Programme Officer HACT, NO-B, Fixed Term, Post#118140, Kabul, Afghanistan

The situation in Afghanistan remains exceptionally complex, with a protracted emergency situation, characterized by recurrent natural disasters, an increased number of people living in poverty, continued internal displacement, unprecedented levels of food insecurity, further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. This complexity has greatly impacted the situation of children and women in the country. The withdrawal of United States military forces from Afghanistan in August 2021 and the establishment of a de-facto government by the Taliban has exacerbated the complexity and uncertainty of the situation. UNICEF is required to rapidly adapt our ways of working to address the multiple operational constraints present in the highly volatile and unpredictable context. This includes the need to establish a Programme Management Unit that will provide operational and transactional capacity to the Afghanistan Country Office to ensure urgent lifesaving and resilience building programmes can continue. The Afghanistan Programme Management Unit’s (APMU) Implementing Partnership and HACT Officer will report to the Implementing Partnerships (IP) and HACT Manager. He/she will be based in Kabul and will support the IP and HACT Manager in the administration of the overall implementing partnership cycle, including the risk management and assurance on transfer of resources in a complex programming context and high-risk operating environment.

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 Champion

How can you make a difference?

In anticipation of agreements with the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other major donors to implement programme interventions in the context of Afghanistan, the Afghanistan Country Office (ACO) is looking for an IP and HACT Officer (“Officer”). It is anticipated that partnerships with Civil Society Organizations (“CSOs”) will be a key component in the implementation of the programme activities supported by the Afghanistan Programme Management Unit and achieving the results in the Afghanistan Country Programme Document and the workplans of Afghanistan Country Office and the APMU. The Officer will support the manager in operationalizing all the steps of the IP Cycle, including the selection and due diligence on potential implementing partners, entering into programme cooperation agreement and preparing programme documents, conducting or coordinating assessment, monitoring and assurance activities, managing the budgets and financial reporting related to the partnerships and implementing the HACT assurance plans on partnerships managed by PMU.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Under the direct supervision of the IP and HACT manager, the IP and HACT officer (NO2) will:

1.       Perform or coordinate the key activities of the implementing partnership cycle:

1.1.       Supporting implementing partners to register in the UN Partner Portal

1.2.       Support the due diligence verification

1.3.       Support the process of setting up the IP as a vendor in VISION

1.4.       Generate Programme Cooperation Agreements

1.5.       Support the creation of Programme Documents, including Humanitarian and Contingency Programme Documents

1.6.       Review of FACE forms

1.7.       Record VISION related transactions

1.8.       Record programme documents in eTools partnership management system

2.       Perform or coordinate HACT activities:

2.1.       Update and monitor the execution of the HACT monitoring and assurance plan for partnerships managed by APMU

2.2.       Coordinate the execution of PSEA and HACT micro assessments of implementing partners

2.3.       Coordinate or participate in programmatic visits (field monitoring)

2.4.       Coordinate or execute financial spot checks of implementing partners

2.5.       Coordinate the execution of financial audits of implementing partners

2.6.       Follow-up on findings and recommendations from monitoring and assurance activities

2.7.       Document or review financial assurance activities in eTools partnership management systems

3.       Collaboration and support

3.1.       Work closely with ACO programme managers and programme assistance on the development, management and closure of implementing partnerships

3.2.       Work closely with field officers and field monitoring officers on the execution of HACT programmatic monitoring and financial assurance activities and the follow-up on their results

3.3.       Provide support to implementing partners during the application of the partnership cycle and provide relevant trainings. Analyze data and prepare reports on implementing partners.

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

Education: Bachelors’ Degree in international development, data analytics, international development, business administration, financial management, social sciences, public administration or other relevant areas of study.

Work Experience: Minimum two years of relevant professional experience in partnership or project management, business administration or relevant experience; Ability to work with a team as well as independently in a multi-cultural and gender-sensitive environment. Knowledge and ability to apply UNICEF or other UN Agencies’ partnership procedures; Knowledge and ability to apply UNDG HACT framework or other UN Agencies’ risk management procedures and framework; Ability to use project, partnerships or ERP systems, such as eTools, VISION / SAP or similar; Ability to analyze data and prepare reports.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English as a working language

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.