Programme Coordinator

UNICEF is a leading humanitarian and development agency working globally for the rights of every child. Child rights begin with safe shelter, nutrition, protection from disaster and conflict and traverse the life cycle: pre-natal care for healthy births, clean water and sanitation, health care and education. UNICEF has spent nearly 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families.
Working with and for children through adolescence and into adulthood requires a global presence whose goal is to produce results and monitor their effects. UNICEF also lobbies and partners with leaders, thinkers and policy makers to help all children realize their rights—especially the most disadvantaged.

This I-UNV assignment is to support The United Nations agency for children (UNICEF)’s work in the Nuba Mountains area of South Kordofan and in parts of the Blue Nile (2 Areas), Sudan which is characterized by a complex interplay of historical grievances, political aspirations, and socio-economic challenges. The area is under the control of non-state actors with established governance systems that oversee access to the areas, local resources and facilitate the approvals of humanitarian aid activities. The April 15th 2023 war in Sudan has worsened the humanitarian situation in the area; movement of people and flow of goods has become more restricted. The humanitarian situation in the 2 Areas is critical, with ongoing conflict exacerbating vulnerabilities. Immediate and sustained humanitarian assistance is necessary to address food insecurity, health/nutrition needs and protection concerns. Collaborative efforts between local authorities, NGOs, international organizations, and United Nations Agencies are essential to improve the situation for affected populations. The United Nations agency for children (UNICEF) in partnership with international and national NGOs is supporting Health, Nutrition, Education, WASH and Child Protection Programmes in both areas. The programmatic activities are a mix of emergency response – for example cholera and other disease outbreaks, severe and acute malnutrition, lack of access to clean water and sanitation, among others as well as development programming on education provision, child protection, and cohesion.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Emergency Coordinator or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the focus of work of the UN Volunteer Programme Officer is as follows:
Within the delegated authority and the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be accountable for all or assigned areas of the following major duties and end results.
1. Knowledge Management for Programmes Ensure that area/country programmes are strengthened by knowledge management through data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting as well as participation in the Programme Knowledge Network system of "lessons learned" and other corporate-level databases.
2. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations Undertakes field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decides on required corrective action. Carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation and participate the major programme evaluation exercises in consultation with the Emergency Coordinator, the Evaluation Officer, Chief of Southern Area and others to improve efficiency and quality of programme delivery. Ensure the timely preparation of annual programme status reports.
3. Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach Assure the quality of child rights-based programmes through consistent and effective planning, design, implementation, monitoring and/or evaluation of programmes and projects. Bring coherence, synergy and added value to the programming planning and design processes using a results-based management approach to programme design. Ensure 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, and recommendations on new programme initiatives and management issues to ensure achievement of stated objectives.
4. National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability Provide key local stakeholders with technical support and guidance to plan and organize training programmes for the purpose of capacity building and programme sustainability. Ensure the building or reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners starting with taking a strategic approach to the identification of these partners and partnerships.
5. Rights Perspective and Advocacy at the Community and Family Levels Conducts policy analysis from a children's and women's rights perspective and advocacy at the community and family levels for credibility in national and international policy debates.
6. Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration Develop partnerships and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development data and information, exchange information on programme/project status and implementation and movement/distribution of supplies. Establish and maintain linkage to the Regional Programme Knowledge Network to ensure the availability of current and accurate programme data. 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. Plans, develops, and implements sectoral programme(s) by collaborating with the key local stakeholders and other partners. Provide leadership in provision of technical advice, negotiation, advocacy, and promotion of area/country level goals, leading to agreement on practicable and priority actions to be supported by the United Nations agency for children (UNICEF) programme and country level cooperation.