Programme Specialist (Resilience Project & Durable Solutions Coordinator) at UNICEF

How can you make a difference? 

Project coordination

• Facilitate overall programme design when required through ensuring work plans and activities are formulated, implemented, and monitored. Support in designing and coordinating specific resilience building interventions based on LGA’s specific risk profiles, conflict analysis, partnerships, government capacity and programme priorities.
• Overall coordination (for UNICEF) of all aspects of the Maiduguri level programme toward and the agreed results; including timely and effective grant and financial management.  
• Provide support and coordinate with Sections in Maiduguri for programme convergence and resilience integration across the programme cycle (planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation) and work closely with the UNICEF Sections to increase planning and realization of complementary programming.
• Co-lead with WFP the six-month Maiduguri level inception phase to finalize the JP design through an inclusive, localized, participatory approach to deliver a resilience analysis and an updated results matrix with selected communities, disaggregated numbers of beneficiaries, baseline and targets, and updates in the timeline and budget where necessary.
• Provide overall technical direction and support for UNICEF’s northeast Nigeria approach to the Durable Solutions Strategy (returns, relocation, and local integration) ensuring this is in line with UNICEF’s policies, principles, and approaches.
• Support the overall design and steering of area-level (Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states) Solutions-oriented programming, by working with existing technical working groups and entities, as required, for the development of Durable Solutions programming, area-based approaches, and self-reliance.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Oversee and support Maiduguri-level baseline/end-line development, knowledge management, M&E, and lessons learned arising from implementation through drafting/finalizing key documents, reports, updates briefing notes, and knowledge/information exchange to ensure continued generation of program evidence.
• Contribute to strengthening capacity and learning for UNICEF in programming for social cohesion, resilience, and the triple nexus.
• Coordinate the provision of cross-sectoral timely and quality inputs to donor reports and provide inputs to other documentation and presentations of the programme.
• Promote and participate in joint UN and Government-led humanitarian, early recovery and development assessments, analysis, and evidence-building on challenges, with national and international partners to promote harmonized Durable Solutions strategies and programs.
• Coordinate Programme Sections to contribute towards promoting robust data and evidence on Durable Solutions to inform decision-making for displaced affected communities, stakeholders, and government.

Coordination

• Lead overall coordination with WFP Maiduguri, and with UNICEF Maiduguri Programme Managers at the Maiduguri Field Office level.
• Coordinate closely with other UN agencies, development partners, and Government counterparts to ensure alignment and complementarity of resilience interventions in northeastern Nigeria.

Representation

• Represent UNICEF Maiduguri in JP coordination, with states and Local Government Areas, and other governance systems and networks as agreed with CFO.
• Act as the organizational focal point for the project at the Maiduguri level and other cross-sectoral resilience programmes
• Represent UNICEF in efforts to strengthen national and local government-led capacities and systems for sustainable solutions to displacement per the IASC Framework, in close coordination with human rights, humanitarian, development, and peace-building actors.

Partnership and Communication

• Manage JP-related partnership development, amendments and support overall project documents management.
• Lead Maiduguri-level JP visibility, communication as well as donor visits.
• Provide support to the UNICEF Abuja Team Lead to maintain and develop broader partnerships on resilience and ensure strategic linkages and coordination of UNICEF’s work in resilience with relevant partners including key donors.
• Provide updates and technical guidance to the UNICEF Maiduguri Chief of Field Office, and Emergency Unit for efforts of Durable Solutions through briefings, advocacy documents, and presentations for donors and other senior stakeholders.
• Carry out other related duties as required by the UNICEF Maiduguri Chief of Field Office.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development/international relations, peacebuilding, political science, social sciences, public
• Work Experience: A minimum of eight years of professional work experience at international levels in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and administration. Specialized training/experience in resilience/nexus/Durable Solutions programme management highly desirable.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English verbal and written is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered an asset.

Desirables:

• Experience working based in developing countries away from country of residence in emergency/humanitarian settings is essential.
• Results-based-management
• Knowledge of development and humanitarian issues, strategies, as well as programming policies and procedures in international development cooperation.  
• Prior experience in a similar role is highly desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal, internal, and external communication, coordination capabilities. and excellent team building and leading, and programme management skills.
• Ability to manage large budgeted multi-sector programmes and ability to lead diverse and multi-cultural teams. 
• Demonstrated ability in donor reporting. 
• Excellent communications skills, verbal and written. 
• Ability to multi-task and deliver against workplan and tight deadlines.