Senior Project Coordinator, D-1, Fixed Term, Yemen CO, O/P Amman, Jordan
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, Life.
In the 1970s UNICEF established presence in Yemen to respond to the urgent needs of children in the poorest country in the Middle East. In 1991, Yemen ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and it was enacted immediately. Since then the country has been making steady progress for children until it plunged into a brutal conflict in 2015 but even before that, Yemen needed large amounts of humanitarian assistance.
In collaboration with local authorities, non-governmental organizations and community partners, UNICEF is working in all the governorates in Yemen to respond to the needs of children throughout the country with a continuum of services to help children survive and grow to their full potential through the following programmes: Health, Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Basic Education, and Child protection.
For more on our work in Yemen, please visit our website: https://www.unicef.org/yemen/
How can you make a difference?
The Senior Project Coordinator will lead the Yemen Service Center (YSC) and its final transition from the Project Management Unit (PMU). The YSC will support all at scale direct payments to individuals with risk mitigation measures, manage a Complaints and Feedback Mechanism and oversee the management and implementation of the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) Project in Yemen while supporting the day-to-day running of the Yemen Outpost in Amman.
In coordination with YCO Senior Management and the Chief of Social Policy, the Senior Project Coordinator will act as the UNICEF focal point for the World Bank and other donors, the Social Welfare Fund and the Social Fund for Development to achieve the full implementation of the Unconditional Cash Transfers (UCT) benefitting about 1.5 million beneficiaries across Yemen.
Under the direct guidance of the UNICEF Representative and in consultation with the YCO Programme, Operations and Field Operations senior colleagues, the incumbent is responsible for overall project implementation of the UCT and at-scale payments for other relevant programmes.
To make a difference, the Senior Project Coordinator will perform the following key functionsaccountabilities:
- Responsible for the oversight of the implementation of the UCT program and its progressive transition to a national entity whose capacity, together with other national entities, is assessed and strengthened. Ensure project performance measurements, ensuring financial and banking procedures comply with the national evolving context and donors’ requirements. Ensure quality assurance and compliance to the project Operations Manual and UNICEFs policies and procedures in coordination with the YCO.
- Responsible for the implementation and transition of the PMU into a Yemen Service Center for the Country Office to ensure at scale direct payments to individuals, with risk mitigation measures, for multiple components of the programme.
- Leads and supervises the YSC team consultation Deputy Representatives (Programme & Operations), Chief Field Operations, Chief of Social Policy and other Section Chiefs. Provides timely guidance to concerned YSC colleagues to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently. Ensure timely performance planning, management and assessment.
- Coordinates and guides the implementation and monitoring of all project components related to YSC services, including those related to generating consolidated payment lists, payments to beneficiaries through payment agencies, Management Information System, third parry monitoring (TPM), fraud investigation, Complaints and Feedback Mechanism (CFM), grievance redress mechanism (GRM) putting safeguards in place to mitigate risks related to working in a fragile and conflict environment.
- Responsible for effective budget planning, utilization and reporting. Monitors the optimum and appropriate use of project resources (financial, human, administrative and other assets) and verifies compliance with organizational rules, regulations and procedures, donor commitments and standards of accountability and integrity.
- Monitors and evaluates the overall team and project progress and identifies project strengths and bottlenecks. In consultation with the Representative YCO, MENARO and NYHQ, as required, resolves any potential issues that could hinder the achievement of planned results.
- Analyses the overall safeguarding risks, as well as the project quality and efficiency in delivery, takes timely corrective actions to achieve results, and informs/alerts the Representative and other colleagues as required for timely intervention, when and if necessary.
- Ensures output indicators and lessons learnt are monitored and reported regularly. Coordinates/contributes to the preparation of project progress reports, donor and financial reports, as required. Confirms accuracy of reports prior to approval by the Representative. Ensure effective information management and knowledge sharing.
- Ensures that the YSC team works closely with the YCO Operations (human resources, supply and logistics, administration and finance) team and Programme Sections and adheres to the required procedures in implementing project activities on a timely, transparent and accountable manner.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Public Policy, Public Administration, Social Development, Development Planning, Business management; Financial management; Accounting; Public Finance; and related operations function or other relevant disciplines.
- A minimum of 13 years of professional work experience in formulation of policy in international or national administration; experience in external aid administration and senior level international development administration.
- Experience/familiarity with emergency and security related issues. Previous experience as a UNICEF Representative is desirable, previous hands on experience in strategic and managerial leadership is required. Experience in cash transfer programmes, Management Information Systems and Complaints and Feedback Mechanism is an asset. Prior experience working with diverse stakeholder groups or multi-stakeholder partnership is highly desirable. Experience in Enterprise Risk Management and Audits and Investigations would be desired.
- Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Arabic is an asset. Knowledge of another UN language is considered an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues
UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness(3)Drive to achieve results for impact (4)Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6)Thinks and acts strategically (7)Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
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This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty.
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.
Ffemale candidates are encouraged to apply.
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.
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 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 a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
