The Planning & Monitoring Specialist will support the Chief of Field Office in planning, programme monitoring, budget monitoring, HACT implementation, Environmental and Social Standards (ESS), cash-based programming, and social protection activities within the Zonal Office. The role supports effective programme delivery, accountability, and results-based management.
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.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child, the right to a Champion
How can you make a difference?
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.
In Afghanistan, UNICEF operates in a complex and evolving context, characterized by protracted humanitarian needs, deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities, and limited access to basic services. The Country Office implements a dual programming approach that combines humanitarian action and basic human needs (BHN) programming, supporting life-saving interventions while contributing to longer-term resilience and development outcomes.
UNICEF’s engagement is grounded in the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action(CCCs) and guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence. The office actively contributes to inter-agency coordination platforms, including sector and cluster coordination groups for Nutrition, WASH, Education, and Child Protection. It also supports the Afghanistan community and humanitarian partners in improving service delivery, evidence-based planning, and accountability.
Planning and Monitoring is essential to UNICEF’s programmes, ensuring they are effective, inclusive, and responsive. It involves integrated planning, collecting and analysing data to guide decisions, manage risks, and adapt to changing needs. Planning and Monitoring supports accountability to stakeholders and aligns with UNICEF’s rights- and results-based management approach. It focuses on complex systemic change, not just linear outcomes, and promotes equity by using disaggregated data to address diverse needs. UNICEF also strengthens national data systems and collaborates with partners to improve data quality. By tracking progress and identifying areas for improvement, planning and monitoring enhances programme quality and ensures better outcomes for children and their communities
Strategic office context:
The position is located in one of these zonal offices: Northern (Mazar-i-Sharif), Eastern Region (Jalalabad) and Central Region (Kabul) and is responsible for planning, programme monitoring (including budget monitoring), Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT), ESS (Environmental and Social Safety Standards), and serves as the focal point for cash-based programming and social protection for the Zonal Office. The incumbent will report to the Chief of Field Office (CFO).
Purpose for the job:
Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief of Field Office, the Planning and Monitoring Specialist NOC will provide support to and facilitate the planning and monitoring functions for the Zonal Office, (ZO) to enable country programme delivery. This will be done in close collaboration with other P&M Section members and zonal sectoral programme staff.
1. Programme Planning
2. Programme Monitoring
3. Planning and Monitoring Capacity Building
4. Coordination and Networking
If you would like to know more about the positions, please review the complete Job Descriptions here: 
Classified Job Descriptions - 132848 Planning & Monitoring Specialist.pdf; Classified Job Descriptions - 132849 Planning & Monitoring Specialist.pdf; Classified Job Descriptions - 132850 Planning & Monitoring Specialist.pdf
To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Social Science, Statistics, Development studies, Planning, or any other related field.
- Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Programme, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Budget monitoring or any other related field is required.
- Skills: Knowledge in Data analysis, Team coordination, Results-based management, Risk mitigation and Analytical skills are required.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.
Desirables:
- Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
- Field work experience, Emergency programming experience, Humanitarian crisis response experience, Cash-based programming experience and Third-party monitoring experience are assets.
- 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
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
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
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 are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.
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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female 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.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.
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.