Planning & Monitoring Specialist (P-3), TA, 8 months, #00138172, Bujumbura, Burundi

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.

Burundi is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of East Africa, characterized by a high population density, widespread rural livelihoods, and significant development challenges. Despite progress in political stabilization and socio-economic recovery in recent years, the country continues to face constraints related to poverty, food insecurity, climate shocks, limited infrastructure and institutional capacity. These challenges are further compounded by rapid population growth, environmental degradation, and vulnerability to external economic shocks.
The Government of Burundi has prioritized sustainable development through its long-term national development framework, Vision Burundi 2040 and 2060, which aims to transform the country into an emerging economy by 2040 and a developed nation by 2060.
UNICEF Burundi, in collaboration with other development partners and United Nations agencies, play a critical role in supporting the achievement of national and sectoral development objectives. Through its current 2024–2027 country programme, UNICEF Burundi has supported the implementation of national development priorities, with focus on improving child survival and development, strengthening education and adolescent empowerment, enhancing child protection systems, advancing social policy, expanding access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, and reinforcing national systems that deliver essential services for children and families.
As the current programme cycle is approaching its completion, UNICEF has started the process of the development of the next 2028–2032 country programme. This process requires comprehensive situation analyses, evidence generation, programme evaluation, stakeholder consultations, lessons learned from the 2024–2027 programme cycle, and alignment with emerging national priorities under Vision Burundi 2040–2060. The preparation of the next Country Programme presents an important opportunity to strengthen strategic planning, enhance programme effectiveness, and ensure that interventions respond to evolving needs and challenges affecting children and communities across Burundi.

How can you make a difference?

The Planning and Monitoring Specialist (P3-TA) is based in the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) Section and reports to the Chief of Planning and Monitoring. The post focuses on programme planning, performance monitoring, results tracking, reporting and use of data for programme management. It includes contributions to evaluation and research activities, even if these activities are covered by a separate dedicated post within PME.

Under the supervision of the Chief of Planning and Monitoring, the incumbent provides technical and coordination support to strengthen the quality, coherence and effectiveness of planning and monitoring systems across the Country Office, enabling adaptive programme management and accountability for results.

Key expected results include:

• Country Office Planning Processes
• Integrated Monitoring, Evaluation & Research Plan (IMEP)
• Situation Monitoring and Assessment
• Programme Performance Monitoring
• Monitoring Capacity Building
• Coordination and Networking

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: TOR P3 TA Planning and Monitoring Specialist.pdf

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

Minimum requirements

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in social sciences, statistics, planning, or any other field related to international development is required.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in programme planning, monitoring and evaluation, programme management, results-based management, performance monitoring, data analysis, knowledge management, capacity building, coordination, management reporting, or related fields is required.
• Skills: Strategic planning, Situation analysis, Partnership management, Research management, Stakeholder coordination.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in French, and intermediate level of English is required.

Desirables

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is considered an asset.
• At least one instance of exposure to emergency programming, including preparedness planning and active involvement in a humanitarian crisis response programme, as well as experience working with government counterparts, development partners, and UN agencies, is considered a strong asset.
• Experience in the process of country programme development is considered a strong asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts is desirable.
• Demonstrated leadership skills are desirable.

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

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 are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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 and people with disability 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.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).
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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

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.