About UNICEF: Employment
Communications Specialist Consultancy, Division of Financial and Administrative Management, New York Headquarters
Background:
The DfID-UNICEF Programme of Cooperation in Capacity Building for Humanitarian Action and Response (CB Programme) was launched in early 2000 to support UNICEFs efforts to strengthen its capacity to respond to children in unstable situations. The overall conclusion of the evaluation of the first two stages of the CB Programme was that UNICEF had made important advances in building capacity, that there were examples of very effective response but that some distance remained from achieving the goal of reliably delivering humanitarian response as the Core Commitments for Children in Emergencies require.
In the third stage of the CB Programme, the Division for Financial and Administrative Management (DFAM) was tasked to review UNICEF financial and administrative policies and procedures and take action, as appropriate, to ensure that these facilitate fast, efficient, and effective responses to emergency situations.
The project plan established by DFAM to address this task comprises three phases.
The scope and duration of the project have been expanded as additional funding has been made available by DfID.
Purpose:
The project was designed to analyse UNICEF financial policy and procedure and identify if, how and why this has resulted in UNICEF not being able to facilitate fast, efficient, and effective responses to emergency situations. Based on the review, a strategy to address the identified issues was developed and implemented.
Timeframe:
The project will be completed in three phases.
The first phase was from 1 July 2006 to 31 January 2007, the second was from 1 April 2007 to 31 May 2008, and the third phase will be from 1 October 2008 to 31 March 2009.
Objectives:
The objectives of the project were / will be to:
Phase I
1. Review UNICEF performance in financial management, administration, and reporting in emergencies at Country Offices, Regional Offices, and HQ and in coordination with other UN agencies and non-UN humanitarian partners.
2. Develop simple and effective guidance to include:
financial risk, internal controls, and accountabilities in emergencies
policies on financial and administrative management in emergencies
procedures for application of policies
minimum operating standards and guidelines.
Phase II
3. Evaluate the feedback received from UNICEF Country and Regional Offices and HQ on the guidance developed in Phase I.
4. Develop simple and effective materials for distribution to include:
financial risk, internal controls, and accountabilities in emergencies
policies on financial and administrative management in emergencies
procedures for application of policies
minimum operating standards and guidelines.
5. Disseminate aggressively policy and procedure creating awareness in Country and Regional Offices and HQ.
Phase III
6. Evaluate the feedback received from UNICEF Country and Regional Offices and HQ on the materials developed and distributed in Phase II.
7. Based on the feedback received and on the inter-divisional strategy consultation session , further disseminate aggressively policy and procedure creating awareness amongst all staff in Country and Regional Offices and HQ and to include:
improving the message
establishing a network of advocates
planning and implementing a communications plan
identifying training opportunities
integrating the message with other DFAM and UNICEF initiatives.
Expected Outputs:
The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:
Phase I
1. Documented analysis of policy and procedure and issues;
2. Documented strategy to address issues;
3. Technical guidance on financial management, administration and reporting for use in emergency situations which is complete, simple, effective and readily accessible;
4. Presentation to senior staff of DFAM on analysis, issues, guidance and strategy.
This phase has been completed.
Phase II
1. Documented analysis of feedback received on guidance developed.
2. Documented strategy for aggressive dissemination of policy and procedure.
3. Materials required for aggressive dissemination strategy developed, translated and printed as appropriate, and distributed.
4. Awareness raised in Country and Regional Offices and, as appropriate, HQ on the available guidance and materials on policy and procedure for use in emergency situations delivered as appropriate by meeting, workshop, internet-facilitated learning, or self-learning means.
5. Documented analysis of feedback received on materials developed and distributed in Phase II.
6. Presentation to senior staff of DFAM on guidance, dissemination strategy, and issues.
This phase has been completed.
Phase III
1. Awareness raised amongst all staff in Country and Regional Offices and, as appropriate, HQ on the available guidance and materials on policy and procedure for use in emergency situations delivered as appropriate by structured email and other communications, meeting, workshop, internet-facilitated learning, or self-learning means.
2. Presentation to senior staff of DFAM on project outputs.
Management and administration of consultancy:
The consultant will make use of resources in UNICEF Regional Offices, Country Offices, and in HQ, including DFAM, PD and EMOPS, DOC, DHR, OED.
The work of the consultant will be supervised by the Deputy Director Accounts Section, DFAM.
Oversight and guidance for the consultancy will be provided by a Reference Group comprising senior staff members from several UNICEF divisions.
Ideally, to promote awareness in and to engage with staff members in UNICEF French- and Spanish-speaking countries, the consultant will be based in a regional location. Should this prove impractical, the consultant may be based in New York.
These outputs will be delivered by 31 March 2009.
Qualifications:
Essential
Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations or Knowledge Management or equivalent professional work experience in the communication or knowledge management area, combined with an advanced university degree in development or related fields
Five to eight years of relevant and progressively more responsible professional work with experience in developing countries and emergency situations
Proven skills in communication, networking, advocacy and negotiation
Ability to communicate effectively and concisely in written and oral form
Ability to conceptualise, plan, and execute ideas
Knowledge of computer systems, internet navigation and various office applications
Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relations both within and outside the organisation
Fluency in English
Desirable
Working knowledge of another UN language, preferably French or Spanish
Understanding of UNICEF mission and programmatic goals
Knowledge of UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations, policies and procedures
Interested candidates are invited to submit their application to dfamrecruitment@unicef.org. Applications will be considered only if accompanied by an updated CV and P11 Personal History Form (which can be obtained in MS word format from www.unicef.org/employ) as well as the two most recent performance evaluations or references. Regret letters will only be sent to shortlisted candidates.
UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and it staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications should be received by 19 August 2008.
