Planning & Monitoring Specialist, NOC/TA, Islamabad, Pakistan #109541 Req. 519935 (For Pakistan Nationals Only)

The Planning & Monitoring Specialist reports to the Chief Planning Monitoring & Reporting and will be stationed in Islamabad (Pakistan Country Office), to support the planning and monitoring of the country programme, specifically results formulation, annual targeting, and monitoring progress towards results. The position is integral to enhancing efficiency and effectiveness, strengthening internal governance and strengthening capacity of both UNICEF staff and national and provincial partners.

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.

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. Our workplace policies promote flexible work arrangements, to support all staff in maintaining a healthy life balance, both in and out of the office.

We are the first United Nations agency to be awarded the EDGE certification – the leading global standard for gender equality in the workplace.

UNICEF prides itself on fostering a multicultural and harmonious work environment, guaranteed by a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

For every child, results!

How can you make a difference?

1. Programme Planning and Reporting

Support the Pakistan Country Office and national partners to develop an equity-focused, results-­based and measurable Country Programme that provides the basis for implementation, performance monitoring and reporting, including for the joint programmes.

• Provide support for the preparation, review and analysis of strategic programme planning documentation, including the overall Country Programme Document (CPD) and programme strategy notes (PSNs)
• Drawing on monitoring and analysis of key programme performance indicators, provide professional inputs to management reports including the Country Office Annual Report (COAR), as well as reporting on Strategic Monitoring Questions (SMQs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) among others
• Coordinate and guides the preparation of equity-focused, results-based, risk-informed, and rolling work plans and leads review exercises of the same.
• Support the establishment of quality assurance mechanisms related to improved planning and effective use of planning tools in field offices and programme sections in line with the results-­based management principles and standards.
• Support programme sections in Results Assessment Module planning.
• Contribute to UNICEF's participation in United Nations (UNDAF, One UN) processes ensuring adequate input on the improvement of the well-being of children and women.

2. Programme Monitoring

• Support the establishment of programme monitoring mechanisms including mid-year and annual reviews, mid-term reviews, ensuring identification of progress and encounter of bottlenecks to be addressed by the programme sections and field offices.
• Provide technical guidance on setting up programme monitoring systems/tools using digital platforms, and oversee their further development. This includes field-monitoring, third-party monitoring (TPM) - including the management of TPM contracts - humanitarian performance monitoring and community-based monitoring.
• Support the implementation and performance of the programme monitoring system and regularly adjust standard operating procedures to ensure optimal monitoring results.
• Facilitate the semi-annual and annual updates to the Results Assessment Module.
• Support the establishment of a value for money framework and review mechanism for the country programme

3. Results-Based Management (RBM) Capacity Development and Quality Assurance

• Promote the awareness and understanding of the shared responsibility of RBM among all staff members through communication, training, learning and development activities organization-­wide.
• Oversee the quality review of donor proposals and reports, as well as draft Programme Cooperation Agreements (PCAs), from an RBM perspective.
• In close collaboration with partners, ensure that a RBM capacity development approach for UNICEF/UN staff national partners and institutions is developed, implemented and updated.

4. Budget Monitoring Support

• Provides support on budget revision/preparation, implementation status, determination position of funding utilization, operational, and financial closure.
• Monitors budgets and financial expenditures of section, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations, keeping supervisor informed and advised on actions for decision/follow up.
• Prepares and maintains records, documents and control plans for the monitoring of project/programme implementation.
• Carries out transactions in VISION pertaining to grants for his/her section such as registering grant allotments and tracking expiring programme grants.

5. Coordination and Networking

Ensure that the UNICEF office is effectively linked to wider UNICEF planning and monitoring developments in a way that both contributes to and benefits from organizational learning on effective planning and monitoring management

• Coordinate with Regional Programme and Planning Chief and relevant Offices at HQ for overall coordination of priority planning and monitoring activities, especially those of regional scope requiring the coordinated effort of multiple countries.
• Support the inclusion of current and accurate P&M data and results in regional reports, multi­-country studies, and knowledge sharing networks.
• Undertake lessons-learned reviews on successful and unsuccessful P&M practices and experience at the national level, and ensure they are shared as appropriate. Similarly, pay attention to P&M knowledge networks to identify innovations and lessons learned that may be relevant for the Country Office (CO) and partners to improve their P&M function.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced university degree in development planning, economics, social policy, social sciences, or related technical field.
• 5 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national and international levels in planning, design and management of social sector programmes, social policy analysis and programme planning and monitoring.
• Specialized training ( or demonstrated experience) in social sector planning & social policy analysis.
• Good knowledge of computer usage and application of appropriate software packages.
• Fluency in English and another UN language. Fluency in the national language of the duty station is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

The technical competencies required for this post are:

• Leading and Supervising (II)
• Planning and Organizing (III)
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts (II)
• Analyzing (II)
• Applying Technical Expertise (II)

View our competency framework at

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

Interested in finding out more?  

You will have a rewarding experience working with a dynamic, diverse and committed staff who are making a difference in saving lives and building a better future for Every Child in Pakistan.   

To know more about UNICEF’s work in Pakistan, visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan

Videos from Pakistan can be viewed on YouTube and Vimeo

Remarks:

- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

- HEC Attested Degrees are a pre-requisite for employment at UNICEF. During the recruitment process candidates will be required to present HEC attested degrees/certificates.