Planning & Monitoring Specialist, NO-3, Fixed Term Position, Kandahar, Afghanistan #00132851

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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Future

The position is located in Southern Afghanistan (Kandahar) and is responsible for planning, programme monitoring, Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT), Support the integrated programme initiative, Humanitarian Response and Basic Human Needs (BHN) programme, coordination and networking at sub-national level. The incumbent will report to the Chief of Field Office (CFO) and will supervise two staff members.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance and supervision of the Planning and Monitoring Specialist NOC will provide support to and facilitate the planning and monitoring functions for the country programme. This will be done in close collaboration with other P&M Section members –and sectoral programme staff from Kabul and zonal offices.

KEY END-RESULTS:

1. Programme Planning: The Country Office and national partners have well-prioritised and realistic planning & monitoring activities, developed collaboratively, that provide all the relevant and strategic information needed to manage the Country Programme.

2. Programme Monitoring: Programme monitoring of the Country Programme yields quality information, collected and disseminated with the participation of all concerned partners, to assess progress towards expected annual and multi-year results.

3. Planning and Monitoring Capacity Building: The RBM and evidence-based planning and monitoring capacities of the Country Office staff and national partners – government and civil society – are enhanced with the contribution of UNICEF knowledge partners to meet the requirements of their positions.

4. Coordination and Networking: The UNICEF office is linked to wider UNICEF P&M developments in way that both contribute to and benefits from organizational learning on effective P&M management.

5. Emergency and nexus programme support: The UNICEF country office in Afghanistan support Emergency and Nexus Programme with focus on humanitarian response and basic human needs (BHN).

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS:

1. Programme Planning

2. Programme Monitoring

3. Planning and Monitoring Capacity Building

4. Coordination and Networking

5. Humanitarian Response and Basic Human Needs (BHN) programme

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD - Specific JD, Planning and Monitoring Specialist, NO-3.docx

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

1. Education: Advanced university degree in social sciences, statistics, planning development, planning.

2. Work Experience: Five (5) years of progressively responsible relevant professional work experience at the national or sub-national level in programme planning, implementation, monitoring, budget monitoring. Field work experience is required. At least one instance of exposure to emergency programming, including preparedness planning is required.

3. Skills:

• Programme monitoring and planning
• Data analysis and reporting
• Monitoring methodologies and statistical analysis
• Data management and interpretation
• Monitoring partnerships and international best practices
• Gender equality and diversity
• Team management, coaching and capacity building
• UNICEF monitoring policies, tools and procedures
• UNICEF mission, strategic framework and UN system knowledge

4. Language Requirements: Fluency in English, and the national language of the duty station: Pashto and Dari are required.

Desirables:

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset.
• Practical experience in monitoring large programmes will be an asset.
• Active involvement in a humanitarian crisis response programme is preferred.
• Experience in cash-based programming, including effective coordination and risk-informed management of field level implementation of cash-transfers is an asset.
• Experience and knowledge in managing grievance redressal mechanisms for cash-based programming is an asset.
• Experience in managing Service Providers (i.e. Financial Service Providers, Third Party Monitors etc.) is an asset.
• Relevant country-level experience in development, fragile, or humanitarian settings.

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 promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children.

The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.

UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates from targeted underrepresented groups are 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.

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.