🇳🇬 Job Vacancies @ United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) – 7 Positions

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (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.

We are recruiting to fill the following positions below:

1.) Adolescent Development Specialist (U-Report)
2.) Nutrition Specialist, P-3
3.) Finance Associate, G6
4.) Innovation and Knowledge Management Manager, P4
5.) Climate Change Consultant
6.) Social Policy Manager
7.) Construction Specialist, P3

Job Title: Adolescent Development Specialist (U-Report)

Job no: 577056
Location: Abuja
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Level: NO-3
Categories: Communication

How Can You Make a Difference?

• Under the supervision of the Chief of Communications, Advocacy and Partnerships, the Adolescent Development Specialist (U-Report) will support the scaling up of the U-Report programme including U-Report communities, and make it meaningfully used for programming for children by UNICEF, Government, and implementing partners. The incumbent will work with programme sections to develop and deploy demand-driven U-Report use cases that address development challenges and accelerate results for children. The incumbent will be tasked to support integrating social innovation approaches into traditional UNICEF programming, especially for adolescents and young people.

Specific Rsponsibilities

• Managing and maintaining the U-Report digital platform (RapidPro), ensuring its smooth operation and technical integrity.
• Collaborating with program sections to design and deploy regular U-Report polls and other digital content.
• Analyzing incoming messages, feedback, and data to assess progress, identify trends, and inform decision-making.
• Promoting U-Report as UNICEF's flagship program for advocacy, leveraging digital channels to amplify its impact.
• Supporting youth mobilization by developing and implementing campaigns to engage young people, increasing U-Report participation, and fostering a sense of community.
• Driving digital engagement by creating and curating content, moderating online discussions, and encouraging user-generated content by young people
• Building and maintaining U-Report communities, including community leaders and platform users, to ensure high engagement and reach.
• Supporting the Chief CAP in fostering partnerships with government counterparts, media outlets, and mobile telephone operators to expand U-Report's reach, influence, and impact.
• Assisting in proposal development, reporting, and other communication-related tasks for development, advocacy, adolescents, and youth.
• Managing U- U-Report Territory Officers

Minimum Requirements

• Education: An advanced University Degree in one of the following fields is required: Communication, Journalism, Digital Media, Information Technology, International Development, Adolescent Development, or a related field.
• A Bachelor’s degree with an additional two years of relevant work experience may be accepted.
• Work Experience: At least a minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, at the national and international level working with children and marginalized youth in the global south, including on adolescent/youth/community engagement and innovation.

Skills:

• Strong technical and digital background, with experience in managing digital platforms and social media.
• Ability to manage U-Report digital platforms, including RapidPro and other related tools.
• Proven understanding of how to engage young people through digital channels, including social media, SMS, and online communities.
• Excellent digital communication skills, including content creation, curation, and moderation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience in data analysis and reporting.
• Experience with digital campaign management, including strategy development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Excellent communications skills, verbal and written, with strong interpersonal, public speaking, presentation, and writing skills.
• Good computer skills with software proficiency in Windows, Microsoft Office Suit (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote)
• Knowledge of youth-related issues, trends, and behaviors, particularly in Africa, with familiarity with UNICEF's programming and goals.

Application Closing Date
15th November, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Job Title: Nutrition Specialist, P-3

Job no: 577063
Location: Sokoto
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Level: P-3
Categories: Nutrition

How Can You Make a Difference?

• The Nutrition Specialist supports the development and preparation of the nutrition programme and is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the programme progress of a sector of the nutrition programme within the country programme.
• The Nutrition Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable results in maternal, infant and child nutrition programmes/projects.
• This is carried out according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.
• Overall, the Nutrition Specialist will strategically engage in nutrition policy dialogue and advocacy with the State Government and key stakeholders to ensure effective policy adaptation on nutrition and food security, as well as would ensure that the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action – the CCCs—for nutrition are effectively implemented and promptly reported on.

Summary of Key Functions / Accountabilities

• Support to programme development and planning
• Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
• Technical and operational support to programme implementation
• Networking and partnership building
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Minimum Requirements
Education:

• An Advanced University Degree in one of the following fields is required:  Nutrition, Public Health, Nutritional Epidemiology, Global / International Health and Nutrition, Health / Nutrition Research, Policy and/or Management, Health Sciences, or another health-related science field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of five years of professional experience in a developing country in one or more of the following areas is required: nutrition, public health, nutrition planning and management, or maternal, infant and child health/nutrition care.
• Experience in health/nutrition programme/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset including emergency context.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

Application Closing Date
21st November, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Job Title: Finance Associate, G6

Job no: 577031
Location: Abuja
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Level: G-6
Categories: Financial Management

Job Summary

• The Finance Associate will be responsible for providing a variety of specialized tasks in finance functions, ensuring accurate and timely delivery that is in compliance with UNICEF financial rules and regulations, whilst demonstrating the capacity to research, adapt and evaluate irregular cases, and also to recommend improvements to process delivery and design.
• The efficiency and effectiveness of the Finance Associate directly impacts on the optimum, appropriate and effective use of resources and efficient financial recording, accounting and reporting, which in turn facilitates management oversight, decision making and quality control.
• At the G-6 level, the below tasks are expected to be carried out with a high level of independence.

Major Responsibilities

• Advise and assist on all aspects related to preparation of reports, compilation of data and answering queries on pledges recorded, funds received, adjustments made to ensure financial compliance, accuracy and completeness of data for its inclusion into statement of accounts and adjustment of budgets.
• Advise units of discrepancies and assist to resolve differences in their records.
• Maintains financial records and monitoring systems to record and reconcile expenditures, balances, payments, statements and other data for day-to-day transactions and reports.
• Selects and enters data from a wide variety of documents, verifying and ensuring accuracy by checking sources, making necessary calculations and assuring inclusion of all relevant data.
• Prepares recurring reports as schedules and special reports especially Excel reports, as required for budget preparation, audits or other reasons.
• Provide support on monthly and year end accounts closure and assist in the preparation of year-end reports related to accounts receivable, accounts payable, prepayment, deposits, NEP and leave balances, etc.
• Advises and assists international staff, experts and consultants on all aspects of allowances, salary advances, travel claims and other financial matters, and calculates and authorizes payments due for claims and services.
• Initiates correspondence to verify data, answers queries and obtains additional information on accounts and financial transactions, as required.
• Maintains liaisons with officials of local banks to obtain day-to-day information on exchange and interest rates, changes in procedures and regulations, and matters pertaining to maintenance of office bank accounts.
• This includes prepares recurring reports and bank reconciliation.
• Reviews HACT transactions to ensure completeness and accuracy by tracing to supporting documentation.
• Prepares detailed cost estimates, and participates in budget analysis and projects, as required.
• Performs other duties, as required.

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

• Education: Completion of secondary education is required with professional/university level courses in Accounting and Finance / Business Administration considered as an asset.
• Experience: A minimum of six years of clerical experience in the area of finance and accounting is required.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Application Closing Date
21st November, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Job Title: Innovation and Knowledge Management Manager, P4

Job no: 131001
Location: Abuja
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Level: P-4
Categories: Knowledge Management

How can you Make a Difference?

• This role aims to manage, lead, and support demand for innovative processes and collaborate with the ICT Manager to co-drive the Technology for Development (T4D) programmatic support.
• UNICEF programs increasingly leverage digital means for effective program delivery, systems strengthening and monitoring.

S/He will work closely with the ICT Manager to provide

• Strategic guidance to programme teams in the identification, assessment and integration of innovative solutions, including ICT and digital innovation, into UNICEF programming,
• Strengthen internal capacity to lead and support innovation and T4D related initiatives,
• Identify and engage with key partners, building close business relationships,
• Apply reusable and replicable technical buildings blocks, maximizing the potential for the scale-up and sustainability of technology and digital innovation for UNICEF programming.

Key Functions, Accountabilities and Related Duties / Tasks
Effective promotion of innovation across the UNICEF Nigeria Country office through the Innovation Governance Framework and Portfolio management:

• Review and implement office-wide innovation strategy, based on UNICEF’s global and regional innovation strategies and the workplans
• Coordinate country-specific development and testing of innovation products and processes that strengthen and improve UNICEF's programming and results for children and young people.
• Support the innovation needs of eight zonal offices in Nigeria by regularly undertake field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decide on required corrective action, including in emergencies.
• Lead deployment of a portfolio approach to solutions prioritized for UNICEF programming
• Provide capacity building and training to UNICEF and partner staff and end-users in using innovative products and processes.

Policy and strategic development of technology-enabled Programming:

• Provide leadership to the implementation, monitoring and reporting of the digital development and technology innovation strategy for the country office, including assessment of gaps, opportunities and scale-up innovative strategies in support of CO priorities.
• Operationalize the development and technology innovation into the programme planning lifecycle through the Nigeria CO innovation strategy.
• Coordinate with the ICT Manager/ Digital Transformation Lead on the development and quality assurance during planning and deployment of T4D initiatives; participate in establishing and maintaining standards, documentation and support mechanisms for T4D.
• Finalize comprehensive mapping of planned, ongoing and completed innovation/T4D initiatives in Nigeria and upload in UNICEF’s innovation portfolio database INVENT.

Innovation Cross-Sectoral Technical and Programmatic support:
NCO has a robust portfolio of Innovation initiatives currently being implemented in various operational stages and the Innovation Manager will support these initiatives. Current examples include:

• Accelerating open defecation-free (ODF) status across Nigeria
• Develop and test urban sanitation models for insecure areas,
• Test innovation for performance-based ODF achievement and reward system for LGAs, communities, and states, and
• Revise strategies and tools for market-based sanitation and sanitation finance, and
• Integrate expansion of female toilet business owners in market-based sanitation
• Reducing stunting in children focusing on the first 1000 days of life
• Reducing out-of-school children (OOSC) including developing a model for the southern states and improving tracking progress of out-of-school children
• Reducing the number of zero-dose children who have never received any immunization and scale and use of operational innovations e.g. HOPE
• Supporting birth registration/ legal identity for every child
• Develop a framework to accelerate and integrate birth registration coverage with Primary Health Care services, particularly in rural and fragile settings, to improve accessibility and effectiveness,
• Strengthen the National Population Commission (NPC) Innovation Hub,
• Capacity building and training programmes for health workers and registrars,
• Interoperability of eCRVS with legal identity and digital health data systems, and
• Enhance digital infrastructure and equip NPC offices for digital operation.
• Complementary to these innovation priorities are the use of innovative financing approaches within the country office like the public finance management for children (PF4C), exploring a multi-sector child grant mechanism (universal children benefits), and digital cash transfers to advance digital and financial inclusion with a gender lens.

Partnerships and technical support on Children and Adolescents, Youth Engagement and Advocacy :

• Co-chair GenU 9JA Pillar 1 Task Force for Connectivity and Digital Learning,
• Convene regular meetings with partners, agreeing on work plans, and aligning efforts for impact,
• Strengthen existing relationships and support the creation of new partnerships with public, private, and youth partners, and
• Support sections, private sector partnerships, and resource mobilization teams in partner engagements to advance innovation initiatives and results for children.

Collaborate with other pillars of the PMR network in Nigeria CO:

• Provide exemplary management and leadership, motivating and developing staff under the pillars of the PMR network, programme sections and field offices to perform at their best and live the core values
• Manage performance of the PMR network by regularly discussing performance, giving timely, constructive feedback, identify learning goals, among others
• Ensure a supportive work environment for the development of the team including work life balance
• Develop and maintain a workplace environment in line with the core values of UNICEF.

Minimum Requirements
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

• An Advanced University Degree in International Development, Business Administration, Information Technology, Innovation Management, or another related field is required
• A minimum of 8 (eight) years of relevant professional experience in managing programmes or projects related to innovation, information technology for development, communication, and education with strong technology components across a large organization. Experience in start-up companies/organizations is an asset.
• Experience identifying, designing, and implementing solutions for large-scale projects with technical components – including supervising external vendors and software developers; responsibility for business analysis, budgets, contracts, project management, and procurement, etc.
• Experience in Open Source, mobile and emerging technology applied to UNICEF programme areas is extremely desirable.
• Experience with RapidPro, OpenSRP, DHIS2, ODK, and other global public good technologies, and deploying, maintaining and scaling these technologies is highly desirable.
• Good knowledge of current trends in youth participation and new media
• Experience in managing internal and external partnerships, including international organizations.
• Demonstrated experiences on design principles, human-centered design approaches, business modelling from ideas to market and customer services orientations are highly desirable.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

Application Closing Date
8th November, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Job Title: Social Policy Manager, P-4

Job no: 576822
Location: Abuja
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Duration: 364 days
Duty Station: Abuja
Level: P-4
Categories: Social Policy

Purpose of the Job

• Under the general guidance of the supervisor, the incumbent is responsible for advising the Chief, Social Policy on the design, management, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all stages of social policy programing and related advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results.

This includes programmes aimed at improving:

• Public policies to reduce child poverty;
• Social protection coverage and impact on children;
• The transparency, adequacy, equity and efficiency of child-focused public investments and financial management; and
• Governance, decentralization and accountability measures to increase public participation and the quality, equity and coverage of social services.
• This encompasses both direct programme work with government and civil society partners as well as linkages and support to teams working on education, health, child protection, water and sanitation, and HIV.

Summary of Key Functions/ Accountabilities
Improving data on child poverty & vulnerability for increased use for policy and programme action:

• Supports the Chief in managing the collection, analysis and user-friendly presentation of data on multidimensional and monetary child poverty, including strengthening national capacity to collect routinely, report and use data for policy decision-making.
• Provides timely, regular data-driven analysis for effective prioritization, planning, and development; facilitates results-based management for planning, adjusting, and scaling-up specific social policy initiatives to reduce child poverty.

Strengthening social protection coverage and impact for children:

• Develops social protection policies, legislation and programmes with attention to increasing coverage of and impact on children, with special attention the most marginalized.  Identifies, generates and presents evidence to support this goal in collaboration with partners.
• Promotes strengthening of integrated social protection systems, providing technical support to partners to improve the design of cash transfers and child grants and improve linkages with other social protection interventions such as health insurance, public works and social care services as well as complementary services and intervention related to nutrition, health, education, water and sanitation, child protection and HIV.

UNICEF Programme Management:

• Manages and coordinates technical support around child poverty, social protection, public finance and governance ensuring it is well planned, monitored, and implemented in a timely fashion so as to adequately support scale-up and delivery. Ensures risk analysis and risk mitigation are embedded into overall management of the support, in close consultation with UNICEF programme sections, Cooperating Partners, and governments.
• Supports and contributes to effective and efficient planning, management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the country programme. Ensures that the social planning project enhances policy dialogue, planning, supervision, technical advice, management, training, research and support; and that the monitoring and evaluation component strengthens monitoring and evaluation of the social sectors and provides support to sectoral and decentralized information systems.

Strengthened advocacy and partnerships for child-sensitive social policy:

• Supports correct and compelling use of data and evidence on the situation of children and coverage and impact of child focused services – in support of the social policy programme and the country programme overall.
• Establishes effective partnerships with the Government, bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs, civil society and local leaders, the private sector, and other UN agencies to support sustained and proactive commitment to the Convention of the Rights of the Child and to achieve global UN agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Identifies other critical partners, promotes awareness and builds capacity of partners, and actively facilitates effective collaboration within the UN family.

Impact of Results:

• The strategic and effective advocacy, planning and formulation of social policy programs/projects and the achievement of sustainable results, contributes to achievement of goals and objectives to create a protective environment for children and thus ensure their survival, development and well-being in society.
• Achievements in social policy programs and projects in turn contribute to maintaining/enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide program services for mothers and children that promotes greater social equality in the country.

Minimum Requirements

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of eight years of relevant professional work experience is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset.
• Background and/or familiarity with emergency is considered as a strong asset.

Application Closing Date
11th November, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should
Click here to apply online

Job Title: Construction Specialist, P3

Job no: 576693
Location: Abuja
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Duration: 364 days
Duty Station: Abuja
Level: P-3
Categories: Supply Management

Job Summary 
Under the general guidance of the Construction Manager and the direct supervision of the Construction Specialist, P4 the incumbent will be responsible for managing and monitoring all construction activities in the Country Office (School infrastructures, Health Centers, etc.) and providing technical support to UNICEF Programmes/Operations on construction and rehabilitation activities. Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Preparation of construction annual workplan
• Collaboration with UNICEF Programmes/Operations and coordination with Government counterparts
• Preparation of design and technical documents
• Support to procurement process
• Monitoring of construction projects

Responsibilities
Preparation of construction annual workplan:

• Prepare and collect information required for the annual work plan on regular activities, ongoing projects and others in the pipeline.

Collaboration with UNICEF Programmes/Operations and coordination with Government counterparts:

• Provide technical backstopping and support in matter of construction project management to Programme/ Operations sections and Government counterparts; contribute with Programme sections in developing child-friendly community infrastructure development program proposals; provide information to Programme on construction related activities to include them in their AWP.
• Provide assistance to Programme /Operations sections through involvement in construction project proposals, planning, and preparation of relevant terms of reference; analyze the project context and suggest the appropriate implementation and procurement modality.
• In collaboration with the Government counterparts, develop and produce innovative cost-effective construction designs using local construction materials; compile and update list of best practices in construction and building design.
• Attend steering and technical cooperation meetings; prepare PPT presentations on projects' progress; undertake follow-up actions in relation to project implementation and monitoring.
• Provide Programme/Operations sections with information on projects' progress; undertake appropriate actions to overcome technical obstacles; draft relevant sections of project reports required for donors, management, annual reports, etc.

Preparation of design and technical documents:

• Prepare the scope of construction works based on Programme/ Operations requirements, budget and site limitations; define deliverables and payment modality.
• Apply UNICEF norms and standards (child-friendly, accessibility, MOSS, MORSS, etc.) to construction projects, taking into consideration the local environment and available materials; verify if compliance with green building standards is required in coordination with DFAM Field Support Unit.
• Check technical documents related to construction (design drawings, technical specifications and bills of quantities); verify whether they are clear, complete and compliant to programmatic and construction needs, eco-efficiency and accessibility requirements; undertake the actions required to endorse these technical documents by relevant ministries.
• Follow up with the designing firms and government entities for obtaining all permits required for construction activities prior initiating works.

Support to procurement process:

• Provide support to Supply section with preparation of LPA requests and CRC submissions with supporting documents related to construction activities.
• Conduct surveys to identify potential construction companies and engineering firms available in the local market; prepare terms of reference required for establishing local Long-Term Arrangements for engineering services (design and site supervision).
• Prepare tender documents in relation to construction works and engineering services; attend bidders' conference and present the technical components of the tender; prepare answers on technical questions raised by the bidders during the tendering.
• Support Supply section in organizing bidders' conference and site visits; conduct the evaluation of technical proposals received and prepare the evaluation report; provide support to Supply section on the analysis of financial proposals.

Monitoring of construction projects:

• Conduct the kick-off meeting of construction works with the construction company, the engineering firm and relevant government counterparts.
• Provide close monitoring on construction activities by undertaking regular site visits and conducting regular technical meetings including joint monitoring with relevant Government technical services; follow up progress for each activity per milestones and review site supervision reports to ensure work compliance with norms, standards, and timeline; verify quality and precautions on health and safety standards on ground.
• Use effective monitoring and supervision tools to ensure easily assessment of works quality, progress, and performance of engineering firms and construction companies during the entire duration of the project; apply multi-layered approach to construction supervision and quality assurance; use documented hold and inspection points, where applicable.
• Certify payments/variations and compile supporting documents; monitor construction expenditures and progress certificates; prepare and maintain relevant table for each construction activity.
• Provide support to UNICEF Contract Administrator on contract management, amendments, variations, duration extensions, applying liquidated damages, etc. Ensure all documents/information required for contract management are available, complete and properly archived.
• Participate in the partial, substantial and final reception of works after verifying the correction of all defects during the DLP; prepare and issue relevant certificates.
• Prepare Contract Performance Evaluation; provide support to UNICEF Contract Administrator on contract close-out in VISION; prepare the final completion report with the lessons learned for submission to the Construction Unit (SD) and AMS/NYHQ as necessary.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree is required in in civil engineering, construction engineering, architecture or other relevant area, or relevant first-level university degree (Bachelor’s) in conjunction with a valid relevant professional certification is required.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, at the national and/or international levels, in project management, site supervision, quality assurance and/or other directly related technical fields is required.
• Understanding of development and humanitarian work.
• Emergency experience an advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

Application Closing Date
14th November, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should
Click here to apply online