Implementing Partnership Management Officer, FT, NOB, East Jerusalem, State of Palestine, # 125395

This will be an entry level position reporting to the Operations Manager or another supervisor as locally assigned for close close guidance and supervision. You will provide professional technical, operational, and administrative assistance throughout the programme cycle through the application of theoretical and technical skills in researching, collecting, analyzing and presenting technical information to facilitate the integration of HACT/IPM plans in all programming activities and to ensure the application of HACT and related IPM organizational rules, regulations and procedures in the CO.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, care

UNICEF in the State of Palestine works to uphold the rights of children to access services and protection, from early childhood through to adolescence. Our objective is to ensure that every child in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, irrespective of background or circumstance, has an equal chance to fulfill their potential. We are working for every child and young person in the State of Palestine.

How can you make a difference?

You will report to the Operations Manager or other supervisor as locally determined for close guidance and supervision. The Level 2 is an entry professional level and should therefore be normally used as a trainee level for acquiring organizational knowledge of rules, regulations, and processes to supplement academic and theoretical knowledge of the profession for upward mobility to higher responsibilities. You will provide professional technical, operational, and administrative assistance throughout the programme cycle through the application of theoretical and technical skills in researching, collecting, analyzing and presenting technical information to facilitate the integration of HACT/IPM plans in all programming activities and to ensure the application of HACT and related IPM organizational rules, regulations and procedures in the CO.

As an advocate for children, you will have the following duties/tasks:

1. Support to Planning & Implementation of HACT activities

• Participate in HACT planning and discussions and support the development and completion of HACT plans through research, collection, analysis and reporting of related information/data to facilitate planning and priority setting for HACT activities.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout the process by executing/administering technical, operational and administrative transactions and preparing related materials/documentations to ensure the incorporation of HACT into the country programme.
• Support the preparation of CO-wide micro assessment and assurance plans in collaboration will other programme staff and relevant operations colleagues.
• Prepare information on shared implementing partners to facilitate joint planning and execution of micro assessments and audits in line with the UNICEF HACT Procedure.
• Serve as the reference person on HACT implementation in the office.
•  Participate in and assist with the preparation and regular updating of CO micro assessment and assurance plans.
• Provide technical and administrative support to external service providers in the execution of HACT contracts and activities to ensure timely and efficient delivery of results.

2. Technical support to implementing partnership and HACT management

• Provide technical support to the country office in the formalization of implementing partnerships with government, civil society organizations and other implementing partners in line with relevant policies, procedures and guidelines, including the CSO Procedure and guidance on work plans.
• Provide technical and administrative support in the implementation of HACT in line with the HACT policy and procedure and other relevant organizational policies, procedures, and guidelines, including the DFAM Policy 5: Cash Disbursements Supplement 3-Cash Transfers (HACT). This includes coordinating the preparation of CO annual assessments and assurance plan, facilitating its execution, and coordinating with other adopting agencies as appropriate.
• Together with qualified/experienced CO colleagues, undertake spot checks of implementing partners to assure management and donors on use of programme funds. Support the Programme colleagues/Implementing Partners to follow all UNICEF Digitalized platforms.
• Contribute to development and monitoring of implementation of CO HACT related SOPs and internal procedures, including escalation of issues identified through assurance activities.
• Prepare annual HACT implementation and assessment reports. Performing secretariate duties to the PRC.

3. Technical support to management of cash transfers / DCTs

• Communicate and follow up with relevant cost programme sections to ensure timely liquidation of DCTs.
• Review DCTs reports and support management in ensuring a consistent approach across programme areas in FACE FORM related processes.
• Coordinate programme inputs for justification of DCT impairments and write offs, as necessary. Conduct periodic quality assurance of cash transfer modalities, review of vendors in the system and DCT ageing as per the office key performance Indicators for DCTs (KPIs).
• Review DCTs and initiate DCT follow-up correspondence and meetings for DCTs over six months.

4. Risk management and quality assurance

• Support the recording and updating of risk ratings of implementing partners in VISION through review of the Vendor Master and provision of relevant information to appropriate colleagues in the CO.
• Establish a central repository for HACT decisions, documentation and reports to provide timely and current information to facilitate implementation of HACT in the CO.
• Review assessments and programme assurance reports to identify areas of weaknesses related to the implementation of HACT and keep supervisor/management, programme staff and partners informed of findings for timely action and/or intervention.
• Monitors and assesses adequacy of actions taken to ensure the risks are managed.
• Formulate pragmatic recommendations and secures the agreement of management to mitigate the identified risks.
• Provide a summary of performance of external providers in relation to implemented HACT activities.

5. Networking and inter-agency partnership

• Exchange information and/or operational support to implementing partners, UN system partners and other stakeholders in the CO on the implementation of HACT to reinforce UN/CO harmonization and coordination.
• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of HACT information and knowledge to facilitate/build their capacity for implementing HACT.
• Participate in appropriate inter-agency meetings/events to facilitate and promote sharing of information, knowledge, experiences, and best practices.
• Interact regularly with other country offices and the regional office on HACT.
• Participate in country office ERM exercises to ensure that risks for implementing partnership management are identified and mitigation measures put in place.

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Identify, capture, synthesize and share lessons learned from HACT and its implementation for integration into broader knowledge development planning and management efforts.
• Maintain the HACT Assurance Dashboard in line with HACT Framework and Country Office HACT Plans.
• Contribute to design and implementation of capacity development strategy/initiatives for implementing partners which can be supported by UNICEF through identification of common weaknesses in financial and procurement management from review of micro assessment and assurance activity reports of high and significant risk partners.
• Contribute to design and implementation of capacity development strategy/initiatives for CO staff to ensure that staff has knowledge and skills to fulfill their responsibilities under HACT.

For more information on the specific technical expertise needed, kindly visit the below JD.

 NOB IP management officer SOP JD.pdf

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

• Education: A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Accounting, Business Administration, Financial Management, and Auditing.
• A minimum of two years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: Partnership Management, Financial Planning and Management, Auditing or Risk Management.
• Experience working in an emergency context is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an advantage. 
• Fluency in English and Arabic is required. 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, 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.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Remarks:

The VA is open to all (internal and external candidates)

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable male are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also 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 cancelled.

All selected candidates will 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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.