Programme Specialist at UNICEF, Lilongwe, Malawi

Deadline: 1 November 2021

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is currently seeking applications from eligible applicants for the post of Programme Specialist in Lilongwe, Malawi.

UNICEF works for a world in which every child has a fair chance in life.

Key Jobs Responsibilities

The Programme Specialist will perform the following functions:

Lead local governance cross-sectoral programme planning, development and management at national and district level to ensure local government is empowered and promotes child rights in an effective way.
Drive technical and operational support to multi-sectoral programme implementation with key stakeholders and partners as well as UNICEF thematic sections.
Build and strengthen networking with exciting and new partners, including government and civil society organizations at national and district level.
Promote innovative mechanisms within local government structures to enable child rights during planning and implementation.
Promote knowledge management on local governance practices with key partners and stakeholders, ensuring that regional and global priorities are also incorporated.
Strengthen and build systems and capacities of local government structures in line with child rights priorities.
Strengthen and coordinate internal UNICEF work around decentralization, community empowerment and system strengthening at community level, ensuring that a coherent community approach is mainstreamed throughout UNICEF sections.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must have:

University Degree in one of the following fields is required political science, governance, public administration management or another relevant technical field.
Minimum 5 year’s professional experience providing policy advice and programme support in the general area of Local Governance is required.
Sound experience in Local Development and Decentralization in different development contexts is required.
Strong experience in providing technical assistance to local governments, including through participatory approaches.
Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
Relevant experience in decentralization and local governance in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
Background and/or familiarity with emergency is considered as an asset.
Demonstrate knowledge of the legal and regulatory frameworks for local governance is an asset.
Understand the local governance structure, government policies, guidelines, legislation, and strategies is required.
Fluency in English and one of the local languages, both strong written and verbal skills, is required.
Nationality of Malawi.