Stretch Assignment: Programme Asssociate, GS-6, Field Services, Abuja (Remote)
Title: Programme Associate
Level: we encourage staff from all levels with the relevant experience to apply
Reports to: Chief Field Services and Emergency
Duration: 5 Months
Section: Programme Section
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Dates/Duration: Stretch assignment from 1st August 2025 to 31 December 2025
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Eligibility: All Fixed-Term, Permanent or continuing appointment UNICEF staff members currently working in UNICEF worldwide.
Purpose of the Position:
Under the supervision and guidance of the Chief Field Services and Emergency, the programme associate is responsible for providing a range of procedural, administrative, and operational support in developing, implementing, executing and monitoring the country programme processes, ensuring effective and timely delivery that is consistent with UNICEF rules and regulations.
Duration
This stretch assignment will be for a period of Five (5) months.
Key expected results:
Task:
Administrative support related to the management of the 3rd party contract (LTA) responsible to the management of ~600 facilitators and health consultants:
- Support the strengthening of internal system related to the management of the two new third-party contracts related to state and LGA facilitators and health consultants (e.g. regularly update the facilitators and health consultants database; tracking new recruitment and departure, regularly update the TOR database and the evaluation reports database; ensuring corresponding POs are updated; drafting correspondence to LTA provider, concerned sections/field officers/UNICEF supervisors; tracking payment of invoices with sections etc.)
- Ensure clear segregation of duties between contract manager (CFS) and supply section.
- Provide additional administrative support to CFS (e.g. provide assistance in the organization on monthly meetings with LTA provider to discuss challenges and opportunities (specific cases, lessons learned etc.)
Calendar/Meetings/Correspondence Management:
- Maintain office calendar and arrange meetings
- Take minutes of meetings (e.g. bi-monthly CFO meetings), ensuring accuracy, attention to detail and coherence.
Travel:
- Provide travel assistance to staff members (Field Services and Emergency) for travel arrangements and entitlements based on the organization’s rules and policies. Liaises with relevant travel focal points to ensure that the organization obtains the best service and price for all travel.
- Extract, provide inputs, maintain, and verify correctness of travel records in the organization’s travel system to ensure accurate transactions related to travel costs and staff travel.
- Assist in the preparation of budgets on travel costs and maintain travel plan and budgetary control records.
- Monitor and analyze field offices travel plan.
Communications & Workflow:
- Facilitate the communications and workflow of the Field Services and emergencies to enhance the efficiency and timeliness of operations and outputs.
- Manage incoming and outgoing correspondence and e-mails.
- Ensure relevant archiving of information on sharepoint; and ensure the inter/intra-net websites are up to date and accurate.
Budget Monitoring:
- Monitor budgets and financial expenditures of emergency unit, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations, keeping supervisor informed and advised on actions for decision/follow up.
- Research, analyze, verify, and synthesize data and information to assist in the preparation of periodic or ad-hoc financial reports relating to emergency unit to support the office in optimizing use of programme funds.
- Provide support on budget revision/preparation, implementation status, determination position of funding utilization, operational, and financial closure.
- Carry out transactions in VISION pertaining to grants of the emergency unit such as registering grant allotments and tracking expiring programme grants.
Events/Logistics:
- Support capacity development activities and conferences by making logistical arrangements, through engaging with facilitators, caterers and hosts.
- Prepare background materials for participants.
- Prepare and maintain agendas on meetings and events related to the work group commitments.
Supplies/Equipment:
- Support management of administrative supplies, office equipment, and updating inventory of items.
- Monitor and supervise adequate and appropriate use of emergency supplies. Ensures that services and maintenance of premises are in accordance with organizational standards.
- Arrange for the purchase and timely distribution of office supplies.
Minimum Qualifications and Competencies:
- Completion of secondary education, supplemented by relevant technical/military/police courses and/or university courses in a relevant discipline.
- Minimum of 6 years of relevant administrative or clerical work experience is required.
Core Values:
Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability.
Functional Competencies:
Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
Works Collaboratively with others (1)
Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)
Retaining Current Post:
If selected for this stretch assignment, the staff member will remain on their existing post and temporarily work with UNICEF Field Services and Emergency in Abuja or remotely. Upon completion of the stretch assignment, the staff member will return to his/her respective post. Thus, no changes will be made to staff members’ existing status.
Funding arrangement:
This is a temporary development opportunity and there will be no changes to the staff member’s status (position number, level, etc.).
Interested UNICEF staff should discuss this opportunity with their supervisor and seek the approval of their management before applying.
Candidates considered potentially well-matched for the stretch assignment will be contacted for an informal interview. Supervisors may also be contacted for references.
