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, a Champion
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 are 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.
Job Organizational Context
The Planning Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative in Lesotho country Office.
How can you make a difference?
Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Representative, the Planning Officer is responsible for supporting the coordination of the planning process; ensuring effective budget monitoring; supporting programme coordination; coordinate mid/end year reporting; and support the Programme Review Committee for partnership documentation with CSOs.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
- Support the development of sectoral annual work plans and annual management plans and ensure they are completed in a timely manner and in line with the five-year country programme document.
- Acts as the secretariat for the Programme Review Committee. This entails, providing technical support to UNICEF and partners in completing all required documentation in a timely manner, ensuring they are of excellent quality; monitoring value for money; organizing PRC committee meetings and taking notes; monitoring the timeliness of disbursements of funds to partners and attending quarterly PCA meetings. Keep the Representative and Deputy Representative abreast of findings and recommendations from field monitoring trips.
- Provide secretariat support to all programme coordination committees, including the Adolescent and Early Childhood Development working groups. Provide technical support to the programme counterparts/committees, e.g. review budgets and financial plans of implementing partners; and monitor compliance with HACT framework, including support to assessments, assurance and capacity development of implementing partners.
- Contribute to the timely preparation of quality reporting including donor reports and the annual Country Office Annual Report. Organize mid and end year reviews and participate in UNDAF quarterly meetings. Coordinate inputs for concept notes and briefing notes on development partners for the Representative as required. Work closely with the Communications Specialist to coordinate speeches and talking points for the Representative.
- Work closely with the M&E Specialist to coordinate the findings and recommendations from field monitoring trips and report against HACT assurance plan.
- Provides one-stop facility for all documentation related to grants as per audit requirement and open/update existing grant files with submitted documents; and retrieves information from VISION on costs of programme elements, such as staff and related costs, from automated files and compiles them in standardized and customized reports. Provides information on allotment accounts and availability of funds; issues revised sub-allotment; advises and updates allotment lists.
- Supports the office in budget planning and ensuring financial fiduciary measures are in place. Monitors performance against management score card indicators and provides reports to sections
- Coordinate the Deputy and Representatives office in all critical aspects of work in close collaboration with the chiefs of sections and the Chief of Operations. Develop, introduce and maintain work flows and tools to streamline the high volume of work of the deputy representative’s office and enable proactive and strategic identification of priority actions. Prioritize issues for the deputy representative including planning, coordination, quality assurance and Budget management.
- Support the Adolescent Development Specialist and the Child Protection Specialist on mainstreaming Gender related issues across programme documents and in addressing the initiative on ‘Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse’
- Performs other related duties as assigned by the supervisor to ensure the success of the team, including guiding, training, and coaching short-term staff, including interns and consultants, as needed.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- A University Degree in International Development, Public Affairs, International Relations, Political Science or a related field.
- At least2 yearsof relevant professional experience in programme planning, liaison and/or any resource-mobilization related activities, preferably in an international organization.
- Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
The functional competencies required for this post are;
- Formulating strategies and Concepts (I)
- Analyzing (II)
- Applying Technical Expertise (II)
- Planning and Organizing (II)
View our competency framework athttp://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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
Remarks:
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
More Information
- Job City Maseru
