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Job Title:  Programme Specialist (Quality Assurance)

Organisation: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Duty Station:  Mbarara, Uganda

Level: NO-3

About US:

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is mandated by the UN general assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

Job Summary: The Programme Officer (Quality Assurance) must demonstrate:

• Ability to effectively integrate risk management into key planning activities directly impacts the preparation for potential challenges or opportunities in achieving results which in turn impact on programme implementation, appropriation of UNICEF resources and relationships with key donors.
• Adequate understanding and interpretation on the application of organizational rules and regulations pertaining to the implementation of HACT will affect office’s Programme implementation.
• Ability to conduct or supervise quality partner capacity assessment exercises and help identify significant risks existing in the office would consequently impact on programme implementation, the efficiency of office work processes and could efficient utilization of the organization’s resources.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:  

• • Support Country Office Management in development and roll out of Office Accountability Framework based on UNICEF Accountability Framework. Responsible for office processes to proactively and systematically identify, assess and manage key risks and opportunities to facilitate the achievement of CO objectives and planned results. Responsible for process leading to office undertaking annual risk and control self-assessment (RCSA) as part of the annual review process, reports on the outcomes and propose mitigating activities. Regularly monitor the status of actions defined to mitigate significant risks and update the Office Risk Profile. Focal point in updating and ensuring quality Risk assessment and management information is updated under the Performance Management System.
  • Implement activities that create general awareness and common understanding among staff of key strategic, programmatic, operational and financial risks. Ensure there is general sense of ownership and that risk management efforts are embedded into key country programme planning, financing and implementation processes, allowing for an adequate and timely allocation of financial, operational and programmatic resources for that purpose.

• Under the framework of UNICEF Policies, Guidelines, Standards, Country Office Management Plan, contribute to the development of office standards, new approaches and methodologies and streamlining of transaction Work Processes and Simplified Operating Procedures (SOPs) through participation in Internal Control meetings and consultations with staff. Perform compliance tests and report on the implementation of SOPs and Work Processes.
• Within the framework of HACT, responsible for the formulation and implementation of Uganda office HACT Assurance plan which provides for a cost-effective assurance systems to ensure funds entrusted to UNICEF by donors are utilized as intended; there is transparent processes and oversight of cash transfers and capacities of national partners is strengthened for the management and accountability of cash transferred.
• The incumbent will contribute to the HACT activities of the country office; plans and carries out high quality and objective Micro Assessments of UNICEF’s Implementing Partners in accordance with the agreed work plan and/or as required by the country programme, review and follow up of the findings of assessments. Contribute towards upgrading capacity of UNICEF staff and implementing partners in the areas of HACT. Ensure the development of HACT compliant procedures, manual and guidelines for use by implementing partners.
• Provide Leadership in the planning and the implementation of capacity building activities of national implementing partners to improve budgeting and financial management capacities of implementing partners. Ensure that inventory of training and capacity development needs of implementing partners is developed. Plan and organize training programmes in the areas of budgeting and financial management for the purpose of capacity building and programme sustainability.
• Conduct periodic self-assessment of procedures and processes, financial documents, information entered in VISION database, coding of VISION transactions to ensure the office’s adherence to procedures, that quality information, and correct coding is applied. Coordinate Operations Inputs to office wide activities. This will entail consolidation of operations inputs, support in monitoring operations priorities. The task shall entail ensuring that high quality documentation is delivered for all resulting documents with UNICEF and office wide standards having been met.
• Conducts special assignments, including fact-findings in the case of irregularities, as directed by the country office management and in compliance with the organizational policies and procedures. Formulates pragmatic recommendations and secures the agreement of management to improve problematic areas. Monitors and assesses adequacy of actions taken to correct reported deficiencies

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The ideal candidate must hold a university degree (Master’s) in Accounting, Business Administration, Financial Management, Economics, International Development or a directly related technical field(s) is required.
• A valid professional certification (CA; CPA; etc.) from an accredited chartered accountancy institution, in conjunction with a relevant first-level (Bachelor’s) university degree in a directly-related technical field (as identified above), may be taken in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards is desirable.
• UNICEF experience and familiarity with SAP highly desirable
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in Operations Management, Financial Management, Audit Management, Risk Management and/or Programme Management – with hands on experience in planning, undertaking and reporting on financial management assurance activities related to HACT and/or similar grant management oversight systems used by donor and funding agencies – is required.
• Previous experience in training professionals in the context of HACT is considered highly desirable.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates desiring to serve the United Nations in the aforementioned capacity should express their interest by visiting the UN recruitment website at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 13^th December 2021

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