progress towards expected results established in annual work plans.

Duties & Tasks

• Provide technical support to the CFO and ZO staff to establish and roll-out programme monitoring mechanisms including mid-year and annual reviews, mid-term reviews, and other reviews as needed to record the progress and identify potential bottlenecks to be addressed by the programme sections and field offices.
• Coordinate the Progamme and Zonal Management Team (ZMT) meetings to monitor KPIs, address and resolve issues.
• 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 for cash-based programmes, humanitarian performance monitoring and community-based monitoring.
• Support programme staff and zonal offices in the implementation of the established programme monitoring system and provide inputs for regular adjustment of the standard operating procedures to ensure optimal monitoring results.
• Ensure HACT monitoring for the ZO is well planned and implemented as an integral part of the ACO comprehensive monitoring system.
• Facilitate Zonal Office contribution to the semi-annual and annual updates to the Results Assessment Module
• Support the CFO in programme monitoring and reporting, coordinating Zonal Management Team Meetings, organizing mid-year and annual reviews, and other programme reviews.
• Effectively plan monitoring of cash-based programming and social protection interventions, providing oversight to Beneficiary Registration and Payment Distribution processes undertaken by Implementing Partners and Financial Service Providers/Money Service Providers to ensure compliance with UNICEF requirements.
• Effective day to day management of the grievance redressal mechanism for the humanitarian cash transfer initiatives, ensuring timely analysis of issues and escalation for decision making.

3. Planning and Monitoring Capacity Building

Ensure that the planning and monitoring capacities of Zonal Office staff and l partners –civil society – are based on evidence and the RBM principles thus enabling them to more effectively engage in planning and monitoring processes.

Duties & Tasks

• Promote awareness and understanding of the shared responsibility of RBM among zonal staff members and partners through communication, training, learning and development activities region 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. 

4.  Coordination and Networking 

Ensure that the UNICEF Zonal Office is effectively linked to wider UNICEF P&M developments in a way that both contributes to and benefits from organizational learning on effective P&M management. 

Duties & Tasks

• Collaborate with Planning and Monitoring Section, peers from other UNICEF offices as well as with the UN agencies in the duty station, zonal offices and partners for overall coordination of priority planning and monitoring activities, especially those of national/subnational scope requiring the coordinated effort of multiple countries. For example, Durable Solutions
• Partner with the relevant Planning and Monitoring Section staff at Zonal Office and Programme Sections to ensure that current and accurate planning and monitoring data and results are included in office reports and knowledge sharing networks at the Zonal level.   
• Undertake lessons-learned reviews on successful and unsuccessful planning and monitoring practices and experience at the subnational level and ensure they are shared as appropriate.
• Liaise with Planning and Monitoring Section and other professional P&M knowledge networks to identify innovations and lessons learned that may be relevant for the ZO and partners to improve their P&M function.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief of Field Office, the Planning and Monitoring Specialist NOC will provide support to and facilitate the planning and monitoring functions for the Zonal Office, (ZO) to enable country programme delivery. This will be done in close collaboration with other P&M Section members and zonal sectoral programme staff. The Planning & Monitoring Specialist will also have supervisory responsibilities for two staff members: a Planning and Monitoring Officer (NO-B) and an Emergency Officer (NO-B).

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD - Planning & Monitoring Specialist, NOC.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced university degree in social sciences, statistics, planning development, planning and any other related fields.
• Work Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible relevant work experience at the national level in programme planning, implementation, monitoring, budget monitoring. Practical experience in monitoring large programmes will be an asset. 
• Skills: Strategic Planning, Development Planning, Budgeting, Coordination, Team Management, Leadership, Value For Money, Planning Process, Management, Networking
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. 

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
• Field work experience. At least one instance of exposure to emergency programming, including preparedness planning. Active involvement in a humanitarian crisis response programme preferred. Experience in cash-based programming, including effective coordination and risk-informed management of field level implementation of cash-transfers is an asset. Experience and knowledge in managing grievance redressal mechanisms for cash-based programming is an asset. Experience in managing Service Providers (i.e. Financial Service Providers, Third Party Monitors etc.) is an asset
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable Female 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.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.