Overview

The Chief Field Office (CFO) is accountable for managing and leading the total programme commitment of a field office within a country programme. The CFO represents UNICEF in their Area of Responsibility, leads and oversees various program sectors and operational service teams ensuring the delivery of quality results.

Tasks Summary

• Represent UNICEF in the region, by participating in meetings and events, moving forward the agenda for children.
• Facilitate, take and implement measures to ensure safety and security of UNICEF staff and assets.
• Effectively lead the Field Office team and manage the performance and conduct the staff members to deliver results for children.
• Lead the development, implementation and regular review of contingency planning, preparedness measures and anticipatory action.
• Ensure systematic humanitarian access analysis and lead advocacy initiatives to facilitate safe, principled and sustained access to affected populations.
• Establish continuous context monitoring, including humanitarian and security analysis.
• Coordinate multisectoral rapid response mechanisms.
• Engage with CMCoord structures when required.
• Strengthen emergency readiness of staff and partners.
• Contribute to the decentralization of humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
• Ensure that lessons learned and post-response reviews inform continuous improvement of emergency strategies.
• Ensure that area/country programmes are supported by knowledge management through data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting.
• Participate in information exchange through donor and media visits.
• Identify critical intervention points and measures by administering a consistent and transparent monitoring system.
• Draft changes to/or prepare programme work plans as required.
• Prepare program recommendations for inclusion in formal programme documentation.
• Establish programme workplans, monitor compliance and provide training, support and guidance to the programme team.
• Identify human resources requirements and on-going staff development needs.
• Review and evaluate the technical, institutional and financial feasibility and constraints of programme/projects.
• Prepare relevant programme reports required for management, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, etc.
• Establish and supervise programme work plans and monitor progress and compliance.
• Monitor the overall allocation and disbursement of programme funds.
• Take appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds.
• Ensure programme efficiency and delivery through a rigorous and transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation.
• Undertake field visits and ensure that staff conduct field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation.
• Carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluate and participate in the major programme evaluation exercises.
• Participate in annual sector review meetings with government counterparts.
• Ensure the timely preparation of annual program status reports.
• Adopt rights-based programmes approach in the formulation of programme goals and objectives.
• Formulate consistent and effective planning, design, implementation, monitoring and/or evaluation of programmes and projects.
• Bring coherence, synergy and added value to the programming planning and design processes.
• Prepare and submit viable recommendations on project implementation, alternative approaches, and optimal utilization of resources.
• Provide authorities and service providers with technical support and guidance to plan and organize training programmes.
• Ensure the building and reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners.
• Conduct policy analysis from a children's and women's rights perspective and advocacy.
• Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through active advocacy and communication.
• Develop partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts.
• Collaborate with the Operations Section to establish and maintain sound internal controls.
• Maintain close collaboration with heads of sectoral programmes.
• Plan, develop and implement sectoral programme(s) by collaborating with the government and other partners.
• Provide leadership in provision of technical advice, negotiation, advocacy and promotion of area/country level goals.

Experience Requirements

• A minimum of five years of professional work experience in programme management, planning, monitoring and evaluation, project administration or another relevant area is required.
• Proven experience in emergency humanitarian response is considered a strong asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Previous team or people management/leadership experience is an asset.

Qualification Requirements

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, international relations, public administration, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or another relevant technical field.
• A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.