Programme Officer (Disaster Risk and Resillience), NOB, Multiple Locations (Generic Vacancy Announcement)

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world. And we never give up!

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For every child, AN ADVOCATE.

In an effort to measurably improve UNICEF's ability to deliver better results for children, there is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference? If you are committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children in the world thereby ensuring a better future for every child, this is the chance to make a difference. Under the direct supervision of the Chief, Field Office, with technical guidance and support from the Programme Manager, and overall guidance of the Chief, Disaster Risk Reduction Section, the incumbent thus technically assists with risk informing State programmes focusing on most urgent needs of vulnerable children to make them, their communities and social delivery systems more resilient against natural and man-made hazards.

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Serves as UNICEF State Office’s focal point for risk informed programming, DRR, resilience building, climate change and emergency management and contributes to the Country Office Emergency Preparedness Plan and Situation Analyses.
• In collaboration with sector specialists, refines and maintains an updated Child centered disaster risk profile and monitors disaster impact on children and critical social service delivery systems.
• Promotes and facilitates a child centered disaster risk reduction governance system (integration of child centered DRR in State Government Disaster Management and sector strategies, plans and coordination mechanisms at all levels).
• Provides technical advice to UNICEF sector colleagues and State Government to risk inform sector development policies and programmes to reduce child deprivations (focus on education, WASH, health, nutrition, child protection, social protection). In this regard, ensures that disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response strategies are mainstreamed in the State Office's work plans.
• Identifies platforms and supports them to empower children and adolescents as agents of change.
• Serves as focal point to coordinate UNICEF preparedness and response action (in collaboration with UNICEF sector colleagues, State Government, Inter-Agency Group of NGOs and other partners).
• Engages in partnership building and evidence generation as well as knowledge management, advocacy and communication, monitoring and evaluation and reporting.

Detailed responsibilities:

Programme development:

• Assumes responsibility for development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and reporting on specific UNICEF DRR programme interventions in the State.
• Supports the development, implementation and review of risk-informed general and sector specific Disaster Management and climate change strategies and plans at State, district, Gram Panchayat and village level. 
• Assists in development of information, education and communication (IEC) strategies and materials.
• Liaises with other staff (WASH, Education, Health, Nutrition, Child Protection, Advocacy & Communication, Communication for Development, Social Protection/PPE) to provide them advice on their efforts to risk inform their programmes by inclusion of related programmatic interventions.

Technical support:

• Provides technical support to develop a system to track and monitor disaggregated disaster risk and loss data to assess the impact of disasters on children.
• Represents UNICEF in meetings and joint initiatives implemented by Government, Inter-Agency Group of NGOs and other partners and contributes to joint DRR initiatives and response and recovery following disasters.
• Provides technical support to the State Disaster Management Authority, the Relief Commissioner Organisation and other line Departments, as well as other relevant authorities, in particular at division/district level, to promote and facilitate child-centered DRR through demonstrating and scaling up of innovative DRR techniques, interventions and approaches, aimed at enhancing partnership and resilience, with special focus on UNICEF-assisted most at risk geographical areas and populations.
• Based on the DRR Theory of Change/ Conceptual Framework, periodically initiates district, divisional and state level identification, analysis and prioritization of gaps and bottlenecks for sustainable delivery and effective utilization of DRR services.
• In support to the Chief of Field Office, engages with sector specialists and coordinates preparation of the Annual UNICEF State Office Emergency Preparedness Plan.
• Monitors and provides timely analysis on risks and disaster impact on children in emergencies through SitReps and other means, promoting and facilitating the respect of Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Situations (CCCs) and other standards to respect humanitarian principles.
• Works closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners at all levels to discuss operational and implementation issues, recommends solutions and/or alert officials and other stakeholders for required interventions and/or decisions.
• Keeps record of reports and assessments, including to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• (In collaboration with programme colleagues) Proactively provides evidence-based technical inputs to Government and partners in the development of advocacy and social transformative communication strategies and materials.

Networking and partnership building:

• Builds and sustains effective partnerships with DRR sector government counterparts, as well as child centred NGOs and other stakeholders.
• Contributes to effective communication between Government counterparts, Field Office and DRR Section Delhi and DRR Focal points in other states to improve programme results.
• Proactively contributes to the UNICEF India Country Office DRR network to strengthen it.

Programme management and monitoring:

• ​Analyses financial and programme reports to ensure quality and compliance with UNICEF procedures.
• Prepares regular/mandated program/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.
• Organizes and participates in various coordination meetings.
• Participates in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts as required.
• Undertakes field visits.

Knowledge management and research:

• Prepares or contributes to various internal and external child centered DRR and resilience-related capacity building activities, as well as support preparation of training curricula.
• Contributes to the documentation and dissemination of good practices (including innovations).
• Organizes inter-district, intra-and inter-state learning visits.
• Participates in joint field visits and special events to promote approaches demonstrated in UNICEF-assisted geographical areas.
• Engages research relevant to understand vulnerability, shocks and stresses including climate change impact.
• (In partnership with other programme staff) Prepares child centered risk analyses and keeps them updated to improve understanding of the multi-dimensional adverse effects (impact) of natural and man-made hazards and disasters, including those linked to climate change.

Self-development:

• Effectively utilizes organizational training and learning opportunities to keep abreast with technical developments in the sector and to enhance professional development.

​Impact of Results

UNICEF India Country Office’s new Country Programme 2018-2022 identifies risk informed programming as one of its programming principles to ensure programme effectiveness. Activities to apply a risk and resilience approach based on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation principles in various sector programmes are supported by the Delhi based Disaster Risk Reduction Section and Disaster Risk and Resilience Officers or focal points in States, who take leadership in coordinating development and updating of a thorough child centered risk analysis, preparedness planning and efforts to make disaster risk governance child-responsive.

For every Child, you demonstrate ... 

Core values (required): 

• Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies (required):

• Communication [ I ]
• Working with People [ II ]
• Drive for Results [ II ]

Functional competencies (required):

• Persuading and influencing [ II ]
• Applying Technical Expertise [ II ]
• Planning and Organizing [ I ]
• Adapting and Responding to Change [ II ]
• Coping with Pressure and Setbacks [ II ]

​To view our competency framework, please click here: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf 

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have… Requirements of the position (qualifications, skills, and competencies):

Education:

• University degree from a recognized University in any of the following disciplines: Social Sciences, disaster risk management, civil engineering, earth sciences, agriculture, public administration, law, public health, nutrition, WASH, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines.

Experience:

• Minimum two years’ relevant work experience at the state or national level in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation or administration
• Relevant practical experience in managing projects related to disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation or resilience building
• Demonstrable skills in training, development of guidance and tools as well as adult learning methods with training experience in disaster risk reduction and/or emergency response management highly desirable
• Good knowledge of DRR policy and practice, fragility and peacebuilding, socio-economic effects of climate change, and/or risk assessment and analysis.
• Knowledge and understanding of programme cycle management.
• Excellent communication, including networking skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent writing and oral presentation skills
• Demonstrated ability to work under tight deadlines, handle competing demands, and take initiatives
• Proven ability to work in a team and multi-cultural environment, with minimal supervision
• Enthusiasm for and commitment to development work
• Past experience of working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset.

​Technical knowledge specific technical knowledge required (for the job):

• Essential professional knowledge of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climatic Change programmes.
• Essential technical knowledge of theories, principles and methods in the areas of Disaster Risk Reduction and climatic change adaptation programming
• Knowledge of global development, disaster risk reduction/resilience building and humanitarian issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current UNCEF position and approaches
• Knowledge of the principle of gender parity and equality
• Work experience in social sectors, NGO sector or within a government structure desirable
• Proven experience in conducting research/ surveys within an academic or work related setting
• Proven experience in drafting complicated texts for various audience, preparation of reports and participation in capacity building efforts
• Experience in working with government structures (as counterparts) is an asset

​Technical knowledge to be acquired/enhanced:

• Government development plans and policies
• Knowledge of local conditions and country legislation relevant to UNICEF programmes.
• UN policies and strategy to address international humanitarian issues and responses
• UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions
• UNICEF strategic framework for partnerships and collaborative relationships

​Other skills and attributes:

• Knowledge and use of standard office automation applications related to word processing, graphics presentations etc. as well as management information systems and databases
• Knowledge and training on use of work planning tools an asset

Language requirements:

• Fluency in English and Hindi required. Knowledge of other Indian languages is an asset.

​UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all national, religious, gender and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.

UNICEF has recently become the first United Nations agency to be awarded the EDGE certification – the leading global standard for gender equality in the workplace. UNICEF’s commitment to EDGE reaffirms our pledge to gender equality and inclusion all UNICEF staff worldwide.

This certification recognizes UNICEF’s commitment to achieving significant milestones in gender equality for all its staff, including strong gender balance at all levels of the organization, pay equity, a solid framework of policies and practices, and an inclusive workplace culture.

“UNICEF’s most important asset is our staff — all of our staff. Gender diversity and equal opportunities for men and women is not only a matter of rights. It makes us more effective as an organization.” Henrietta H. Fore, UNICEF Executive Director.

For more information on UNICEF EDGE Certification, kindly view the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw6O-PtICiA&feature=youtu.be

Remarks: This is a Generic Vacancy Announcement (GVA) for Fixed Term and Temporary Appointment positions in UNICEF Offices in India. To know about where we work, please refer to the link: http://unicef.in/Wherewework. Please indicate your preferred duty station(s) in the covering letter. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. UNICEF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process including application, interview, meeting, traveling, processing, training etc. UNICEF is a nonsmoking working environment.