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, Fair chance

How can you make a difference?

Background :

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. 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. Therefore, 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.

Job Organizational Context :

Despite the encouraging progress made in the Africa region towards polio eradication where no wild poliovirus has been reported since August 2016, the region continues to be affected by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreaks. Ten out of 12 cVDPV2 outbreaks reported post-switch globally have been in Africa (including Somalia). Children are vulnerable to type 2 disease than ever before and further geographic spread of these outbreaks seems more likely. New outbreaks due to post-switch mOPV2 use are also expected in and around areas of mOPV2 use. While low-divergence Sabin and VDPV isolations are expected following mOPV2 use, more highly diverged isolates may represent evolution of viruses likely to become future cVDPVs. Hence, the ability of the polio program to respond more quickly and effectively to outbreaks anywhere in Africa over the next 12-24 months is a top global priority.

As a key partner of the GPEI, UNICEF has the mandate of providing technical assistance to the countries to ensure fast and effective logistics and vaccine management support whenever a disease outbreak is confirmed.  As stated in the GPEI’s current Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) – as of January 2019 – a Rapid Response Team (RRT) should be deployed to lead the initial response within 72 hours of laboratory result notification.

As part of the RRT mandate, the GPEI Rapid Response Team (RRT) will assist polio outbreak countries to have effective budget and finance management support to disease outbreak response planning, implementation and monitoring. Effective budgets planning and finance management is essential to improve the results of supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) and any other outbreak response.

Strategic office context :

The recruited staff will work under the general guidance and supervision of the Health Specialist (Team Lead for Polio Eradication), WCARO, in close collaboration with the AFRO/UNICEF Rapid Response Team Coordinator in Brazzaville.

The position is based in the regional office in Dakar, Senegal with a high degree of travel and will be subject to deployment to outbreak response countries on short notice.

Purpose for the position :

Under the supervision of the UNICEF WCARO Health Specialist Team Lead for Polio Eradication, and in close collaboration with the AFRO/UNICEF RRT Coordinator in Brazzaville, the Budget Specialist will support the RRT and Country Offices (COs) in managing polio resources from donors including the development of donor proposals and reports, and effectively and efficiently developing, monitoring and reporting on grant-specific budgets in line with program, UNICEF and donor requirements. She/He supports effective management of all Health grants and assists in the development of budgets and technical reports when necessary. The Budget Specialist also provides key support to the RRT in outbreak and budgetary monitoring, compliance with donor and internal UNICEF rules and regulations and other key functions as required. The incumbent will be deployed to polio outbreak countries, as a member of Team A, according to Rapid Response Team (RRT) working plan and GPEI outbreak response SOPs as necessary.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks :

Support to financial planning and management :

• Provide support to the RRT and WCARO in the collation of data and analysis of polio grant information and progress reports ;
• Support to the RRT and WCARO in maintaining the polio grants overview table with income and expenditure/disbursement, remaining balance and time remaining ;
• The incumbent is expected to be deployed to disease outbreak countries within 72 hours after the confirmation of the outbreak, as necessary.

Support to financial monitoring and reporting :

• Ensure preparation of accurate, complete and timely financial reports (including reconciliations); co-ordinate the internal financial reporting deadlines and requirements for the programme. This will include planning deadlines, formats for information and consolidation of financial data to ensure that donors receive reports on a timely basis and to a high level of quality ;
• Ensure compliance of project financial arrangements and reporting in line with UNICEF’s and relevant donor regulations ;
• Monitor programme/project budgets versus actual expenditure; ensure that expenditure recorded meets donor requirements for eligible expenditure items and that the level of documentation meets their specified requirements and advice on budget performance and, if applicable, suggest budget revisions ;
• Review the polio donor reports to ensure the accurate and timely submission of high-quality reports ;
• Ensure that all polio grants income and expenditure budgets and supporting documents for each project component are kept up to date ;
• Ensure compliance with closure of projects, including final financial reporting, external audit and updating UNICEF financial accounts.

Control of accounts :

• Examine transactions (transfer, adjustments, reprogramming and liquidation) supporting documents to ensure the expenditure is broadly reasonable and in accordance with policy ;
• Review on a monthly basis items of expenditure charged to the WCARO polio grants ensuring coding is correct and that any discrepancies are investigated and resolved ;
• Verify and quality control the reprogramming, extension and pull back cash requests submitted by teams and COs through UNICEF WCARO ;
• Plan and monitor disbursements and control the appropriate use of polio grants (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity and ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources 

Capacity building :

• Periodically visit UNICEF CO to provide on-site face-to-face support to the teams and the finance department where required ;
• Facilitate efficient communication and coordination between the CO, Regional Office and HQ finance teams ;
• Contribute to capacity building of CO staff and partners, particularly in  budget management  by facilitating training, following the growth in the staffing structure and partners, providing one-on-one follow-up support and knowledge sharing.

Impact of Results :

The functions of the position are aligned with UNICEF procedures and the RRT needs to implement effective, efficient and financing processes to optimize the use of capital. Consequently, cash transfer and financial management issues are the key areas that the Budget Specialist will be engaged in, including closer monitoring of the funds and grants, more timely financial reporting and return of unused funds. This position will provide key contributions to these areas of improvements

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

Education : An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in Business Administration or Finance/Accounts Management.

Experience :

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in Finance and Budget Management and the development of donor reports and proposals ;
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is required ;
• Experience in polio budget and grant reporting would be an asset ;
• Knowledge of polio donors’ procedures (Rotary, CDC, BMGF, NPT) would be an asset.

Language Requirements : Fluency in French and English is required

For every Child, you demonstrate commitment

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are :

Core Values :

• Care ;
• Respect ;
• Integrity ;
• Trust ;
• Accountability.

Core competencies :

• Communication (III) ;
• Working with people (II) ;
• Drive for results (II).

Functional Competencies :

• Leading and supervising (II) ;
• Formulating strategies and concepts (II) ;
• Analyzing (II) ;
• Applying technical expertise (II) ;
• Planning and organizing (III) ;

View our competency framework at : Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks :

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.