UNICEF South Sudan is looking for a Programme Specialist (Emergency Coordination) to drive coherence, visibility, and cross-sectoral delivery of a multi‑sectoral, USG‑OCHA–funded emergency programme over a 6‑month period. In one of the world’s most complex humanitarian settings—marked by conflict, displacement, climate shocks, and limited access—you will play a pivotal role in ensuring aligned, timely, and accountable emergency response across Health, Nutrition, WASH, and Child Protection. Working closely with Juba-based teams, field offices, and implementing partners, the role strengthens real-time programme tracking, operational troubleshooting, and coordinated action in hard-to-reach areas. You will also represent UNICEF within inter-agency coordination structures, supporting delivery in line with the Core Commitments for Children and L2 emergency procedures. This is an opportunity to enhance impact for children by ensuring that humanitarian efforts are coherent, connected, and operationally strong across South Sudan.
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South Sudan remains one of the most complex humanitarian contexts globally, characterized by recurrent conflict, large-scale displacement, climatic shocks (including flooding), access constraints, and weak service delivery systems. Children face overlapping deprivations across sectors, requiring coordinated, multi-sectoral responses.
The country operates under a sustained humanitarian architecture, with strong reliance on inter-agency coordination mechanisms, including the cluster system, and close collaboration with OCHA. Programme implementation is highly decentralized, with significant reliance on implementing partners and field offices operating in hard-to-reach and high-risk areas.
This position is established within this context to strengthen cross-sectoral coordination, operational visibility, and implementation tracking of emergency programme delivery across the country.
Under the supervision of the Emergency Specialist, the Programme Specialist (Emergency Coordination) is responsible for coordinating and tracking the implementation of a multi-sectoral emergency programme funded by USG-OCHA across South Sudan. The role ensures:
• Coherent implementation across sectors (Health, Nutrition, WASH, Child Protection) and targeted geographical locations
• Strong alignment between Juba-based sections, field offices, and implementing partners
• Real-time visibility on programme progress and bottlenecks, particularly in hard-to-reach locations
• Effective engagement in inter-agency coordination structures related to the emergency programme funded by USG-OCHA
The role is coordination-focused and supports delivery in line with UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) and L2 emergency procedures.
1. Implementation Management and Delivery Oversight
• Coordinate implementation across sectors, states, and counties to ensure timely, integrated delivery of services
• Align Juba sections and field offices to resolve operational bottlenecks and address implementation gaps
• Ensure geographic prioritization of interventions based on severity, access, and evolving needs
• Identify underperformance (by location, sector, or partner) and drive corrective actions, including escalation where required
• Support acceleration of delivery in lagging areas, with a focus on high-severity and hard-to-reach locations
• Monitor use of funds, procurement activities, and logistical arrangements against implementation progress to ensure timely implementation.
• Constantly evaluate the situation on the ground to identify new needs or bottlenecks, allowing for swift adjustments.
2. Monitoring and Field Verification
• Develop and operationalize a multi-sectoral monitoring plan adapted to access and security constraints
• Coordinate monitoring efforts across sections, partners, and field offices to ensure consistency and coverage
• Undertake or coordinate field monitoring missions, including in high-risk or hard-to-reach areas
• Verify implementation progress and service delivery on the ground, triangulating partner and field-level data
• Identify gaps in coverage, particularly affecting displaced populations, returnees, and vulnerable groups
3. Information Management, Analysis and Reporting
• Establish and maintain a centralized system to track implementation across sectors and locations
• Consolidate data from sections, field offices, and partners into a coherent, real-time overview of programme performance
• Analyse trends related to access, displacement, seasonality, and operational constraints to inform decision-making
• Produce regular situation updates, dashboards, and reporting inputs for internal management and donors
4. Coordination and External Engagement
• Maintain structured coordination mechanisms across sections and field offices to track progress and resolve bottlenecks
• Ensure alignment with inter-agency response through close liaison with OCHA, clusters, and partners
• Represent UNICEF in relevant USG-OCHA programme related interagency meetings, as delegated by SSCO management
• Strengthen coordination between programme and operations (supply, logistics, access) to enable delivery
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
TOR - Programme Specialist (Emergency Coordination) - P3,#136800, TA, 6 months.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements
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Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Social Science, Public Administration, Development Studies, International Relations and any other related fields.
A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree)in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. - Work Experience: Minimum five years of relevant professional experience in programme coordination / management of complex programmes/projects across sectors and stakeholders. Demonstrated experience in UNICEF or UN humanitarian operations in L2/L3 contexts. Strong experience working with OCHA and inter-agency coordination and funding mechanisms. Prior experience in South Sudan or comparable complex, high-risk and access-constrained environments is required.
- Skills: Strong analytical and writing skills, team coordination abilities. Strong written and oral communication and facilitation skills. Networking with diverse stakeholders in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary contexts. Ability to work in fast-paced environment, under high work pressure. Ability to navigate complex situations, and agility to pivot when needed.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.
Technical Knowledge:
a) Specific Technical Knowledge Required: Strong knowledge of UNICEF emergency operations and L2 procedures. Familiarity with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs). Demonstrated experience in multi-sectoral coordination in complex humanitarian settings. Strong understanding of OCHA coordination systems, cluster approach, and HCT/UNCT processes. Solid understanding of South Sudan humanitarian context, including access constraints, displacement dynamics, and operational modalities
b) Common Technical Knowledge Required: Programme/project management methodologies. UNICEF programme policies, procedures and systems (L2). Humanitarian coordination architecture. Data analysis and reporting. Gender equality and inclusion in emergencies
c) Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced: Deepened understanding of state- and county-level dynamics in South Sudan. Advanced tools for real-time monitoring in access-constrained environments
Desirables
- Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
- Coordination, Multisectoral, High-Risk, Hard-to-Reach
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
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…
(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.
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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.
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