Jobs at UNICEF

Under the supervision of the Education Specialist, The Education Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for education programmes/projects within the Country Programme from development planning to delivery of results, preparing, executing, managing and implementing a variety of technical and administrative programme tasks to facilitate programme development, implementation, programme progress monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

Support to ECE programme development and planning

• Contribute to the preparation and updating of the situation analysis for the development, design and management of ECE related programmes/projects. Research and report on development trends (economic, social, health etc.) and data for use in ECE programme development, management, monitoring, evaluation and delivery of results.
• Contribute to the development and establishment of ECE programme goals, objectives and strategies and results-based planning through research, collection, analysis and reporting of ECE and other related information for development planning and goal setting.
• Provide technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing and administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials and documentations, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results-based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluation of results.

ECE programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.

• Work closely and collaboratively with internal colleagues and partners to collect, analyze and share information on implementation of ECE issues.
• Suggest solutions on routine ECE programme implementation and submit reports to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decisions. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual ECE reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare minutes/reports on results for follow up action by higher management and other stakeholders.
• Monitor and report on the use of ECE programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocation, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare draft inputs for ECE programme/donor reporting

Technical and operational support to ECE programme implementation

• Undertake field visits and surveys and share information with stakeholders to assess progress and refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices on education related issues to support programme implementation, operations and delivery of results

Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate ECE programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve and sustain results on education programmes.
• Draft communication and information materials for CO ECE programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and alliances, and support fund raising for ECE programmes.
• Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) meetings and events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners on UNSDCF operational planning and preparation of education programmes/projects and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with the UNSDCF development and planning process.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Contribute to identifying, capturing, synthesizing, and sharing lessons learned for knowledge development and capacity development of stakeholders.
• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practice to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable ECE programme results.
• Research and report on best and cutting-edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: education psychology, sociology or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of two years of professional experience in programme planning, management, and/or research in education and early childhood education is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset
• Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset

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The Research Officer (Data Management) is responsible for contributing to the Kenya country office research and data management portfolio. The incumbent will be under the Social Policy Section and will support in the design and effective conduct and uptake of research and social and economic data monitoring in accordance with UNICEF mission, guiding principles, standards, commitments, regulatory framework (including policies, procedures and guidance), as well as professional norms and stand. This includes improving data collection and analysis for increased use for policy and programme action, facilitating use of data for evidence based programming, coordinating and supporting research, building capacity research capacity of partners, coordination, knowledge management and ongoing technical support.

Improving data collection and analysis for increased use for policy and programme action

• Support research and the collection, analysis and user-friendly presentation of data on multidimensional disparity affecting children, including strengthening national data system capacity to collect routinely, report and use data for policy decision-making.
• Provide timely, regular data-driven analysis for effective prioritization, planning, and development.
• Identify data, research and knowledge gaps and work with sector specialists and officers to ensure these are addressed in planned evidence activities. Facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration in research and data collection activities.
• Ensure that UNICEF-supported data collection and research is designed and implemented according to established UNICEF policies and procedures, including gender-sensitive. 
• Support the development of data collection and research Plans
• Facilitate research quality and ensure processes at the section are in accordance with the UNICEF Policy on Research. Ensure that the Standard Operating Procedures outline the quality assurance process for research and that checklists, guidance and other tools are available to research project managers from all sectors.
• Technically support UNICEF programme specialists and programme partners to formulate Terms of Reference for high quality data collection and research projects.

Facilitate use of data and research for evidence-based programming

• Develop, refine and manage  data repository bringing together data from multiple sources into a coherent, visually appealing platform to inform national planning and budgeting decisions and enhance the effective delivery of national programmes delivering basic services affecting children and other vulnerable groups
• Provide technical support for systems strengthening and capacity development on data systems, including during the preparation and undertaking of national census and national surveys, as well as during data collection, analysis, report writing and dissemination
• Undertake data analysis exercises in partnership with other Programme Sections and other relevant partners involved in national surveys and data production
• Provide technical backstopping around survey development and analysis to UNICEF programme sections.  Provides support to programme staff to acquire data from national surveys and administrative sources for further analysis
• Facilitate the uptake of research internally at UNICEF and with national counterparts and partners. Enables a research repository to influence and advocate for the improvement of child-focused policies and programs

Research Dissemination and Capacity Building

• Ensure research capacities of section staff and national partners – government and civil society – are strengthened enabling them to increasingly conduct and lead data/research processes for policymaking at national and decentralized levels.
• Support UNICEF sections on research dissemination and development of advocacy strategies to improve evidence-based policymaking and programming that benefits children and the results are disseminated in a timely fashion to stakeholders in order to improve programme performance and contribute to wider learning.
• Pay attention so the capacity needs of national partners such as civil society, research institutions, universities and think-thanks will be strengthened by involvement in data and research processes.

Coordination, Networking and Knowledge Management

• Ensure that UNICEF is effectively linked to wider global and regional developments in a way that both contributes to and benefits from organizational learning on effective delivery of results for children.
• Coordinate with UNICEF regional office, headquarters and Innocenti Research Center, and other organizations to enable research for/in Kenya
• Ensure that current and accurate evidence are included in country and regional reports, multi-country studies, and knowledge sharing networks and platforms.
• Undertake lessons-learned reviews on successful and unsuccessful of research practices and experience at the national level, and ensure they are shared as appropriate. Similarly, pay attention to knowledge networks to identify innovations and lessons learned that may be relevant for the CO and partners to improve their research function and evidence-based policymaking

UNICEF Programme Management

• Help manage and coordinate technical support around child poverty, social protection, public finance and governance ensuring it is well planned, monitored, and implemented in a timely fashion so as to adequately support scale-up and delivery.
• Ensure risk analysis and risk mitigation are embedded into overall management of the support, in close consultation with UNICEF programme sections, Cooperating Partners, and governments.
• Support and contribute to effective and efficient planning, management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the country programme. Ensure that the social planning project enhances policy dialogue, planning, supervision, technical advice, management, training, research and support; and that the monitoring and evaluation component strengthens monitoring and evaluation of the social sectors and provides support to sectoral and decentralized information systems.
• Prepare quality programme reports and briefing notes to ensure regular internal and external updates on programme status and progress.
• Ensure timely submission of progress and results for inputting into donor reports, and for planning, management, monitoring and evaluation purposes as needed.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• University degree in Social Policy, statistics, planning development, planning or relevant field
• A minimum of two years of relevant professional work experience in research and data development and implementation
• Experience in field work in the area of research, programme implementation or monitoring & evaluation is required.
• At least one year exposure on data and knowledge management to promote use, dissemination and uptake of research and evidence
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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Under the supervision of the HR Manager (P-4), the HR Specialist is accountable for implementing HR services that enhance the capacity of their clients to deliver on their business goals and objectives. In doing so, the incumbent demonstrates the ability to anticipate HR-related needs and develop subsequent plans and solutions that align HR management with business objectives. The HR Specialist also supervises a team of HR Business Partners.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Business Partnering

•  Serve as the single point of contact for his/her client portfolio on advice pertaining to all aspects of the employment life cycle
• Provide accurate and timely advice to clients on HR processes and policies, ensuring the highest level of client-orientation.
• Proactively advise clients on the resolution of human resources issues ensuring equitable and transparent solutions that protects both the staff and organizations interests in accordance with policies, regulations and procedures.
• Promote the organizational goals and targets for gender equity and cultural diversity.

 Technical HR Leadership

• Provide technical leadership in one or more HR specialty areas with responsibility for reviewing the work of General Service staff (HRBPs) for compliance with principles and concepts, policies, regulations and rules as well as for soundness of judgement and conclusions.
• Implement and monitor the interpretation and application of new human resources policies, practices and procedures in area of specialization to meet the evolving needs of the organization including formulating the position of the organization on policies in area of HR specialization and determining the appropriate application of rules and regulations to highly sensitive or contentious individual cases having implications for other HR systems and UNICEF as a whole.
• Establish clear individual performance objectives, goals and timelines; and provide timely guidance to enable the team to perform their duties responsibly and efficiently.

Strategic Human Resources

• Liaise with the HQ Divisions, regional and country offices to support and contribute to corporate HR strategy formulation and global implementation. Provide feedback and make recommendations on the establishment and improvement of HR systems, policies and processes.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best and cutting edge practices in HR management and contribute to the development of global policies, procedures and introduce innovation through sharing of best practices and knowledge learned.

Implementation of assigned Human Resources Services

• Provide support to various or one specific HR occupation (recruitment, job classification, career development, performance management, data analytics, learning & development etc.) to help their supervisors in implementing efficient client services that help either attract, retain and/or motivate staff of the highest caliber.
• When assigned casework in the relevant area on either a routine or non-routine basis, analyze and synthesize issues and problems, and interpret established, formal guidelines to address and recommend solutions or further actions required.

Learning and Capacity Development

• In collaboration with business owners and L&D focal point, design and deliver learning plans for staff to enhance their knowledge and build skills in new areas.
• Contributes to the mapping of competencies for all staff in assigned client portfolio, assisting in the development of a comprehensive framework in support of the development of the talent pipeline.
• In collaboration with business owners and L&D focal point, recommend efficient and cost-effective learning products which strengthen staff capacity to contribute effectively to business goals.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.
• Provide orientation briefings to new staff.
• In collaboration with business owners and L&D focal point, Provide day-to-day performance and talent management guidance to line management (e.g., coaching, counseling, career development, career conversations, and disciplinary actions). 

HR Data Analytics 

• Interpret and analyze HR data to help inform strategic decision making on HR processes and strategies.
• Develop data collection systems to optimize data quality.
• Coordinate with country offices and partners to provide assistance in their HR information management.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• An Advanced University Degree in human resource management, business management, international relations, psychology or another related field is required. Human Resources certification will be considered an asset. 
• Five or more years of increasingly responsible professional experience in human resource management in an international organization and/or large corporation is required.
• Supervisory or team management experience is required.
• UN experience is an added advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.