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

UNICEF started to work in Lebanon in 1948 and established its office in 1950. For more than 70 years we’ve been working closely with the Government of Lebanon, other UN agencies, international and local NGOs, universities, and more than 100 partners to meet the needs of disadvantaged children in Lebanon. Responding to life-saving needs and ensuring equal access to quality public services, the impact of our work is felt in every aspect and every sphere of society. To learn more about our work, please refer to: https://www.unicef.org/lebanon/what-we-do

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Representative, provide leadership and guidance to the (Chief of Field Offices) for the development, planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of all programmes in the various areas. Coordinate with Representative, Deputy Representative, Technical Sector Chiefs and Operations Chief to ensure efficient, effective management for results.  S/he is also responsible for the management, oversight of and technical guidance to the emergency team to ensure adequate emergency preparedness for identified humanitarian risks, accountability to affected populations and emergency coordination and response, including access to timely, appropriate and effective seasonal assistance and humanitarian support if and when required.

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks  

Field/Area Programme Coordination

• Ensure effective management of the area programmes through proper leadership, planning, control, organization and motivation of staff in accordance with all UNICEF rules and regulations, programme and procedures.

• Provide overall guidance for program planning, implementation and analysis through ongoing consultations, inter-sectorial exchange with project officers and partners to achieve programme objectives. Adopt rights-based programmes approach in the formulations of programme goals and objectives and development of strategies and implementation frameworks. Bring coherence, synergy and added value to the programming planning and design processes using results-based management approach to programme planning and design. Prepare program recommendations for inclusion in formal programme documentation, and new approaches, methods, and practices.

• Ensure that area programmes are supported by knowledge management through data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting. Maintain continuous flow of strategic information on the situation of children and women in the field for policy development, planning, advocacy and resource mobilization. Participate in information exchange through donor and media visits as well as in the development of training and orientation material.

• Establish zonal programme work plans together with an effective monitoring and evaluation plan in collaboration with the sector-based units, monitor compliance and provide training support and guidance to the project team to ensure objectives are met. Identify human resource requirements.

• Monitor and analyse the social, political, and economic trends in the region as they affect women and children. Maintain an appropriate intersectoral information and communication approach to contribute to the formulation of the country programme goals and objectives, its strategies and implementation framework. Contribute to the project plans of action, enabling consistency with the programme and operations strategies, objectives and project plans of action.

• Represent UNICEF as appropriate in meetings with senior local authorities as well multi-lateral, bilateral agencies and NGOs; interact, negotiate and advocate programme goals and strategies. Identify strategic alliances, and influence policy development to facilitate achievement of programme objectives.

• Oversee Area Programme Managers (Chief of Field Offices) liaison and collaboration with implementing partners including district governments and district administrations, UN agencies, NGOs, CSOs and other stakeholders for assessing the situation, planning, implementing and monitoring of the programme in the field. Work with technical section to leverage district and national resources for children’s programmes.

• In coordination with the Deputy Representative, ensure provision of support services to the area, e.g. capacity development, social mobilisation, communication for social change and monitoring. Work closely with the sectoral specialists to interface with sectoral policies and guidelines and support evidence-based advocacy for children.

• Directly supervise Area Programme Managers and collaborate with sectoral programme officers to ensure that sectoral programmes in all regions are prepared for and respond to emergency situations, coherent with UNICEF’s country programme and its Core Commitments for Children in Emergencies (CCCs) are met.

• Undertake regular field visits to monitor and evaluate programmes, as well as conduct periodic programme reviews with government counterparts and other partners. Decide on required corrective action. Provide technical advice and assistance to local authorities and other partners in the planning, management, monitoring of programmes/projects.

Emergency Coordination

• Provide overall leadership, guidance and coordination to LCOs emergency preparedness and response interventions

• Advise the Representative and SMT on humanitarian response strategies and requirements and ensure UNICEF’s Humanitarian Programme is appropriately represented at HCT level.

• Ensure the quality of UNICEF’s emergency engagement and reporting on required humanitarian action in Lebanon with Government, UN, Sectors, NGOs, donors and international and national media

• Provide strategic managerial leadership, oversight and guidance to the Emergency team to ensure:

• Effective contingency planning, emergency response and coordination across LCO in accordance with the evolving situation, UNICEF and interagency policies/standards, the emergency RWP

• Compliance with all emergency preparedness requirements. Ensure compliance with all risk management requirements, particularly aligned with the EPP

• Ensure collection, analysis of data and use of information related to key humanitarian risks facing Lebanon and share with Senior and Country management to promote strategies, planning and financing for risk informed programme

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

• Education: Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.
• Experience: At least ten (10) years of responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in development, recovery and humanitarian response, financial and human resources management, monitoring and reporting.
• Experience responding to emergencies is essential. Proven communication skills and proven record in networking effectively with donor community and fundraising.
• Strong program background to support CFO on nexus programming.
• Ability to work under stressful conditions.
• Ability to persuade and influence and negotiate with government.
• Ability to network and establish good relations with staff, partners, and authorities.
• Language Requirements: Written and spoken fluency in English and French or Arabic are required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability (CRITA) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

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. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.

Remarks

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

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments 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 may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2

(Covid). 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.

UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the recruitment process.