Representative, D-1, Yaounde, Cameroon

Job Description

The Representative serves as the accredited representative of UNICEF in the country and reports to the Regional Director for general direction and oversight. The Representative is responsible for establishing dialogue with the Government to develop the framework of cooperation in the country and for working closely and collaboratively with the Government and national institutions, stakeholders and partners, to develop the Government-UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation in active support of efforts to advance children's rights as established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, other international treaties/frameworks, the SDGs, and UN intergovernmental bodies.

As head of a medium size Country Office, the Representative is responsible for providing leadership and vision to the UNICEF Country Office team in managing and leveraging resources for the achievement of results and realization of the rights of children. The Representative leads and oversees the various programme sectors and operations teams ensuring delivery of quality results in accordance with UNICEF's Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework, ethics and integrity. The Representative is accountable for upholding UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability, and ensuring the establishment and maintenance of a non-discriminatory, inclusive and nurturing working environment for all staff and personnel, to enable them to effectively and efficiently deliver high-quality results for children.

Key Duties

• Developing and planning the Country Programme
• Leading and managing the CO
• Monitoring and quality control of the Country Programme
• Representation and external relations at global/national level
• Support to the Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team
• Resource mobilization and partnerships
• Leading innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
• Safety, security and well-being of staff, programmes and organisational assets

Qualifications

• An Advanced University Degree in social sciences, international relations, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development or other related fields, is required.
• A minimum of thirteen (13) years professional development experience that combines intellectual and managerial leadership in development cooperation at the international level, some of which served in developing countries and emergency context is required. Relevant professional experience in any UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Oral and written proficiency in French and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

Person Profile

• Knowledge and skills to operate in a complex programming environment and in humanitarian, post-conflict, fragile countries;
• Experience in low / middle-income countries with demonstrated ability to build the capacity of the government to develop child rights-based policies, norms and standards as well as to monitor service delivery at the operational level;
• Political savvy with strong analytical skills and ability to distill complex and sensitive issues.
• Ability to strategically position UNICEF as a partner of choice in the development sector, both at the governmental and non-governmental level, to advance national and local initiatives aimed at fulfilling children's rights.
• Proven ability in mobilizing resources (including domestic ones namely from the government) and in building strategic relations with donors and stakeholders;
• Strong communication and advocacy skills;
• International and developing country work experience and field work experience;
• Background/familiarity with emergencies;
• Rights-based and results-based approaches and programming in UNICEF;
• Integration and synthesis of various programme activities in accordance with professional practices and UNICEF programme policy, procedures and guidelines;
• Expert knowledge of advanced concepts in primary discipline, with a broad knowledge of related disciplines, in-depth knowledge of relevant organisational policies and procedures.;
• Ability to strategize, effectively lead teams and achieve results in a complex programmatic, operational and unstable security context;
• Capacity to effectively lead, inspire, motivate and develop a team of international and national staff towards the realization of sustainable programme results in a complex environment;
• Oral and written proficiency in French and English is required to be successful in the position.

How to Apply

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.