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Emergency Specialist, (Accountability to Affected Populations), P4, Temporary Appointment, UNICEF Regional office for South Asia, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Job no: 555214
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Duty Station: Kathmandu
Level: P-4
Location: Nepal
Categories: Emergency
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Background and Rationale:

UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) engaged in a series of initiatives aimed at scaling up AAP in countries in the South Asia region. ROSA coordinated a Humanitarian Investment Program funded by FCDO which enabled to pilot various AAP initiatives at country level. For example, UNICEF India set up community feedback mechanisms as part of the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic – but also enabling at-risk/affected communities to be heard during other disasters including floods and cyclones. UNICEF Afghanistan scaled up its U-Report program for social listening by conducting a poll on Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD). UNICEF Sri Lanka connected community leaders to mobile messaging groups to provide daily, trusted COVID-19 related information and address concerns of communities.

Although there are excellent examples of AAP good practices which mobilized communities in South Asia around a common goal, efforts still need to be made to translate this into the potential transformation UNICEF is aspiring to. To address this challenge and scale up AAP in a systemic and predictable manner across South Asia, UNICEF ROSA is recruiting an AAP Specialist for an initial duration of 1 year.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose:

The overall purpose of this position is to support UNICEF ROSA and Country Offices in South Asia in scaling up AAP in a systematic way. Thanks to this work, UNICEF aims at better mainstreaming AAP throughout its humanitarian programming in South Asia. As such, affected families, children and adolescents will participate more in the decisions that affect their lives and receive the information they need to make informed decisions, across all programmes. Views and feedback from affected families, children and adolescents will more systematically inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of programmes, and UNICEF will have more mechanisms in place for acting upon the feedback and complaints received by affected families, children and adolescents.
The Accountability to Affected Populations Specialist will be responsible for providing technical and operational support in the management, coordination and implementation of Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) interventions ensuring views and priorities of affected people are incorporated into all stages of Country Offices (Humanitarian) Programme Cycle, and effectively informs humanitarian response plans. More specifically, the Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) Specialist’s work will be articulated around the following 5 specific objectives:
1. Map areas of strengths and challenges in terms of AAP in South Asia
2. Support the design and implementation of regional and country level roadmap(s)/action plan(s) to scale up AAP interventions and processes
3. Strengthen AAP evidence generation, innovation, and knowledge management
4. Support advocacy, networking and capacity building for improved understanding and adoption of AAP principles and approaches
5. Coordinate ROSA AAP initiatives with relevant stakeholders

The incumbent will have a primary reporting line to the Regional Advisor for Emergency (REA) and a dotted reporting line to the Regional Adviser for Social and Behaviour Change. She/he will be working closely with the Regional Community Engagement Specialist within the Social and Behaviour Change Section. She/he will seek inputs from both REAs to the PER at time of defining priority objectives and activities for the year, and when reviewing her/his performance.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

1. Map areas of strengths and challenges in terms of AAP in South Asia, with a particular focus on AAP in humanitarian and HDP nexus settings, and identify a set of recommendations to address these weaknesses:

•  Assess/Identify, through online surveys and consultations with Country Offices and the Regional Office for South Asia, the good AAP practices (strengths) in the region, as well as the main areas for improvement (challenges) that would need to be addressed to scale up AAP
• Collect, analyse, document and present the main findings of the assessment to the Regional Office for South Asia and the concerned Country Offices
• Identify the good practices (strengths) that will be selected to be part of the technical briefs’ series (ref. point 3 below)
• Formulate, using a bottom-up approach, a set of recommendations to address the challenges identified

2. Support the design and implementation of regional and country level roadmap(s)/action plan(s) to scale up AAP interventions and processes:

• Based on the findings from the mapping and on operational modalities, community preferences and global best practice, facilitate the development of a regional roadmap/action plan to be endorsed by the Country Offices and Regional Office Management to scale up AAP interventions and processes in South Asia, with clear deliverables, indicators and timeframes.
•  Based on the framework provided by the regional roadmap/action plan, support Country Offices in developing a Country Office roadmap/action plan where they will identify 3-4 priority areas to focus on to scale up AAP in their respective Country Offices, with clear deliverables, indicators and timeframes.
• Provide technical support to Country Offices in the implementation of their Country Office roadmap/action plan
•  In close coordination with Program Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) Sections at Regional and Country levels, develop a monitoring framework to enable the monitoring of the regional and Country Office roadmaps/actions plans, and provide technical support to Country Offices in the integration of AAP in program planning documents and M&E processes at Regional and Country Office levels (e.g. CPDs, monitoring of AAP SMQs/CSIs, integration of AAP clauses in partnership agreements, etc.)

3. Strengthen AAP evidence generation, innovation and knowledge management

• Consolidate and disseminate AAP good practices to key audiences within the region (including donors and national and global partners) through the preparation and publication of Technical Briefs that will dispel misconceptions on the operationalization of AAP in programs and will showcase promising AAP practices that could be replicated in future programmes
• Organize a series of webinars and similar initiatives to institutionalize/share good practices and knowledge around AAP in South Asia with global/regional/national/local partners and stakeholders
• Liaise internally with EMOPS and other Regional Offices to generate evidence and innovation and share common practices

4. Support advocacy, networking and capacity building for improved understanding and adoption of AAP principles and approaches:

• Conduct Capacity building needs assessment on AAP across the region
• Design and implement a Capacity building strategy to build the knowledge of, and commitment to AAP approaches for UNICEF and partners (CSOs & Governments) staff across South Asia through contextualized trainings, webinars, and technical support
• Support in the development of context-specific capacity building materials by contextualizing global and national tools
• Facilitate AAP specific and/or integrated trainings in the region
• Maintain and strengthen partnerships and stakeholder engagement through networking and proactive collaboration and engagement with strategic partners including NGOs, local authorities, community and religious leaders and donors to promote accountability to affected population

5. Support the coordination of AAP initiatives in South Asia with relevant stakeholders:

• Serve as the primary focal point within the Regional Office on AAP related issues – working closely with the Social and Behavior Change colleagues – and be able to provide and regularly update current AAP practices
• Serve as the primary AAP focal point with headquarters, participate in monthly AAP Technical Group meeting and AAP Community of Practice Group
• Liaise with other relevant colleagues in Regional Offices to ensure coherence and consistence in operationalizing UNICEF AAP global strategy in close collaboration with headquarters (EMOPS Geneva, AAP lead and HQ/SBC focal point to emergency)
• Represent UNICEF at inter-agency Working Groups, clusters and other relevant fora in formulating and articulating AAP plans and outcomes and in disseminating key results and lessons learnt
•  Identify and build partnerships with global/regional institutional pools of expertise who could contribute to advancing AAP agendas.

IMPACT OF RESULTS

The strategic and effective design and implementation of AAP interventions that put affected people firmly at the center directly impact on the ability of UNICEF and partners to reduce vulnerabilities, improve resilience and strengthen social cohesion in a manner that upholds the rights, dignity and well-being of communities and ensures programmes not only meet quality standards but are designed in the best interest of communities. This in turn contributes to enhancing the ability of UNICEF to fulfil its mission to achieve sustainable, locally owned and concrete results in improving the survival, development and wellbeing of children in South Asia.

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Humanitarian Affairs, Anthropology Development Studies, Social and behavioral sciences, Social Psychology, or another relevant field related to AAP.

Work experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in the humanitarian sector with significant field experience working on AAP interventions in technical and or leadership role.
• Demonstrable experience in developing and implementing evidence-based community engagement strategies in humanitarian contexts.
• Experience in designing and facilitating participatory sensitization and capacity building sessions at different levels with diverse, multicultural teams.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team in a challenging and highly fluid environment, flexibility and the ability to handle constant change
•  Relevant experience in related areas in a UN agency or international organization is an asset.

Language proficiency:

Fluency in English and excellent oral and written communication and report writing skills in English is required. Good written and spoken skills in the language of a humanitarian operation in the region and knowledge of another UN language an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability (CRITA) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

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

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

Advertised: 15 Sep 2022 Nepal Standard Time
Deadline: 25 Sep 2022 Nepal Standard Time