If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.
For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
Organizational Context of the Position
UNICEF PPD Brussels Office manages UNICEF's relationship with the European Institutions (namely the European Commission including DG DEVCO, ECHO, NEAR; HOME; the Council of the EU; the European External Action Service; the European Parliament; and the Committee of the Regions) in order to make children a priority for EU institutions in terms of their policies and financial allocations. The Office is responsible for analyzing the EU funding environment and various financial instruments with a view to identifying, leveraging and mobilizing quality resources in support of UNICEF's Strategic Plan. The Office strives to profile UNICEF as a strategic partner and a broker of knowledge for children and women issues towards the EU Institutions with a clear positioning for an up-stream policy role and a results driven approach. The Office also works to enhance Country and Regional Offices understanding of UNICEF's partnership with the European Institutions while supporting their strategic interactions with respective EU Delegations and ECHO offices both at country and regional levels. The Office also closely coordinates with other UN agencies with a presence in Brussels.
Purpose of the Position
The Partnership Specialist serves as a source of support and advice on strategic engagement vis a vis EU Development and Humanitarian Policies and Programmes, ODA and AID architecture. Responsible for developing engagement/resource mobilization strategies and approaches to the European Union; acts as a focal point for risks linked to programme implementation, and coordinates and manages all phases of EU-UNICEF cooperation partnership including contribution management from formulation to delivery of results in accordance with the UNICEF Strategic Plan, standards of performance and accountability framework, ethics and integrity.
Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks
1. Technical and Policy Dialogue with EU Institutions on Development Cooperation and ODA
Informs EU Development Cooperation Policies, Programmes (including the development/humanitarian nexus) and ODA allocation through support to the Senior Advisor in establishment of constructive dialogue between the various EU institutions to support the inclusion of the UNICEF Strategic Plan in EU policies and programmes contributing to the progressive realization of children's rights.
Provides advice and shares data on the situation of children across regions with EU institutions as well as on programme strategies and good practices.
Identifies other critical partners to advance the realization of children's rights in EU Development Cooperation and actively engages for effective collaboration within the UN family.
Monitors global trends in EU and EU Member States, development cooperation and aid (in cooperation with relevant PPD colleagues); monitors development policies, budgets, systems and procedures and revises UNICEF resource mobilization strategies, activities and income projections as required.
Takes appropriate action and/or advises UNICEF Brussels senior management on recommended action with donor to maintain and increases UNICEF's resource base.
2. Partnership
Establishes effective partnerships with the EU institutions including EU Member States based in Brussels, NGOs, civil society, the private sector, and other UN agencies to support sustained and proactive commitment to inclusion of realization of children's rights in EU development cooperation programmes and ODA allocations, including through new aid delivery mechanisms.
Inputs into engagement strategies and plans with the objective of increasing other resources for UNICEF Strategic Plan; identifies all possible sources of new and continued EU funding; monitors and evaluates existing fundraising channels to ensure achievement of UNICEF fundraising goals to meet the objectives and financial targets of the Strategic Plan. Supports development of plans of action for the EU partnership including elements of a resource mobilization strategy.
Maintains regular dialogue with the European Commission on risk management and contractual arrangements.
Represents UNICEF in meetings with EU officials as requested, as well as to conduct programme advocacy and negotiations, identify strategic alliances and influence EU ODA disbursement. Participates in international/national EU meetings and workshops.
Monitor critical issues in the relations with the EU Institutions to resolve problems and/or recommend to the Director appropriate action.
3. Technical Guidance, Policy Advice and Coordination
Provides technical leadership and guidance on EU development cooperation policies and programmes and EU ODA and aid architecture.
Provides advice and shares data with country and regional offices across regions about EU development cooperation programmes and aid architecture.
Guides and advises Country Offices about EU development cooperation programme formulation, planning, preparation, implementation and closing of a grant
Identifies synergy and alignment with the UNICEF Strategic Plan, policies/procedures and link with the regional and national priorities.
Coordinates with colleagues at Regional and HQ levels and provides managerial and technical advice and support to country offices in the development of partnership with EU Delegations.
Supports the Senior Advisor to prepare comprehensive and substantive briefs, reports, statistics and income projections and requirements for Executive Director/Senior Management meetings, including with heads of EU institutions, senior EU officials, senior parliamentarians and members of Cabinet.
Determines specific needs for strengthening the EU partnership and necessary technical EU programming support either directly through country visits or through coaching, and capacity development.
Provides technical and operational guidance to the Geographic team and other members in the office as delegated by the Senior Advisor, throughout all stages of the EU partnership in the area of development cooperation to ensure cooperation, collaboration and harmonization of office Management Plan (OMP).
Evaluates overall EU development cooperation strategy progress; identifies weaknesses, bottlenecks and potential problems. Collaborates with the team, Country and Regional Offices s and/or EU partners and stakeholders including UN to resolve issues and/or advise the Senior Advisor and Director on resolutions to ensure delivery of results as planned and allocated.
Analyzes and monitors EU ODA trends.
Monitors the income projection and receivable and timely donor reporting and appropriate use of program resources (financial, human, administrative and other assets, such as supplies) and verifies compliance with organizational rules, regulations and procedures, donor commitments and standards of accountability and integrity. Approves disbursements and allocations in accordance with delegation of authority established by the Director.
Coordinates and/or provides advice on the preparation of mandated programme and operational reports. Confirms accuracy of reports prior to approval by the Director.
Oversees EU Verification missions. Supports contributions management through negotiating terms of agreement of funding consistent with UNICEF Rules and Regulations, in coordination with UNICEF HQ and Field Offices. Represents UNICEF in EU/UN FAFA meetings, and participates in relevant meetings of the UN system related to training on EU rules and regulations.
Qualifications of Successful Candidate
An Advanced University Degree in social sciences, development and social policy, law, international relations, government and public relations, or other related fields, is required. A first level university degree (Bachelor's) in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of 8 years professional development experience that combines technical and managerial leadership in development cooperation at the international level, some of which served in a developing countries, is required.
Experience of working with EU or EU-funded programmes, and development or humanitarian field experience is considered an asset.
Relevant professional experience in a management position in any UN system agency or an international organization is an asset.
Fluency in verbal and written French and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese,Russian, Spanish)or a local language is an asset.
Competencies of Successful Candidate
Core Values
Commitment
Diversity and Inclusion
Integrity
Core competencies
Communication - Level II
Working with People - Level III
Drive for Results - Level III
Functional Competencies
Formulating strategies/concepts - LevelII
Analyzing - Level II
Relating and networking - Level III
Deciding and initiating action - Level II
Persuading and influencing - Level III
Leading and supervising - Level I
To view our competency framework, please click here.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.
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