Programme Associate, Temporary Appointment (364 days), Addis Ababa (For Ethiopian Nationals Only)

Under the supervision and guidance of the Education Specialist, the Programme Associate supports the section by carrying out a range of programme support functions that provides overall support towards timely planning, implementation, monitoring and results-based reporting of the GPE funded System Transformation of Education Programme (STEP) for Girls and Learning

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For every child, 

UNICEF is currently the Grant Agent (GA) for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) System Transformation Grant (STG) – in the amount of US$ 107.59 million – and Girls Education Accelerator (GEA) – amounting to US$ 25 million – totaling US$ 132.59 million, which will be under accelerated implementation for the next four period of the System Transformation of Education Progranmme (STEP) for Girls and Learning beginning from July 2024 to June 2028. As the GA, UNICEF bears the responsibility for overseeing overall programme planning and implementation and results-reporting in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE), Regional Education Bureaus (REBs), STEP Target Woredas, other Implementing Partners, GPE Coordinating Agencies (USAID and FCDO) and the Local Education Group members. The STEP programme is focusing on realizing a strengthened, more inclusive and equitable schools and education system for accelerating girls’ education and improving learning outcomes for all children in Ethiopia, and aims at achieving interrelated intermediate results as follows:

Result 1: Teachers and school leaders with a focus on pre-primary and primary schools and most disadvantaged areas, empowered to support inclusive and effective student learning. 

Result 2: Increased and more equitable access to quality middle school and secondary education to accelerate girls’ education and conflict recovery in the most disadvantaged areas.

Result 3: Strengthened system transformation and capacities towards addressing barriers to access, equity and improvement of teaching and learning.

As a precondition to accessing the various grants available from GPE, the Ministry of Education and the Local Education Group have jointly identified improved learning outcomes for all children in general education as the priority policy reform for Partnership Compact that will be achieved through education system transformation in the country. The transformation will be done by addressing existing bottlenecks and working collaboratively with all stakeholders, partners, and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). The GPE Partnership Compact, approved by the GPE Secretariat in 2023, articulated and elaborated on this priority reform that served as the basis for Ethiopia’s application to access GPE financing including: 1) System Capacity Grant (SCG): US$ 4.1 million by World Bank as Grant Agent; 2) System Transformation Grant (STG): US$ 107.59 million by UNICEF as Grant Agent; and 3) Girls Education Accelerator: US$ 25 million by UNICEF as Grant Agent, and 4) Multiplier Grant: 2.6 million by UNICEF as Grant Agent while the remaining balance of the Multiplier Grant in the amount of about US$ 47.4 million is still available for disbursement to Ethiopia for an eligible organisation who did manage to mobilize matching funds.

As the designated Grant Agent, UNICEF Ethiopia is currently under preparation to kick start the full implementation of the STEP for Girls and Learning at national level with a focus on delivery of concrete and measurable results on children’s education at grassroot level with implementation of targeted interventions in about 150 woredas/ districts across the 12 National Regional States and 2 City Administrations in the country.

For effective planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the STEP for Girls and Learning, it becomes necessary to recruit and deploy qualified programme associate to the STEP Programme Management Office. Under the direct supervision of the GPE Programme Manager (P4), the incumbent provides overall support supports to the STEP Programme Management Office (PMO) by carrying out a range of programme support functions that facilitate the timely planning, implementation, monitoring and results-based reporting of the GPE funded System Transformation of Education Programme (STEP) for Girls and Learning.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision and guidance of the Education Specialist, the Programme Associate supports the section by carrying out a range of programme support functions that provides overall support towards timely planning, implementation, monitoring and results-based reporting of the GPE funded System Transformation of Education Programme (STEP) for Girls and Learning.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

The Programme Associate works in close collaboration with a range of staff in the Country Office, external partners and agency counterparts in support of programme design and delivery. S/He provides regular feedback on the status of projects through monitoring milestones and advises on improvements to keep activities on track.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Facilitating the development of programme cooperation agreements (PCAs) by providing information and drafting selected sections of it. 
• Ensuring the timely and accurate recording and administrative processing of government & NGO’s proposals and requests for direct cash transfers (DCTs).
• Conducting programme monitoring in UNICEF focus districts for cash and supplies and informing team-members on the status.
• Helping conduct regular spot checks of partner’s projects to assess their financial record-keeping, expenditure controls and reporting systems.
• Monitoring and tracking the efficient distribution of supplies that are required for effective programme delivery.
• Supporting the programme section in researching, compiling and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data and information from a variety of sources on subject matters relevant to the work of the section to facilitate programme delivery as well as preparation of reports, working papers and presentations. 
• Carrying out transactions in VISION ensuring programme results, activities and programme coding are as per annual work plans (AWPs), and making amendments and alterations as per section revisions when necessary.
• Carrying out transactions in VISION pertaining to grants and programme-related items for his/her section including but not limited to registering grant allotments and tracking expiring programme grants.
• Preparing monitoring and reporting information for supervisor and team on agreed performance indicators to drive more efficient management and accountability for results.
• Regularly monitoring budgets and financial expenditures of section by employing applicable tools, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations, keeping supervisor informed and advised on actions for decision and/or follow up.
• Helping prepare periodic or ad-hoc financial reports relating to country office and donors to support the office in optimizing use of programme funds.
• Supports capacity development activities related to programme development by preparing training materials and participating in exercises.

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

The following minimum requirements:

• Education: Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization.
• Work Experience: A minimum of six years of administrative or clerical work experience is required. Prior experience in programme support functions is an asset. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• 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.
• Skills: In-depth knowledge of the administration which underpins UNICEF country office programme/project operations, including monitoring and evaluation processes. Strong organizational, planning and prioritizing skills and abilities. High sense of confidentiality, initiative and good judgment. Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. Strong office management skills. High attention to detail. Ability to effectively manage the section’s material resources and monitor its budget. Good analytical skills. Experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other UNICEF software such as SharePoint.

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: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

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)
• Drives to Achieve Impactful Results (1)
• Manages Ambiguity and Complexity (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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, time off for breastfeeding purposes[KR5], and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

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 and persons with disability are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required [LK6] 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.