UNICEF, also known as the United Nations Children's Fund, is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. The agency is among the most widespread and recognizable social welfare organizations in the world, with a presence in 192 countries and territories. UNICEF's activities include providing immunizations and disease prevention, administering treatment for children and mothers with HIV, enhancing childhood and maternal nutrition, improving sanitation, promoting education, and providing emergency relief in response to disasters.

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 — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will 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.

The UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) provides strategic leadership, technical guidance, and oversight to 21 Country Offices in advancing UNICEF’s mandate for children and adolescents. The Regional Director (RD) serves as UNICEF’s principal representative in the region, engaging with governments, regional institutions, development partners, and internal audiences to advance UNICEF’s priorities under the Strategic Plan and Africa Strategy.

Under the supervision of the Executive Manager, the Executive Associate is accountable for procedural communications, operations and administrative support services, as well as specialized administrative functions, to enhance the smooth running of the supervisor’s day-to day activities in the Office of the Regional Director for ESAR.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
• Communications Support
• Administrative Support
• Operations Support
• Budget Monitoring Support
• Procurement Support

COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT
• On behalf of the Deputy Regional Directors, manage incoming and outgoing correspondence, e-mails and telephone calls.
• Communicate sensitive information to higher level managers.
• Provide routine information pertaining to the work of the division/office.
• Draft responses to written inquiries on routine questions.
• Coordinate responses to sensitive inquiries.
• Follow up on established deadlines and ensuring timely submissions by staff of reports, correspondence and other documents.

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
• Maintain the Deputy Regional Directors’ calendar and arrange meetings.
• Organize official travel on behalf of Deputy Regional Directors.
• Preparing briefing materials for official trips or meetings.
• Prepare documentation for the supervisor’s signature reviewing for style, factual and grammatical accuracy.

OPERATIONS SUPPORT
• Supports capacity development activities and conferences by making the logistical arrangements, through engaging with facilitators, caterers and hosts.
• Maintains and updates a system which monitors the absence of staff.
• Supports management of administrative supplies, office equipment, and updating the inventory of items.

BUDGET MONITORING SUPPORT
• Provides support on budget revision/preparation, implementation status, determination position of funding utilization, operational, and financial closure.
• Monitors budgets and financial expenditures of section, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations, keeping supervisor informed and advised on actions for decision/follow up.
• Prepares and maintains records, documents and control plans for the monitoring of project/programme implementation.
• Carries out transactions in VISION pertaining to grants for his/her section such as registering grant allotments and tracking expiring programme grants.

PROCUREMENT SUPPORT
• Guide managers in the process of PCA/SSAs in line with the policies and guidance issued by FRG, SD and DHR.
• Facilitate the processing of contracts for consultants and external partners that provide a service to the section. This includes preparing and filing documents, completing necessary forms and templates, uploading TOR’s in VISION, and making necessary logistical arrangements.
• Maintain up-to-date vendor lists, partners, and consultant rosters.