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At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Champion.

The Health Section of the UNICEF Nigeria Country Office (NCO) supports the Government of Nigeria in rolling out child survival interventions at the country and State levels in Nigeria. These interventions are key to reducing the extremely high rates of maternal, infant, and child mortality, and poor child development in Nigeria.

UNICEF Health Section in Nigeria seeks to strengthen and optimize the use of the Humanitarian Cash Operations and Programme Ecosystem (HOPE) Management Information System (MIS) to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and robustness of frontline worker (FLW) incentive payment processes. Building on over two years of implementation experience, the platform will continue to support timely and accountable payments and improve programme implementation across Polio, non-polio Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs), and Routine Immunization (RI) activities.

How can you make a difference?

You, as the Senior Programme Associate (Data) will work closely with the Budget Specialist to effectively manage the direct transfer of cash to beneficiaries through the Humanitarian Cash Transfer Management Information System Management Information System (HOPE MIS). The Senior Programme Associate (Data) will play a crucial role in the collection, management, monitoring, and reporting of beneficiary information on the HOPE platform.

This position is essential for ensuring the efficient collection, processing, and reconciliation of beneficiary data and payments in alignment with UNICEF's humanitarian cash transfer policies. HOPE is UNICEF’s humanitarian cash transfer management information system, designed to enhance the administration of cash transfer programmes by providing a comprehensive platform for beneficiary data collection, programme association, payment management, and reconciliation.

UNICEF has collaborated closely with the government at national, state, and ward levels during outbreak responses and planned Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIA). The need for direct payment to beneficiaries has become crucial for efficient programme delivery and planning.

You will ensure the timely processing, management, and integration of beneficiary data, and will provide regular reports on the status of cash transfers. Additionally, the Data Associate will offer feedback to the Health Section to improve programme efficiency and effectiveness. At the G-7 level, the below tasks are expected to be carried out with a high level of independence.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Manage recipients’ data on the HOPE MIS platform
Consolidate data from various sources
Prepare HOPE payment plan
Reconcile failed payment list
Coordinate with data officers on collecting payment verification information
Coordinate with data officers and HOPE HQ teams to generate regular reports
Provide data insights and recommendations
Any other related work with accountability mechanisms.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File TOR SR Prog Associate TA.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Completion of secondary education is required.
Work Experience: 7 years administrative or clerical work experience in data management, programme management, or cash transfer programmes is required.
- Strong understanding of management information systems and data collection tools (e.g., KoBo Collect).
- Experience in beneficiary data system for humanitarian cash transfer at field level.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Experience in working with UN agencies or NGOs (UNICEF experience preferred) at interagency level.
Skills:
- Experience using Excel or any Database Management System (DBMS)
- Experience in handling complex and large-scale datasets, integration, and visualization with different sectors including health and finance, and others.
- Excellent communication & presentation skills (written & verbal) across multiple audiences with the ability to influence others while working in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
- High motivation, and dedication to deliver results within strict timeframes
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
Professional and/or university courses in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or a related field are highly desirable.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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 are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female 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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.

Senior Programme Associate (G-7), TA (364 days), #138170, Abuja, Nigeria - WCAR