Monitoring Specialist, P4, FT, Regional Office, Amman Jordan, #94450.

The Monitoring Specialist will be responsible for leading the Programme and Performance Monitoring pillar of the Planning, Monitoring and Research section. Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Regional Chief of Programme and Planning and in close collaboration with the Regional Advisor Child Rights Monitoring, and the Regional Programme and Planning Specialist, the Monitoring Specialist will provide technical assistance and support to MENA Country Offices and RO in enhancing programme monitoring functions, in line with corporate standards and policies. The incumbent will lead and support the systematic process of collecting, analyzing, and using data generated by UNICEF programmes guide outcomes-focused and equitable programming and effectively manage programmatic risks, also contributing to understanding the situation of children and adolescents in the region. The position also supports the mainstreaming of emergency planning and humanitarian performance monitoring system, feeding preparedness, decision-making and external reporting needs. It also supports the full humanitarian planning cycle, namely assessments, planning, monitoring.

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

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — will not only give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

The Monitoring Specialist will be responsible for leading the Programme and Performance Monitoring pillar of the Planning, Monitoring and Research section. Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Regional Chief of Programme and Planning and in close collaboration with the Regional Advisor Child Rights Monitoring, and the Regional Programme and Planning Specialist, the Monitoring Specialist will provide technical assistance and support to MENA Country Offices and RO in enhancing programme monitoring functions, in line with corporate standards and policies. The incumbent will lead and support the systematic process of collecting, analyzing, and using data generated by UNICEF programmes guide outcomes-focused and equitable programming and effectively manage programmatic risks, also contributing to understanding the situation of children and adolescents in the region. The position also supports the mainstreaming of emergency planning and humanitarian performance monitoring system, feeding preparedness, decision-making and external reporting needs. It also supports the full humanitarian planning cycle, namely assessments, planning, monitoring.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:  

Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primarily, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results:

1. Situation Monitoring and Need Assessments

Ensure that the Country Offices and national partners have timely and accurate measurement of change in conditions in the country or region, including monitoring of socio-economic trends and the country’s wider policy, economic or institutional context, to facilitate planning and to draw conclusions about the impact of programmes or policies.

2. Planning (including in humanitarian contexts)

Ensure that the Country Office Programmes and PMR team use a well-prioritized, realistic and updated Response Plans that will provide the most relevant interventions and information to manage the UNICEF contribution.

3. Programme Performance Monitoring and Reporting

Ensure that the Country Offices have quality information to assess progress towards expected results established in annual work plans and in support of monitoring MENA accelerators.

4. Technical Support and Capacity Building

Ensure that child right monitoring and data capacities of UNICEF Office staff and national partners – government and civil society – are strengthened enabling them to increasingly engage in and lead situation analysis, child rights monitoring.

5. Coordination and Networking

Ensure that the UNICEF offices are effectively linked to wider UNICEF Planning& Monitoring & Reporting developments in a way that both contributes to and benefits from organizational learning on effective Planning& Monitoring & Reporting management.

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

Education: 

Advanced university degree in one of the social sciences, including statistics, development, planning, economics, sociology, etc. is required.

Experience: 

• A minimum of eight years of relevant professional work experience.
• Emergency country work experience is an advantage. At least one instance of exposure to emergency programming, including preparedness planning.

•  Active involvement in a humanitarian crisis response programme preferred.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, French) is 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

UNICEF Competencies required for this post are:

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

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. 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.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/”.

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

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). 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.