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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Strategic Office Context:
The position is based in Kathmandu Field Office under UNICEF Nepal Country Office and will lead efforts to align UNICEF’s planning, monitoring, and review process with those of the government. This includes building and maintaining relationships with government counterparts to ensure their active participation and support in all phases of programme planning, implementation, and monitoring; provide technical assistance and capacity-building to government officials to ensure that the ongoing federalism works for children. This role specifically emphasizes external engagement and collaboration with government partners and contribution to improved provincial and local government planning, budgeting, and monitoring process in the context of the federal government system.
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For every child, result
Under the supervision of the Chief, Planning and Monitoring (P-4), the incumbent is responsible for supporting decentralized planning processes, coordinating and supporting programme planning, monitoring, and review processes with government. The incumbent will lead efforts to align UNICEF’s planning, monitoring, and review process with those of the government. This includes building and maintaining relationships with government counterparts to ensure their active participation and support in all phases of programme planning, implementation and monitoring; provide technical assistance and capacity-building to government officials to ensure that the ongoing federalism works for children. This role specifically emphasizes external engagement and collaboration with government partners and contribution to improved provincial and local government planning, budgeting and monitoring process in the context of the federal government system.
How can you make a difference:
Under the supervision of the Chief, Planning and Monitoring (P-4), the incumbent is responsible for supporting decentralized planning processes, coordinating and supporting programme planning, monitoring, and review processes with government. The incumbent will lead efforts to align UNICEF’s planning, monitoring, and review process with those of the government. This includes building and maintaining relationships with government counterparts to ensure their active participation and support in all phases of programme planning, implementation and monitoring; provide technical assistance and capacity-building to government officials to ensure that the ongoing federalism works for children. This role specifically emphasizes external engagement and collaboration with government partners and contribution to improved provincial and local government planning, budgeting and monitoring process in the context of the federal government system.
KEY FUNCTION, ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RELATED DUTIES/TASKS
Decentralized planning
Facilitate overall liaison and coordination with the Government of Nepal and key stakeholders in the federalization sector, including participation in relevant federalism forums and working groups, and contribute to federalization discussions from a decentralized planning perspective.
Provide overall coordination with the Government of Nepal and stakeholders, and support to programme planning for achieving results for children by aligning with the new federal set up of the country and the three tiers of the government - federal, provincial and local levels.
Contribute to strengthen provincial and local government planning, budgeting and monitoring system in coordination with Social Policy, Governance and Evidence section.
Provide policy and technical support to UNICEF Programme Section and Field Offices (FOs) on planning, implementation and monitoring of decentralized programmes.
Work with FOs to contribute to the strategic, institutional and organizational capacity development of provincial and local governments for decentralized planning.
Support Field Office Planning Officers to integrate children’s issues into provincial and municipal plans (both periodic and annual) by providing guidance, and technical assistance.
Strategic Planning/work-planning
Support the Chief of Planning and Monitoring Section on work planning, mid-year and annual review, and end-year reporting.
Liaise with relevant ministries and the National Planning Commission to ensure their participation in the UNICEF work-planning process and keep them informed of UNICEF’s strategic priorities.
Contribute to the country programme planning process, especially the midterm review (MTR), ensuring adherence to corporate guidelines and calendar.
Contribute to inter-agency planning processes - United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) planning, reporting, and quality assurance. This involves active participation in the UNCT M&E Working Group and providing technical inputs as needed.
Programme monitoring, reviews and reporting
Coordinate with the government ministries and National Planning Commission (NPC) and organize joint programme review and provide regular, coherent and coordinated guidance and support to programme section and field offices to organize sectoral and FO level reviews.
Provide oversight to field monitoring plan, undertake field visits to monitor programme implementation and provide hands on support to field office staff on monitoring tools, checklist and reporting monitoring findings.
Work closely with M&E colleagues of the programme section and oversee efforts to ensure that data collection and analysis from field visits is coordinated and standardized across programmes.
Lead end user monitoring of UNICEF response to emergency ensuring the proper sampling, data collection and reporting of findings in following medium/large scale disaster.
Coordinate the corporate reporting requirement of the office including but not limited to RAM, CSIs, and end year summary narrative within given timeline.
Take a lead in coordinating, drafting and consolidating UNSDCF Outcome 2 annual report (narrative, indicator and financial reporting) ensuring quality and meeting deadlines.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education: Advanced university (Master's) degree in Social Sciences, Demography, Development Planning, Statistics or a related technical field
Work Experience:
Minimum of five years (5) of progressively responsible professional work experience at national level in programme planning and monitoring. Practical experience in local planning and field monitoring is highly desirable.
Skills: Field work or developing country work experience required. Experience working in the UN or other international development organization an asset.
Experience in monitoring gender inequalities and in programming interventions that reduce these inequalities an asset.
Background in Emergency programme an asset
Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Nepali required. Knowledge/fluency in local language is considered an asset.
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
The 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
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.
According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.
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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates and candidates from the under-represented ethnic groups are strongly 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.
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.