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Community Development Officer

Bata

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Bata
  • Grade: Junior level - NO-A, National Professional Officer - Locally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Social Affairs
    • Infrastructure and Urban-Rural development
    • Civil Society and Local governance
    • Urban Development, planning and design
    • Communication for Development (C4D)
  • Closing Date: Closed

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, 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.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

 

Job organizational context:

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea has a population of 1,222,442 inhabitants (census 2015), with children aged 0 to 18 representing 44 per cent of the population, and the majority of which are located in the continental region which holds more than 72 per cent of the population. Equatorial Guinea is heavily dependent on an oil-economy, which accounts for 60 percent of the GDP, 80 percent of fiscal revenue, and 86 percent of exports. The country is classified as upper Middle Income Country (UMIC) and is no longer a Least Developed Country (LDC).

The country has shown mixed progress in key social indicators. The number of people living below poverty has declined from 77 to 44 percent and under five mortality was reduced by 38 percent from 2006 to 2011 (DHS, 2011).  On the other hand, vaccination coverage has decreased and HIV prevalence is on the rise, estimated at 6.2 percent, the highest in West and Central Africa region. Only 54 per cent of children obtain birth certificates, and strong advocacy with the Government is under way to develop a more effective system.

UNICEF CO in Equatorial Guinea is small in size (around 18 staff, with 8 international and 10 nationals with an overall budget of 4 million USD). Equatorial Guinea is in its fifth year of implementation of the current Government/UNICEF Country Programme (CP) 2013-2017/18, which is aligned with the current UNDAF and the National Plan for Economic and Social Development, Horizonte 2020. The main aim of the CP was to contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and to ensure that all children especially the most vulnerable, are guaranteed their rights to survival, development, protection and participation. The current CP will be extended to 2018 and includes two main Programmes working respectively at upstream and downstream levels: i) Equity-Based Social Policies, Knowledge and Advocacy, which focus on supporting policies and legislation, evidence-based advocacy, particularly to increase expenditure for the social sector and establish a social protection system to reduce inequalities and ensure an equity approach in the implementation of the National Development Plan, Horizonte 2020 and: ii) Child Survival, Development and Protection, which aims to strengthen the capacity of government institutions, families and communities to ensure equitable access and use of an integrated package of basic services (health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, early childhood development, primary education, child protection), especially for the most vulnerable.

Purpose for the job: The Community Development Officer reports to the Chief Field Officer for close supervision and guidance. The Officer contributes to the programme design, monitoring, oversight and implementation, evaluation of programme/project activities, data analysis and progress reporting. He provides technical and operational support to the supervisor and internal colleagues by administering, executing and implementing a variety of tasks to promote community engagement and participation, and measureable behavioral and social change/mobilization.

Key Functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

  • Build and maintain partnerships through networking and proactive collaboration with national and international civil society organizations, community groups, leaders and other critical partners in the community and civil society to reinforce cooperation through engagement, empowerment and self determination and to pursue opportunities for greater advocacy to promote UNICEF’s mission and goals for child rights, social equity and inclusiveness.
  • Institutionalize/share best practices and knowledge learned/products with global/local partners and stakeholders to build capacity of practitioners/users, and disseminate lessons learned to key audiences including donors and partners.

  • Support the organization, administration and implementation of capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders/partners across programme sectors in planning, implementation and evaluation in support of programmes/projects. Develop training materials for training activities, and revise them periodically for improvements and updates.
  • Supports the project planning, management, oversight, monitoring and evaluation of the   programme in NWZ. Collects and analyzes data related to   programme implementation. Prepares programme implementation progress reports and evaluates in relation to established programme recommendations and plans of action. Provides monitoring and oversight of sector consultants. Reports on the outcomes of analyses and proposes corrective actions.

  • Undertakes regular visits to UNICEF   project sites, assesses local conditions and resources, and monitors UNICEF inputs. Communicates with counterpart authorities on central, regional and district level about the project feasibility and effectiveness, including the flow of supply and non-supply assistance.

  • Undertakes follow-up actions on programme implementation activities and prepares reports. Drafts changes in the programme work plans, as required.

     

  • Attends technical cooperation meetings and insures coordination between the five implementing UN Agencies, prepares notes and undertakes follow-up actions related to programme implementation

  • Assists in the preparation of the programme AWP, programme progress reports and recommendations by drafting relevant documentation, ensuring adherence to established rules and regulations.

  • Evaluates and analyzes data, financial and supply reports to ensure that expenditures are within allotments and data is consistent with the regulations. Monitor implementation of PCAs, including monitor use of resources. Reports to the supervisor Head of PME section in Hargeisa and   Manager in USSC detailing the outcome of reviews.

  • Drafts relevant sections of reports (required for donors, management, annual reports, etc.).

Impact of Results

Limited technical decisions on project implementation which will impact on project efficiency and delivery. Makes recommendations on project implementation, alternative approaches, and optimal utilization of UNICEF resources.

Supervisor defines parameters of assignments and outlines approaches to problem areas. Research is carried on independently. Analysis and drafts of reports are reviewed in progress to ensure soundness and accuracy. This in turn contributes to enhancing the ability of UNICEF to fulfill its mission to achieve sustainable and concrete results in improving children rights in the continental region.

Competencies and level of proficiency required

Core Values

  • Commitment
  • Diversity and inclusion
  • Integrity

Core competencies

  • Communication (II)
  • Working with people (I)
  • Drive for results (I)

Functional Competencies

  • Formulating strategies/concepts (I)
  • Relating and networking (I)
  • Persuading and influencing (I)
  • Applying technical expertise (I)
  • Learning and researching (II)
  • Planning and organizing (II)

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Recruitment qualifications

Education:

A university degree in one of the following fields is required: social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, public relations, public administration or another relevant technical field.

Experience:

A minimum of one year of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required:  social development programme planning, communication for development, public advocacy, project administration, monitoring and evaluation or another related area.

Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

Language requirements

Fluency in Spanish is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language and local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

This vacancy is now closed.
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