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.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope

Together with the Malaysian government and others who are truly passionate about child rights, UNICEF works in Malaysia to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow; to be healthy and happy; to live safely; and achieve their full potential.

With the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the 12th Malaysia plan as our guides, we endeavor to change minds, change policies, and in turn change the lives of all children in Malaysia.

https://www.unicef.org/malaysia/

Organizational Context:
Under the supervision of the Deputy Representative (Programme), the Chief Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation will lead a significantly expanded responsibility which covers both strategic planning and partnership for the country office, as well as leading the detailed planning of the Sabah and Sarawak strategies and supporting development of a business model and approach for Brunei. This role incorporates Strategic Planning for the Country office including PFP, PME, Business Partnership, Child Rights Monitoring, Budgets and Knowledge Management. The role will bring a coherence and focus to the work across the office and the implementation of the East Malaysia strategies, and the planning and implementing of the business model for Brunei.

The Chief Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation will provide overall guidance to the Planning and Monitoring functions and overall programme partnerships in Malaysia and Brunei. The post will supervise 1 PME Specialist (NOC), 1 PME Officer (NOB), 1 Business for Results Officer (NOB), 1 Knowledge Management Officer (NOB) and 1 Programme Associate (GS6).

Purpose of the Job:

• To lead the Country Programme planning, monitoring, reporting and coordination of the Annual/ Rolling Work Plan development.
• To ensure that the UNICEF Country Office has useful, valid, and reliable information on the situation of children and women’s rights in Malaysia and Brunei.
• To provide analysis of current trends in Malaysia and Brunei and provide advice on how to integrate these trends in delivery of UNICEF supported programmes in both countries, including their relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability and in case of emergencies, their coverage, coordination, and coherence.
• To work within the UN country team to support UNCT goals for delivering valid and reliable information on reaching the SDGs and on the performance of joint UN programmes (when relevant).
• To assist in the establishment of monitoring tools which enhance partnerships between the UNCT, government and other key players to collectively track progress on SDGs and other international commitments for children.
• To assist in the development of national capacities for planning, monitoring and evidence generation, with special attention to the interest, concern and participation of government, community, and civil society stake holders.
• Support the Evaluation Specialist in building national capacities for evaluation (NEC D), and conducting strategic evaluations of UNICEF cooperation in Malaysia and Brunei.

How can you make a difference?

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Strategic Planning

• Lead on the planning function of the Country Office, including programme prioritization, preparation of theory of change, identification of key risks and assumptions, drafting of the Country Programme Document, and drafting of the Country Programme  Management Plan.
• Review of such with relevant focal points at RO and HQ level, including through mid-term review exercises.
• Consult with key partners throughout the strategic  planning  process,  to  ensure that UNICEF priorities are in line with government plans and the UNSDCF.
• Lead on operationalization of the CPD through development of annua l workplans. Review key programme progress through mid-year and annua l review exercises with partners.

2. Strategic Partnerships

• Support senior management on the strategic partnerships function  of the Country Office. Maintain close working relationships with key partner s in relevant government ministries and institutions in order to facilitate the planning and review functions.
• Ensure alignment of planning and monitoring function s with principles of the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) approach of the UN.
• Oversee PME partnerships with civil society organizations through management of the Partnerships Review Committee.

3. Integrated Monitoring, Evaluation & Research Plan (IMERP)

• Ensure that the Country Office and national partners use a well-prioritised and realistic plan of research, monitoring and evaluation activities that will provide the most relevant and strategic information to manage the Country Programme, including tracking and assessing UNICEF’s distinct contribution.
• Duties & Tasks: Make professional contributions to and provide technical assistance for planning an d establishing the major research, monitoring and evaluation objectives, priorities, and activities in UNICEF’s multi-year and annual IMERPs, in consultation with child-right s and implementing partners. Likewise, support the development of UNSDCF M&E Plans from a sound results-based programming process. Identify the M&E objectives, priorities, and activities required for effective CO and partner Emergency Preparedness  and Response Plans.
• In humanitarian response situations, within the first month, draft and recommend a simp le one month data- collection plan to cover key data gaps as required for the initial emergency response.
• After the initial humanitarian response, support management of the medium-term response with a revised IMERP

4. Situation Monitoring and Assessment

• Support the Evaluation Specialist to ensure that UNICEF – supported evaluation s are design ed and implemented to established UN quality standards, and the results are disseminated in a timely fashion to stakeholders to improve programme performance and contribute to wider learning.
• Duties & Tasks: Technically support programme partners to formulate Terms of Reference and evaluation designs of high quality, when relevant drawing on the know -how of knowledge institutions, in compliance with the organization’s programme evaluation policies and guidelines.
• Monitor and ensure the quality of the field work and data management during the implementation phase, and the quality of the analysis and ease of understanding during the report writing phase.
• Disseminate evaluation findings and recommendations to the intended  audiences  in user friendly methods. In particular to ensure that effective participatory feedback is provided to community and civil society stakeholders. Monitor and ensure that a management response to the findings  and  recommendations of the evaluation is completed, recorded, and followed up for implementation. Most  specifically, ensure that evaluation  recommendations are submitted to the Country Management Team and follow – up actions recorded in CMT minutes. Submit electronic copies of all evaluations to NYHQ via the Evaluation Data Base web portal, with full accompanying documentation.

7. PME Capacity Building

• Ensure that the monitoring and evaluation capacities of Count r y Office staff and national partners – government and civil society – are strengthened enabling them to increasingly engage in and lead monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Duties & Tasks: Promote the awareness and understanding  of the shared responsibility of M&E function among all staff members through communication, training, learning and development activities organisation wide. In close collabo ration with partners, ensure that an M&E capacity building strategy for UNICEF/ UN staff national partners and institutions exists in the context of the IMEP, or UNSDCF M&E plan.
• Pay particular attention to the capacity needs of national partners such as professional evaluation association s will be strengthened by involvement in evaluation processes and through specific capacity building initiatives. Collab orate to implement capacity building strategies as a joint commitment with other developmental partners.
• Utilize a range of appropriate skills building strategies including self-learning, seminars and workshops and practical experience in order that UNICEF and UN staff have the basic knowledge and skills in understanding and ap plying new M&E policies, too ls, methods to fulfil their responsibilities.
• Similarly, design and implement strategies suit ed to the skill needs of national partners. Actively seek partnerships with know ledge institutions for the identification of capacity gaps and development of strategies to address them.

8. Coordination and Networking

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

• Education: An Advanced university degree in social sciences, statistics, planning development or planning is required.
• Experience: A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional work experience in programme development and implementation.
• Developing country work experience and exposure to emergency programming is desirable.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is 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

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

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidate are encouraged to apply.

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

UNICEF entitlements are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also 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 cancelled.

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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.