UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, hope

The Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM) was established in 2019 to drive decision making and organizational learning, improve effectiveness and achievement of results of UNICEF and its partners to realize the rights and improve the life of every child. DAPM promotes the use of data, analytics, planning and monitoring, and related aspects of strategic country programme management, to achieve transformative impact for children.

The Division is responsible for driving, shaping and guiding UNICEF’s evidence-informed analysis, corporate and country planning, programme implementation and related risk management, monitoring, knowledge management and organizational performance. As such, DAPM enables the organization to deliver on results in a more coherent manner, based on agile and contextualized programming processes, and on data, evidence, and analytics, as well as the application of human-rights based and results-based approaches.

Within DAPM, the Programme Effectiveness Team (PET) leads, regulates and coordinates the development and issuance of organization-wide policies, procedures, standards, guidance, systems, tools and platforms to strengthen programme effectiveness across all contexts, including programme planning, implementation and related risk management, safeguarding, monitoring, organizational performance, knowledge management, at all levels.  In doing so, PET engages with all divisions/offices across HQ as well as with all regional offices, UN agencies, funds and programmes, specialized agencies, other technical organizations and the UN Development Coordination Office.

The establishment of a unit on risk management in partnership implementation and safeguarding within PET reflects a decision to institute an integrated and holistic portfolio approach to managing risks at the corporate level by combining into one unit the fiduciary, environmental and social safeguards (ESS), safeguarding and PSEA regulatory risk management functions. This will improve clarity, coherence, consistency, and effectiveness in risk management across the organization while maintaining close working arrangements with the Programme Implementation Unit.

The unit will report to the DAPM Deputy Director, Programme Effectiveness with a matrix reporting line to the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) in the Office of the Executive Director.  The data protection function will remain with the Chief Data Officer in DAPM given the technical specialization, with a matrix reporting line to the Chief, Risk Management in Partnership Implementation and Safeguarding in recognition of fostering a joined-up approach to risk management.

Purpose for the job:

The Chief (Risk Management in Partnership Implementation and Safeguarding) reports directly to the Deputy Director, Programme Effectiveness, with a matrix reporting line to the Chief Risk Officer in the Office of the Executive Director.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Deputy Director, the Chief (RMPIS) works closely with HQ Divisions, especially with the Chief Risk Officer in OED, Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS), Public Partnerships Division (PPD), Legal Office, as well as with Regional Chiefs of Operations and Planning, and Regional Risk / Safeguarding / PSEA Managers and Specialists. The Chief also works with counterparts in UN entities, donors and diverse partners as needed and is expected to work closely with the other units in the Programme Effectiveness Team, particularly with the Programme Implementation Unit.

The purpose of the role is to coordinate and support the continued development and strengthening of:

1. Integrated and harmonized approach and capacity for risk management in UNICEF programmes and associated operations.
2. Coherent programme implementation regulatory framework and associated tools for risk management.
3. Evolving organizational knowledge and capabilities for risk based planning and management of programme interventions that are contextualized; including fostering principled partnerships that manage risks effectively with Government and CSO partners.
4. Contribute to evidence-based decision making and effectiveness analysis through analysis using data contained in the digital tools, as well as overall contextual analysis related to programme risk management.
5. Ensuring that UNICEF staff practice safeguarding across the organization.
6. Interagency coordination and harmonization.

How can you make a difference?

1. Integrated and harmonized approach and capacity for risk management in UNICEF programmes and associated operations

• Provide strategic direction and guidance towards establishing/strengthening capabilities for integrated and harmonized risk management.
• Develop, update and implement integrated/harmonized risk management framework, in consultation with Chief Risk Officer (CRO), other relevant HQ divisions, regional offices and country offices.
• Support the establishment of effective risk governance structures and processes, including risk committees, risk registers, risk appetite statements, risk indicators and risk reporting mechanisms, in consultation with CRO.
• Coordinate and collaborate with ROs and COs to ensure effective and efficient approaches for management of risks, and to leverage resources and expertise for risk management.
• Provide advice and support to UNICEF’s divisions, regional offices and country offices, on risk analysis, risk mitigation plans, risk training and capacity building, risk assurance and quality control.
• Foster a culture of risk awareness, ownership and accountability within UNICEF, promoting risk-informed decision making, learning and innovation.

2. Coherent regulatory framework and associated tools for risk management.

• Lead the development, review and update of policies, procedures guidance and tools for effective and efficient risk management in UNICEF programmes, including: fiduciary, environmental and social safeguards (ESS), safeguarding/PSEA, and associated complaint, feedback and redressal mechanism (CFRM), in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
• Facilitate rollout and implementation of risk related policies and procedures, through provision of clear guidance and tools (including training materials for use by UNICEF and partner staff).
• Advise on risk management and safeguarding modalities to implement the related regulatory framework.
• Monitor, analyse and report/address challenges, bottlenecks and best practices in complying with UNICEF policies and procedures, in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

3. Evolve organizational knowledge and capabilities for risk informed planning and management of programme implementation; including fostering principled partnerships that manage risks effectively with Government and CSO partners

• Advise on risk management and safeguarding incident prevention, mitigation, reporting and response.
• In consultation with other stakeholders, enhance capacity, tools and practices for effective risk management, including safeguarding concerns.
• Oversee the strategic approach and management of cash and supplies assistance transferred to implementing partners to ensure that UNICEF obtains assurance of results for children.
• Coordinate technical support to ROs and COs on audits (internal and external), donor specific reviews and donor conditionalities with implications on risk management in programmes and associated operations, as needed.
• Coordinate related Donor Risk Management activities in collaboration with PPD, LO, SD and other relevant offices.
• Oversee the management of the complaints, feedback and redressal mechanism in close collaboration with OIAI, DFAM, EMOPS, COs and ROs.
• Serve as technical reference group member for evaluations and studies related to risk management modalities/practices and capacities in programmes and associated operations.
• Serve as business owner for the corporate platform/tool supporting complaints, feedback and redressal mechanisms (CFRM), known as UNICARE; facilitate optimal adoption and use of UNICARE and engage in active analytics to inform decision making at all levels; ensure maintenance, user support and enhancement of UNICARE and associated tools.  and
• Contribute to maintenance, user support and ongoing enhancement of eTools and UNPP modules facilitating risk management (Financial Assurance Module in eTools, PSEA Module in UNPP). Lead the requirement definition and field testing of new features as needed in collaboration with the PET Programme Implementation Unit and ICTD; influence requirement definition and ensure optimal integration of key tools led by other divisions as needed, particularly DFAM, SD and EMOPS.
• Lead the development of appropriate learning resources for capacity development of UNICEF staff and partners on risk management and safeguarding.

4. Contribute to evidence-based decision-making and learning

• Analysis and reporting on risk management related to implementation partnership and safeguarding, using data contained in the digital tools, as well as overall contextual analysis related to programme risk management,
• Ensure indicators, analytics and reporting processes are risk-informed, proactively and effectively communicate to senior management on risk management related progress and challenges and facilitate timely decision-making.
• Conduct periodic global analytics and reporting on risk management in partnership management and safeguarding in close collaboration with other PET units and key divisions, such as annual and mid-year analysis on performance of Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers, contributions to periodic analysis and global reports on ESS and Safeguarding/PSEA.
• Support country, regional, global or thematic analysis using sensitive indicators established, KPIs and other data/information to inform decision-making on implementation partnership risk management, covering risk to programme resources, risk of unintended harm (safeguarding/PSEA and ESS) and associated reputational risk.
• Lead systematic analysis, knowledge generation, use and learning, of risk management in partnership implementation and safeguarding.
• Document lessons learnt and good practices in risk management in partnership implementation and safeguarding, generate knowledge products and its dissemination.
• Support initiatives towards promoting a learning, more adaptive and agile risk management culture; including tailor made approaches to fit for context/purpose (e,g, considerations in complex operating environment, or small upper middle income country context).

5. UN Inter-agency harmonization/alignment and interagency relations for Programmes and associated operations:

• Proactively share UNICEF’s experience, progress and challenges in risk management in partnership implementation and in safeguarding, and influence other UN entities towards a more harmonized/aligned approach.
• Understand other agencies’ procedures and tools and apply knowledge in benchmarking and evolving UNICEF procedure and tools.
• Support global, regional and local level consultation/interaction with partners on key trending issues.

6. Effective management of the Risk Management in Partnership Implementation and Safeguarding Unit and respond to ad-hoc requests as needed:

• Overall accountability for the management of the RMPIS (results, human resources, finance)
• Supervise, manage, and direct RMPIS staff, including appraisal of staff performance, career development and learning
• Ensure an enabling positive workplace culture within the unit and contribute to upholding the UNICEF CRITAS (Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability & Sustainability) values by all staff in the division.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An Advanced University Degree (Master’s) in Risk Management, Social or Management Sciences, Public Administration, Law, Business Administration, international development and/or any other relevant technical field is required.
• Work Experience:• A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant work experience at national and international levels in the areas of risk management, programme management and safeguarding, of which at least five years of progressive experience in UNICEF or a reputable international organization in developing countries is required.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience in applying risk management principles, standards, tools and methodologies in a variety of contexts and risk domains.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to assess complex situations, identify risks and opportunities, and provide sound and timely advice.
  • Experience in programming and managing risk in humanitarian action and complex settings is highly desirable.
  • Demonstrated maturity in judgment and management, team building skills, excellent analytical, writing skills and interpersonal skills; good facilitator skills, good knowledge and skills in using tools for policy presentations, planning and the networking of strategic information.

  Candidate would also ideally have the following:
  • Ability to provide intellectual leadership on risk management in partnership management for different contexts and new forms of partnership.
  • Experience working with complex donor conditionalities on politically sensitive issues.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required. Knowledge of an additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) 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: UNICEF Values

The 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

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, 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.

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

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.