Reports Officer

The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Based in Nairobi, UNOPS East and Southern Africa supports sustainable development across 14 countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe. Since 1995, UNOPS has expanded its footprint in Kenya, delivering services in project management, infrastructure, procurement, and financial management. Across the region, the office implements diverse, partner-funded initiatives that respond to national priorities. In Mozambique, this includes delivering specialized equipment (EU), supporting health services (UNICEF), promoting agro-processing (KOICA), and advancing peacebuilding efforts through a Multi-Donor Fund. UNOPS also supports agricultural input distribution and the Northern Crisis Recovery Project, both funded by the World Bank. In Malawi, efforts include developing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres in partnership with the EU and the British Council. These initiatives reflect UNOPS’ commitment to strengthening national capacities, enhancing service delivery, and supporting progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region.

The Reports Officer with relevant experience works as part of the Partnerships Unit within the Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships Section, to maintain and enhance quality relations with potential and actual donors. Specifically, this role includes ensuring the quality delivery of reports, implementation of donor engagement, including with future donors.  Under the general guidance of the Partnerships Specialist, the incumbent is responsible for ensuring tracking, review and editing of all reports. 

The incumbent also prepares briefing documents for the Country and Representative for use in donor meetings.

The role also includes maintaining effective donor reporting systems, including reporting trackers, records management in SharePoint, and submission of reports to donors and the requisite systems. The Officer also possesses the ability to support the team in the development of alternative mechanisms, and international financial institutions and non-traditional donors for UNICEF in Malawi. Lead on donor recognition and ensure donor visibility requirements are met in line with reporting commitment. 

Institutional Framework & Recruitment Context

This position is being filled as a Partner Personnel role. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is supporting UNICEF Malawi as a UN partner, acting on its behalf to provide dedicated recruitment and administrative support for this position.

The selected candidate will be recruited by UNICEF using UNOPS recruitment rules and regulations. Upon completion of the process, the incumbent will be engaged directly as personnel of UNICEF Malawi, not as UNOPS personnel. Consequently, the selected professional will work under the effective management, day-to-day oversight, and supervision of a designated supervisor within UNICEF.

The purpose of the role is to support the office in maintaining its excellent reputation of submitting timely, high-quality reports. It is also to drive donor relations through the management of donor reporting, and other key donor relation moments.

Project Reporting and Data Management

• Spearhead the development and execution of a comprehensive end-to-end donor reporting strategy for UNICEF Malawi, ensuring the timely and high-quality submission of project reports.
• Oversee the systematic collection, consolidation, and validation of project data from various sources, ensuring accuracy and consistency in reporting.
• Employ advanced data analysis techniques to interpret project data, identify trends, and provide actionable insights for project improvement and decision-making.
• Ensure all reports adhere to donor-specific guidelines and organizational standards, including branding and formatting requirements.

Monitoring and Evaluation Support

• Design, implement, and continuously refine monitoring and reporting systems to track project progress against key performance indicators (KPIs) and milestones.
• Develop and maintain reporting tools and templates to streamline the reporting process and enhance efficiency.
• Build the capacity of project staff in effective monitoring and reporting practices through training, guidance, and troubleshooting support.
• Conduct regular data quality assessments to ensure the reliability and validity of reported information.

Report Production and Dissemination

• Draft and produce high-impact project reports, including progress updates, annual reports, and ad-hoc briefings, tailored to specific donor requirements and communication objectives.
• Ensure the timely dissemination of reports to relevant stakeholders, including donors, partners, and internal teams, through appropriate channels.
• Develop visually appealing and informative presentations and infographics to communicate project results effectively.

Donor Relations and Communication

• Establish and manage a proactive donor reporting pipeline, maintaining an up-to-date tracker to ensure timely inputs and submissions across teams.
• Serve as a key point of contact for donor inquiries related to project reporting, providing prompt and accurate responses.
• Support the Partnerships Specialist in cultivating strong donor relationships through effective communication and engagement.

Knowledge Management and Governance

• Institutionalize knowledge management and reporting governance, ensuring complete documentation and audit-ready records.
• Establish and maintain a centralized repository of project reports, data, and related documentation in SharePoint or other designated platforms.
• Develop and enforce reporting guidelines and procedures to ensure consistency and compliance across all projects.

Donor Visibility and Recognition

• In collaboration with the Partnerships Specialist, lead on donor visibility and relations to develop and maintain donor recognition.
• Ensure donor visibility requirements are met in all project-related communications and activities, in line with donor agreements and organizational policies.
• Identify and implement opportunities to recognize and acknowledge donor contributions through various channels, such as events, publications, and online platforms.

Required

• A university degree is required in one of the following fields: economics, international relations, social policy, finance and development, or any other relevant field.

Required

• A minimum of two years of progressive professional work experience at the national or international level in one or a combination of the following functional areas: donor reporting, partnerships management, or blended and results-based financing, with bachelor’s degree.
• Demonstrated experience working with international financial institutions (IFIs) or other multilateral agencies.
• Demonstrated experience in drafting and/or reviewing high-quality written documents, including analytical and narrative reports.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear and actionable insights.
• Proven experience working with international organizations, international financial institutions, or development finance institutions.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.

Desired

• Strong computer literacy, including proficiency in standard office and data management tools. 
• High level of self-motivation, with the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and meet tight deadlines.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.