Humanitarian Performance Monitoring Specialist (P-3), Fixed Term, LACRO, Panama City, Panama, #103259

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.

For every child, a vision.

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.

With the growing number of natural disasters and humanitarian response efforts across the Region, and in the context of the ongoing crisis posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, LACRO requires increased capacity to provide technical support to planning, monitoring and reporting efforts in humanitarian contexts in line with the revised Core Commitments for Children (CCCs). This involved strengthening institutional and staff capacity in the area of information gathering, processing, analysis and management on humanitarian information management tools, procedures and systems, as well as exploring the use of novel data sources to gather further insights during humanitarian situations.

How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the Regional Chief of Programme and Planning, and working in close collaboration with the LACRO Emergency team, the Humanitarian Performance Monitoring Specialist will:

1. Provide guidance and assistance to LAC Country Offices to ensure they have useful, reliable humanitarian context data and analysis on the situation of children and women’s rights and the performance of UNICEF supporting both emergency preparedness and response efforts, including their relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability.
2. Assist in the development of the Regional Office and Country Office capacities for humanitarian planning, monitoring and research, with special attention to ensuring data is properly utilized to gain insights and evidence on the situation of children and women in the Region.
3. Provide support to UNICEF Regional and Country Offices on best practices to use and analyze existing humanitarian situation and performance monitoring data, with special attention on ways to combine different sources of information, including administrative date, to gain further insights on the situation of children in the region.
4. In collaboration with local and regional partners, provide support and oversight for specific technical projects, sectorial activities.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have… 

• An advanced university degree* in statistics, or in one of the social sciences, with strong quantitative training. UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with two additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of 5 years of increasingly responsible professional experience with either the UN and/or international NGOs.
• Prior experience with humanitarian situations and programme monitoring and data is required.
• Ability to develop systems and tools for Programme Managers to present information in multiple formats.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Windows, Excel, PowerPoint; expertise in data visualization, GIS/cartographic outputs.
• Experience working in the context of natural disasters or armed conflict is desirable.
• Fluency in English and Spanish (oral and written) is required. Fluency in another UN language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in: Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1); Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2); Works Collaboratively with others (2); Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2); Innovates and Embraces Change (2); Thinks and Acts Strategically (2); Drives to achieve impactful results (2); Manages ambiguity and complexity (2).

The technical competencies required for this post are: Formulating Strategies and Concepts (II); Analyzing (III); Applying Technical Expertise (III); Planning and Organizing (III). View our competency framework at https://www.unicef.org/careers/media/1041/file/UNICEF%27s_Competency_Framework.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.

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