Temporary Appointment – 364 days : Senior Programme Manager, P-5, Kandahar, Afghanistan

Under the broad supervision of the Chief of Field Office and the Chief of Polio, the Senior Programme Manager is accountable for overall leadership and managerial guidance on programme at Regional level, policy direction, high level advocacy with local authorities, program integration, and representation at the Regional EoC. The incumbent will also collaborate / coordinate with senior WHO officials and oversee the quality implementation of new initiatives for the Polio Programme including M&E in the Southern Region of Afghanistan. Accountable for higher level programme coordination, and management of all components and phases of programme formulation, planning, design, implementation, and administration of the total programme commitment, consistent with the organization’s goals, strategy, and priorities in collaboration with technical leads at ACO.

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.

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For every child, care.

UNICEF’s current objectives is to ensure every child less than 5 years is vaccinated with Polio vaccines every time it is offered, the current post will be Managing all the Polio activities in Southern Region of Afghanistan and providing guidance to the Regional and Provincial teams.   All parents accept Polio vaccines to be administered to their children during all planned polio campaigns and during Routine Immunization activities.

The specific role of the position in contributing to their achievement is to lead the Polio programme activities in South Region, provide guidance and support to the team at Regional and Provincial level. Engaging with Polio partners in the Region including the Regional EOC.

– All children less than 5 years of age in the Region receive OPV when it is offered during campaigns. – Reaching zero polio cases by end of 2024 among humans and in the Environment.

How can you make a difference? 

Managerial Guidance, Policy Advice, and Coordination

Ensure the achievement of Polio Programme goals by providing overall senior level leadership and managerial guidance to senior-level programme teams at regional level in line with technical leads at KCO on policy direction, work plans, and control mechanisms.

Provide expert technical and policy advice to the Chief of Field Office, Chief of Polio Programme and Head of Office on programme strategies, planning, and courses of action; aligned with technical leads of strategic areas.

Proactive and continous programme implementation analysis to support evidence-based course correction.

Utilize the latest knowledge and support documentation of best practices in polio emergency response programming to initiate new approaches and develop methodologies that best meet goals and objectives, in consultation with technical leads.

Collaborate with Country Office team leaders for overall coordination. Collaborate with the Operations Section to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of programming endeavours and to coordinate financial and supply management requirements and accountability.

Knowledge Management

Ensure that the Polio Programme in the region is aligned with KM strategy and plan supported by ACO technical leads and promote knowledge management through regular data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting, and participation in the Programme Knowledge Network system of “lessons learned” and other corporate-level databases.

Country Programme Development and Management

As the senior managerial position in the Office, hold direct accountability to the Chief of Field Office and Chief of Polio for overall coordination, planning, development, and management of the Polio Programme in the Southern Region.

Collaborate with technical leads at ACO and Exercise leadership to make key recommendations on funding of programmes, quality and acceptability of documentation, and deployment or redeployment of staff within the office.

Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through advocacy and programmatic policy dialogue at local, national, regional, and international fora.

Supervise and coordinate the preparation/updating of the Situation Analysis for the Polio Programme including critical areas such as SBC, capacity building, digital engagement, M&E. Enhance the identification/review of critical and innovative intervention points and measures by administering a consistent and transparent monitoring system.

Contribute to the formulatation of the Country Polio programme goals and objectives and develop strategies and implementation frameworks including exit strategy.

Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach

Adopt a rights-based programme approach in the formulation of programme goals and objectives and development of strategies and implementation frameworks.

Prepare and submit viable recommendations on project implementation, alternative approaches, and optimal utilization of resources that contribute effectively to the fulfilment of the rights of children and women.

Optimum Use of Programme Funds

Oversee and establish programme work plans and monitor progress and compliance. Approve and monitor the overall allocation and disbursement of programme funds, ensuring they are properly coordinated, monitored, and liquidated.

Programme Monitoring and Evaluations

Undertake field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decide on required corrective action.

Carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation and coordinate the major programme evaluation exercises.

National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability

Guide and assist DFA to plan and organize training programmes for capacity building in consultation with ACO technical leads for system strengthening and programme sustainability.

Rights Perspective and Advocacy at the National, Community, and Family Levels

Approach policy analysis from a children’s and women’s rights perspective and advocate at the government, community, and family levels.

Advocacy, Communication, and Networking through Partnership and Collaboration

Promote partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development data and information.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Health, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.

Experience:

• Ten years of relevant professional work experience at the national and international level in Programme development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, public health emergencies etc)
• Experience in management of technical support in health-related emergency and humanitarian preparedness and response.
• Experience in programme/project management, and UN policies and strategy.
• Experience in coordination of emergency response especially in polio eradication and complex humanitarian environment are an asset
• Experience in large scale Social Behavior Change programmes and /or vaccine supply management is an asset.
• International and developing country work experience and field work experience
• Background/familiarity with Emergency Response in a fast-changing environment

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency

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 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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. 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.

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 candidates 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.

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.