Programme Specialist: IGAD Project Coordinator at UNICEF

Supporting the Deputy Regional Director on the development and /strengthening the implementation of the multi-country partnerships with the sub-regional bodies including the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on humanitarian and development programming and relevant current trends and issues facing children in the region.

Coordination and strategic support to regional partnerships including with IGAD

• Liaise at senior level with IGAD, UNOPS, Country Offices and other IPs to ensure programme coherence and regional oversight.
• Attend monthly project management unit meetings convened by UNOPS with Country Offices involved in the project; review periodically the implementation of the project work plan and discuss emerging issues related to the implementation of the project and provide remedial actions and solutions; escalate to DRD at the Regional Office level as required.
• Advise on project strategies and provide recommendations on project management aspects, including cross-sectoral priorities, such as mainstreaming of gender equality.
• Monitor progress towards and achievement of the results with technical sections at the Regional Office and with the relevant country offices.
• With the support of PPP section coordinate the seven countries involved in the project outside of the ESARO - Sudan and Djibouti.
• In close coordination with PMU lead, carryout regular reviews of the results framework and result reporting with PPP.
• Liaise with the Regional Office sections for technical advice for Country Offices in the support of the implementation of sectoral components.
• Table project progress, implementation and programme course correction reviewed regularly through the Regional Office PCT.
• Support the strategic planning for the next phase of cooperation with IGAD at the sub-regional level
• Emergency Preparedness and Response in the Horn of Africa and in the wider region
• Timely and priority operational and programmatic support is provided to IGAD programme and all Country Offices in the Horn of Africa affected by emergencies and humanitarian crises by:
• Mobilizing, coordinating and deploying technical support to Country Offices to respond to short-term surges in demand;
• Mobilizing and facilitating technical advisors to support Country Offices meet the CCCs in the framework of the UNICEF Strategic Plan.
• Undertake analysis of key risks and monitor emerging humanitarian trends and potential socio-political instability in the Horn.
• Support Country Offices in integrating risk-informed programming to promote resilience into programme planning processes.
• Support Country Offices technical assistance and quality assurance in planning, monitoring and reporting for Humanitarian Action including:
• The development of country and regional chapters of the Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC);
• Regular reporting of UNICEF Country Offices using the Humanitarian Performance Management System (HPMS) and regular Situation Reports (SITREPs).
• Support Country Offices in developing capacity building strategies for national partners (government at the national and sub national levels, civil society and community actors) to enhance their capacity for emergency preparedness and response guided by the Core Commitments for Children.

KEY EXPEXTED RESULTS

• Quality coordination and implementation of the UNICEF component of the IGAD programme, including the timely disbursement of funds, implementation, monitoring and reporting of project results in coordination with country offices and with the support of the RO Public and Private Partnerships (PPP) section.
• Complementarity and regional coherence of the IGAD project in line with country office and government efforts and priorities in close coordination with technical sections and PPP in the Regional Office.
• Quality planning, communication, coordination and implementation of the UNICEF Multi-country partnerships and emergency preparedness and response plan
• Complementarity and coherence of the project with other related initiatives/projects in the region especially cross border initiatives in the targeted countries.
• Multi-country emergency preparedness and response is timely, well supported and coordinated, especially in the Horn of Africa.
• Quality policy and technical advice is provided to Country Offices in the Horn of Africa, management team and DRD on principled humanitarian action approaches.
• Country approaches and learning on risk-informed programming to promote resilience is documented, packaged and shared to promote evidence-based approaches in the region.
• Partnerships with sub-regional bodies in Eastern and Southern Africa relevant to the current humanitarian trends and issues facing children are strengthened.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• Advanced University degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, public administration, law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines. Preferably a combination of management, administration, and relevant technical fields.
• A first university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and two additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree.
• At least five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in humanitarian action, emergency preparedness, research and analysis, and/or UN interagency level coordination and advocacy. Developing country work experience is required, and emergency experience in the Horn of Africa region is highly desirable.  
• Specialized training/experience in emergency response management is required
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.