Deputy Coordinator, NOC, Niamey, Niger #130931 (Temporary Appointment: 364 days)

The Deputy Coordinator will assist the PMU Coordinator in overseeing the strategic, technical, and operational management of GPE funds within the country’s education sector. This includes ensuring robust project planning, financial management, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. The Deputy Coordinator will support effective coordination among stakeholders and ensure the alignment of the program with national priorities and international standards.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, Education.

UNICEF's core mission is to uphold the rights of every child, everywhere, through its programs, advocacy, and operations. The equity strategy, focused on the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means ensuring that all children have the opportunity to survive, develop, and reach their full potential, free from discrimination, bias, and favoritism. When a child lacks equal life opportunities—across social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions—their rights are compromised. Evidence shows that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society's most disadvantaged citizens, and addressing inequality, not only enables all children to achieve their potential but also fosters sustainable growth and stability in nations. Thus, a focus on equity is essential. It drives progress toward realizing the human rights of all children, which is UNICEF’s universal mandate, as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while promoting equitable national development.

As the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) grant agent and coordinator of the education sector pool, UNICEF has established a management unit to coordinate pooled fund implementation mechanisms, mitigate fiduciary risks, and report to all pooled fund partners on performance in line with the Procedures Manual, partnership framework priorities, and program objectives.

The education sector common fund is a multi-partner initiative supporting Niger, aligned with the country's Finance Laws, implemented by the government, and governed by a procedures manual adapted to national systems. UNICEF’s role is to coordinate partner support, facilitate adherence to authorized procedures, monitor the effective use of resources, and report on field results for the benefit of Nigerien learners.

How can you make a difference?? 

The Deputy Coordinator will assist the PMU Coordinator in overseeing the strategic, technical, and operational management of GPE funds within the country’s education sector. This includes ensuring robust project planning, financial management, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. The Deputy Coordinator will support effective coordination among stakeholders and ensure the alignment of the program with national priorities and international standards.

Main Responsibilities:

Strategic Program Management and Oversight

• Support the PMU Coordinator in the strategic planning, implementation, and overall management of FCSE, ensuring alignment with national education policies.
• Facilitate the timely implementation of project activities and ensure adherence to GPE’s and national guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• Provide technical and operational support to implementing partners to enhance program quality and sustainability.

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the primary point of contact for GPE and national education authorities in the absence of the coordinator, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government officials, implementing partners, GPE Secretariat, and other key stakeholders to promote synergies and maximize program impact.
• Organize regular coordination meetings and participate in high-level stakeholder consultations.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Lead the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks for Budgeted annual plans, ensuring data quality and integrity.
• Supervise the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on project performance, outcomes, and impact to inform decision-making.
• Prepare and submit high-quality periodic reports to GPE and government counterparts on project progress, challenges, and achievements.

Financial and Risk Management

• Support the PMU Coordinator in overseeing project budgets, ensuring effective allocation and utilization of resources per GPE standards and national policies.
• Identify, assess, and manage potential risks to program implementation, proposing and implementing risk mitigation strategies as needed.
• Ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with donor requirements in all financial transactions and reports.

Capacity Building and Knowledge Management

• Facilitate training and capacity-building activities for government counterparts and implementing partners to strengthen institutional capacity for sustainable project management.
• Promote knowledge sharing and document best practices and lessons learned from the implementation of GPE-funded programs.

Human Resources Management and Team Leadership

• Supervise and mentor PMU staff, promoting a collaborative and results-oriented team culture.
• Support the PMU Coordinator in recruiting, onboarding, and managing the performance of PMU staff, ensuring their professional development and well-being.

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

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: educational sciences, social sciences, international relations, government and public relations, public, economics, management, social or community development, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of eight years of professional development experience that combines technical and managerial leadership in development cooperation.
• Solid professional experience in institutions, including public bodies, parastatals, bilateral or multilateral development agencies, or international NGOs in one or more sub-Saharan African countries.
• Managing development projects/programs in the education and training sector.
• Significant experience supporting national or local actors and structures in complex contexts.
• Knowledge of budget financing, public finance systems, and public financial management reforms.
• Fluency in French is required both written and spoken (letters and reports will be drafted in French). Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, English, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Nurtures, leads and manages people (2)
• Builds and maintains partnerships (2)
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (2)
• Drive to achieve results for impact (2)
• Innovates and embraces change (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)
• Thinks and acts strategically (2)
• Works collaboratively with others (2)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

Note: internal candidates who apply for this temporary appointment may keep the link with their positions for a maximum of 364 days, subject to approval by the representative following agreement with the Head of Section or Zonal Office.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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 may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. 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.

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.