Senior Programme Associate, GS-7, Lusaka, Zambia (Fixed Term Contract For Zambian Nationals Only)

This is an exciting opportunity to pursue a career in programming

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

For every child ……

The UNICEF Programme in Cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) is designed to address and mitigate the triple threat of poverty the country’s children face, while responding to the needs with interventions addressing the multiple causative factors.

In response to the combination these threats involve the Programme supports national efforts to improve service delivery in the key areas of: child health and nutrition and HIV and AIDS, quality basic education, water, sanitation and hygiene education, child protection and social policy, advocacy and communication. 

To find out more about UNICEF’s work in Zambia, click here

How can you make a difference? Under the direct supervision of the Chief Education, the incumbent is responsible for operations, planning, monitoring, and administrative management for the Education Section. The incumbent coordinates work planning for the office and ensures resource needs are effectively planned for and provided. S/he provides technical support on setting performance indicators and monitoring programme results.  Finally, the incumbent provides guidance on and effectively manages administrative, operations and budget issues, ensuring compliance with the organization's policies and procedures.

This will involve;

Programme planning and reporting

• Compiles and coordinates development of the annual workplan including identification of resource needs; tracks progress against planned milestones.
• Advises on and monitors follow-up actions based on management decisions to meet workplan targets and to fill resource needs.
• Compiles annual reviews and other reports on progress made.

Programme performance monitoring and preparation of monitoring and evaluation plan

• Develops the programme monitoring framework and identifies programme performance indicators in consultation with programme staff and in line with the annual workplan.
• Integrates UNICEF indicators and targets into institutional reporting mechanisms.
• Provides technical support to the UNICEF office to effectively monitor and report on programme results including analysis of UNICEF expenditures, management of databases with baseline information and key indicators for easy access and use, and preparation of simple statistical reports.
• Coordinates with other programme sections to standardize indicators and data collection regarding their volunteer initiatives and to compile and analyse the results at the global level. Provides the offices with guidance and support on establishing and maintaining a monitoring framework as needed
• Provides technical support in organising and managing programme reviews and evaluations, ensuring consistency with objectives and goals set out in the annual workplan and organizational strategic plan.
• Researches, synthesizes and integrates into UNICEF programme performance monitoring, current knowledge and practice on monitoring and evaluation in the field of Education.
• Identifies, synthesizes and shares lessons learned from programme monitoring and reviews to guide programme and management decisions.

Maintenance and expansion of knowledge resources

• Develops and maintains knowledge organization system for the office.
• Shares lessons learned from programme monitoring and programme reviews for integration into broader knowledge development planning and management efforts.
• Contributes to the preparation of reports and project documents by providing information, preparing tables and drafting relevant sections.

Appropriate and consistent interpretation and application of administrative policy and procedures timely implemented to support operations for the UNICEF office.

• Provides practical input on implementation of administrative guidelines, in close coordination with the supervisor. Keeps supervisor abreast of potential problem areas, prepares reports on administrative matters as required.
• Ensures that all administrative transactions and arrangements of contracts are in compliance with the applicable policies, procedures, rules and regulations in consultation with the other Programme and Operations Section
• In liaison with the Global Shared Service Centre (GSSC), Programme  and Operations manages the processing of all financial commitments, payments and legal agreements including consultant contracts, institutional contracts and long term agreements, partnership agreements, staff contracts, internship and volunteer arrangements, reimbursements, funds commitments and funds reservations for the office ensuring that required background documentation are in order.

Budget preparation and implementation are properly administered

• Monitors office expenditures using VISION and InSight systems and provides timely reports on funds utilization. Assists in planning, identification, allocation, monitoring, donor reporting and management of the overall budget.
• Liaises with country and regional offices on appropriate use an
• d timely closure of delegated funds reservations.

Office services, travel and logistics are managed efficiently

• Oversees the provision of basic offices services including space management, supplies, equipment, and systems access to enhance staff productivity.
• Manages accurate tracking of attendance.
• Advises on application of UNICEF travel guidelines for staff and consultant travel. Trains staff on how to use appropriate UNICEF systems to book and certify their travel. Provides support as needed.
• Prepares logistics for major meetings and provides support during the event.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• Completion of secondary education (Full grade twelve certificate), First university degree courses in administration, finance, or any other related field of discipline relevant to the job is an asset 
• A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible administrative, office management, Finance, ICT, human resources, supply  or any other  relevant function. 
• Fluency in English and in the local language of the duty station required.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication (ii)
• Working with People (ii)
• Drive for Results (ii)

Functional Competencies 

• Analyzing (ii)
• Applying technical expertise (ii)
• Planning and organizing (ii)
• Following Instructions and Procedures (ii)

Technical Knowledge

• Principles of office management, operations management, programme management and administration
• Knowledge of UNICEF's programmes and financial/administrative rules, regulations, policies, procedures and practices.
• IT Skills and working knowledge of UNICEF VISION, InSight, MICROSOFT — Excel, PowerPoint and Word software.
• Knowledge of planning and monitoring principles and practices

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.