UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built, we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, hope.

UNICEF has been in Sudan since 1952 and provides long-term humanitarian, development and peacebuilding assistance to children and young people, their mothers, families and communities. We target the most vulnerable children, including refugees and internally displaced persons, through lifesaving programmes, especially at the household and community levels; while strengthening systems and working to sustain peace and advocate for respect, dignity and the full realization of children’s rights.

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Field Operations and Emergency (CFOE), the Programme Specialist (Field Operations) will assist the CFOE in overseeing and supporting UNICEF’s field operations in Sudan. This role involves addressing a range of programmatic, operational and coordination issues, focusing on the needs of field offices, and facilitating communication and coordination between field offices, programme sections and operations, ensuring timely support.

 The programme specialist will contribute to the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of program activities at the field level, as well as emergency preparedness and response. This will involve close coordination with country office program sections, operations and field offices to ensure the survival, wellbeing of children, mothers, and affected communities, in accordance with the obligations of the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) in humanitarian action.

Summary of Key Functions and Accountability

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Field Operations, the Programme Specialist will provide support on a range of programme, coordination and field operations issues, both in the field and at country office level. Her/his tasks will include:

a) Field Coordination Support

• Liaise with Chiefs of Field Offices (CFO) on programme management, implementation and operational matters to identify potential gaps in staffing/operations/programmes and liaise with operations and programmes in Port Sudan to ensure timely support and action.
• Organize, coordinate and document all meetings related to field operations. Specifically, responsible for organizing regular and ad hoc meetings with FOs and sections. Manage related action point matrix, ensure circulation, monitoring and follow up with relevant persons/sections to ensure completion of identified issues.
• Undertakes field visits to monitor projects, as well as conducts periodic project reviews with field offices, counterparts and other partners. Proposes and/or undertakes action on operational procedures affecting project management and implementation. Provides technical advice and assistance to field offices.
• Contributes towards the preparation of the field Situation Analysis by compiling data, analysing and evaluating information.
• Together with Chief of Field Operations, Sections and Field Office staff, identifies capacity building needs and objectives for the purpose of capacity building, project sustainability.
• Coordinates with Field Offices on issues related to supply and non-supply assistance and activities ensuring timely follow up and action.
• Supports the preparation of status reports required for management from Field Operations, Board, donors, budget review, programme analysis, annual reports, etc.

(b) Support field offices in Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Monitor information received from FOs on local emergency and security situation to inform relevant persons and follow up with sections to ensure response.
• Work closely with Emergency Unit to support field offices with emergency preparedness/contingency planning.
• Closely work with Field Offices and access advisor on access issues at a field level to conduct analysis of access for goods and persons on a monthly basis, ensure communication flow and follow up actions.
• Monitor gaps in emergency response in the field and liaise with relevant sections on the support need.

(c) Programmatic support to the field

• Working closely with relevant sections provide technical support to field offices on cross-cutting issues including localization, PSEA, GBV and AAP, coordinating development of field focused strategies, guidance, SOPs as required.
• Monitors and coordinates implementation of PSEA, GBV, AAP, localization in the field.
• Provide technical support to the field.

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

Education:

• Master’s degree in social sciences, public administration, law, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines.
• Relevant professional training in the relevant field is a strong asset.

Work Experience:

• 5 years of professional work experience in program/project management and coordination is required.
• Experience in emergency contexts and the field/field operations is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Experience working in the UN Common System or Similar International Organization is an asset.

Languages: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Spanish, Arabic, or Russian) or the local language is an asset. 

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core 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)

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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:

 As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.