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.
How can you make a difference?
Under the guidance of the Chief Field Operations/Emergency, the Chief Field Office (CFO) is accountable for managing and leading the total programme commitment of a field office within a country programme. The CFO represents UNICEF in his/her Area of Responsibility (AoR), leads and oversees the various program sectors and operational service teams ensuring the delivery of quality results in accordance with UNICEF’s programme of cooperation, country programme management plan and overall vision set forward by the Representative.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
- Effective management of UNICEF presence, staff and assets
- Knowledge Management for Programmes
- Programme Development and Management
- Optimum Use of Program Funds
- Programme Monitoring and Evaluations
- Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach
- National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability
- Rights Perspective and Advocacy at the National, Community and Family Levels
- Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration
- Effective management of UNICEF presence, staff and assets
- Represent UNICEF in the region, by participating in meetings and events, moving forward the agenda for children.
- Facilitate, take and implement measures to ensure safety and security of UNICEF staff and assets.
- Effectively lead the Field Office team and manage the performance and conduct the staff members to deliver results for children
- Knowledge Management for Programmes
- Ensure that area/country programmes are supported by knowledge management through data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting as well as participation in the Programme Knowledge Network system of “lessons learned” and other corporate-level databases.
- Participate in information exchange through donor and media visits as well as in the development of training and orientation material.
- Programme Development and Management
- Identify critical intervention points and measures by administering a consistent and transparent monitoring system; analyse country level socio-political-economic trends and their implications for ongoing programmes and projects.
- Draft changes to/or prepare programme work plans as required. Prepare program recommendations for inclusion in formal programme documentation, and new approaches, methods and practices.
- Establishes programme workplans, monitors compliance and provides training, support and guidance to the programme team in order to meet objectives. Identifies human resources requirements and on-going staff development needs.
- Reviews and evaluates the technical, institutional and financial feasibility and constraints of programme/projects in collaboration with Government and other partners.
- Prepares relevant programme reports required for management, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, etc.
- Optimum Use of Program Funds
- Establish and supervise programme work plans and monitor progress and compliance.
- Monitor the overall allocation and disbursement of programme funds, making sure that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated.
- Take appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds.
- Ensure programme efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation.
- Programme Monitoring and Evaluations
- Undertakes field visits and ensures that his/her staff conduct field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decides on required corrective action.
- Carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluate and participate in the major programme evaluation exercises in consultation with the Representative, the Operations Officer, the Evaluation Officer and others to improve efficiency and quality of programme delivery.
- Participate in annual sector review meetings with government counterparts.
- Ensure the timely preparation of annual program status reports.
- Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach
- Adopt rights-based programmes approach in the formulation of programme goals and objectives and development of strategies and implementation frameworks.
- Formulate consistent and effective planning, design, implementation, monitoring and/or evaluation of programmes and projects.
- Bring coherence, synergy and added value to the programming planning and design processes using a results-based management approach to programme planning and design.
- Prepare and submit viable recommendations on project implementation, alternative approaches, and optimal utilization of resources that contribute effectively to the fulfilment of the rights of children and women, and recommendations on programme, new initiatives and management issues to ensure achievement of stated objectives.
- National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability
- Provide authorities and service providers with technical support and guidance to plan and organize training programmes for the purpose of capacity building and programme sustainability.
- Ensure the building and reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners starting with taking a strategic approach to the identification of these partners and partnerships.
- Rights Perspective and Advocacy at the National, Community and Family Levels
- Conduct policy analysis from a children’s and women’s rights perspective and advocacy at the government, community and family levels for elevating credibility in national and international policy debates.
- Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through active advocacy and communication in line with UNICEF national advocacy guidelines and strategy.
- Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration
- Develop partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development data and information, exchange information on programme/project status and implementation and movement/distribution of supplies.
- Linkage to the Regional Programme Knowledge Network to ensure the availability of current and accurate programme data.
- Collaborate with the Operations Section to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of programming endeavours and to coordinate financial and supply management requirements and accountability.
- Maintain close collaboration with heads of sectoral programmes in the CO, Regional and HQ advisers for effective overall coordination on programmes.
- Plans, develops and implements sectoral programme(s) by collaborating with the government and other partners.
- Provide leadership in provision of technical advice, negotiation, advocacy and promotion of area/country level goals, leading to agreement on practicable and priority actions to be supported by UNICEF programme and country level cooperation.
To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…
- An advanced university degree in social sciences, international relations, public administration, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or another relevant technical field.
- A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional work experience in programme management, planning, monitoring and evaluation, project administration or another relevant area is required
- Experience working in a developing country and emergency context is considered as an asset.
- Fluency in French is required. Fluency in English Knowledge of the local working language of the duty station is an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
The technical competencies required for this post are:
- Leading and Supervising [ II]
- Formulating Strategies and Concepts [ II]
- Analyzing [ II]
- Relating and Networking [ II]
- Persuading and Influencing [ II]
- Creating and Innovating [ II]
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.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.
More Information
- Job City Ouagadougou
