Programme Associates (2 Posts)

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 [1] to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

Please click the link for further information about UNICEF Viet Nam: https://www.unicef.org/vietnam/ [2]

For every child, an opportunity

Globally, Viet Nam is among the most affected countries by climate change. Each year, increasingly intense and unpredictable weather events cause fatalities and extensive damage to infrastructure, such as schools and health centres, and impact the livelihoods of already disadvantaged communities in urban and rural areas.

From the beginning of 2024, several serious natural disasters have occurred across the country, greatly affecting people's lives and production. On 7 September 2024 super typhoon Yagi entered Viet Nam as the strongest typhoon in decades. It caused wide-ranging damage in the Northern region (at least 26 provinces; various cities). The strong Typhoon resulted in heavy rains and storm damages well beyond the coastal regions, especially in Northern mountainous areas, which are most vulnerable to flash floods and landslides. It is forecasted that natural disasters are likely to be complicated, unpredictable and extreme in the coming time. Children are especially affected by these natural disasters. Access to food, water, education and healthcare is threatened and the pressure on communities - resulting from loss of income and assets - increases children’s exposure to violence, exploitation and abuse. Women also tend to be disproportionately impacted, further increasing negative effects on children, as they may be less able to provide sufficient nutrition or care. UNICEF Viet Nam has been working around the clock to respond to the disaster and uphold our core commitments to children.

UNICEF Viet Nam is establishing a pool of Program Associates to provide administrative, logistic and financial support to all programme sections during this emergency response and recovery for an initial period of 9 months with possibility of extension. 

Purpose for the job:

Under the supervision of Chief of Child Survival, Development and Environment section (CSDE) and Chief of Social Policy and Government section (SPG), the two Programme Associates support all related sections of Viet Nam Country Office by carrying out a range of programme assistance functions to support the implementation and monitoring of country office emergency preparedness, response and recovery activities. 

The two Programme Associates work in close collaboration with a range of staff in the Country Office under the guidance of 04 Senior Programme Associates, external partners and agency counterparts in support of programme design and delivery. The two Programme Associates provide regular feedback on the status of projects through monitoring milestones and advises on improvements to keep activities on track. They also provide back-up support to other Program Associates when required.

How can you make a difference? 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities: 

• Facilitating the development and implementation of emergency programme.
• Ensuring the timely and accurate recording and administrative processing of government proposals and support reviewing requests for direct cash transfers (DCTs) and cash delivery module (HOPE program).
• Monitoring and tracking the efficient distribution of supplies that are required for effective and timely emergency programme delivery.
• Conducting emergency programme monitoring in UNICEF focus districts for cash and supplies and informing team-members on the status.
• Supporting the programme section in researching, compiling and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data and information from a variety of sources on subject matters relevant to the work of the section to facilitate emergency programme delivery as well as preparation of reports, working papers and presentations.  
• Carrying out transactions in the system of UNICEF (VISION and FIORI) ensuring programme results, activities and programme coding and making amendments and alterations as per section revisions when necessary.
• Carrying out transactions in the system pertaining to grants and programme-related items for his/her section including but not limited to registering grant allotments and tracking expiring programme grants.
• Preparing monitoring and reporting information for supervisor and team on agreed performance indicators to drive more efficient management and accountability for results.
• Regularly monitoring Emergency budgets and financial expenditures of CSDE and other related sections by employing applicable tools, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations, keeping supervisor informed and advised on actions for decision and/or follow up.
• Helping prepare periodic or ad-hoc financial reports relating to country office and donors to support the office in optimizing use of emergency programme funds.
• Helping conduct regular spot checks of partner’s projects to assess their financial record-keeping, expenditure controls and reporting systems.
• Supporting capacity development activities related to programme development by preparing training materials and participating in exercises.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

• Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the work of the organization.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of six years of administrative or clerical work experience is required. For this position, a bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a relevant field may replace three years of related work experience. A master’s degree may replace additional two years.
• Prior experience in programme support functions is an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of the administration which underpins UNICEF country office programme/project operations, including monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Strong organizational, planning and prioritizing skills and abilities.
• High sense of confidentiality, initiative and good judgment.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong office management skills.
• High attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively manage the section’s material resources and monitor its budget.
• Good analytical skills.
• Experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other UNICEF software such as SharePoint.

Desirables:

- Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 

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 [3]

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2).

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework [4] and its different levels.

Life at UNICEF

Working at UNICEF is highly rewarding. With attractive remuneration package encompassing competitive pay and benefits, a culture that helps staff thrive and diverse opportunities for personal and professional development, we aim to help you maintain a fulfilling life both at and outside the office.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce [5], such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities [6]. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff. [5] Our contracts, wellbeing policies and initiatives ensure that you are well equipped to effectively deliver for children such as:

Tax exemption, family allowances, hardship benefits, 10 UN holidays and annual leave allowance, maternity, paternity, adoption leave, medical and dental insurance, pension etc.

Pension benefits: You will become a participant in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (https://www.unjspf.org [7]).

Health insurance scheme: You and your eligible dependents will be covered by the UN Medical Insurance Plan (https://www.un.org/insurance/plans/medical-insurance-plan-mip [8]).

Career support, staff wellbeing programme, breastfeeding policy, flexible work arrangements, family support, policies & initiatives, security, reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

Professional Development: The encouragement of professional development for all staff is one of UNICEF’s core values and we put this into practice through various services and initiatives. You will have different learning opportunities to strengthen your skills and competencies.

Be part of the United Nations: As an international organization that is part of the United Nations system, you will be considered an International Civil Servant and you will have career opportunities inside and outside the country.

Quality working conditions:

The workplace and working conditions are a huge asset for all UNICEF employees. Our staff are working in the Green One UN House - the first building in Viet Nam to be awarded gold LOTUS certification from the Viet Nam Green Building Council for efficient and environmentally sustainable use of resources and operations.

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 [9], irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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.

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

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.

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 [10].

https://vietnam.un.org/en/86207-announcement-time-hire-un-agencies-viet-nam-national-positions [11]