Chief Field Officer

For every child, protection.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children's rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life - its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions - her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society's most disadvantaged citizens - addressing inequity - not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. Therefore, the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Chief of Planning, Monitoring and Field Coordination the Chief Field Office (CFO) is accountable for managing and leading the total programme commitment of a field office within a country programme. The CFO represents UNICEF in Kibondo Field Office, oversees the various program sectors and operational service teams ensuring the delivery of quality results in accordance with UNICEF’s programme of cooperation, country programme management plan and overall vision set forward by the Representative. The CFO is also responsible for the child protection portfolio in the field office. Programming context spans a range from emergency response in refugee camps to long term development in refugee hosting districts.

Reporting to the Chief of Planning, Monitoring and Field Coordination, the CFO Kibondo Field Office leads UNICEF response to a current caseload of almost 300,000 refugees from nearby DRC and Burundi, oversees UNICEF support to district development plans in the refugee hosting districts of Kigoma Region, and leads UNICEF efforts in child protection.  The Kibondo Field office consists of a chief of field office (with child protection oversight), three programme staff covering WASH, Health/Nutrition, and Education as well as an operation assistant and two drivers.  As with all field offices the main roles/objectives of KFO are:

• Planning
KFO is primarily responsible for planning the emergency response to the refugee influx in Kigoma region; however, KFO has also been engaged in planning of longer-term development support to LGAs in the regions.

• Technical Support
UNICEF KFO provides technical support to partners during the course of implementation. This could be in the form of troubleshooting, piloting, emergency response and other technical missions. 

• HACT ASSURANCE
These are the actions related to release of funds, assessment of partner capacity, and determining if funds were used for the intended purpose leading to the planned results.  KFO is the front line in assuring HACT in this part of the country.

• Advocacy/Partnerships
UNICEF works with partners to achieve shared results as well as to advocate on child rights issues.

KEY FUNCTIONS, ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RELATED DUTIES/TASKS.

1. Effective management of UNICEF presence, staff and assets

2. Knowledge Management for Programmes

3. Programme Development and Management

4. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations

5.  Local Capacity Building/Sustainability

6.  Rights Perspective and Advocacy at the Regional, Community and Family Levels

7. Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration

Impact of Results:
Making decisions on project management across sectors within the framework of objectives, supply and case needs, to ensure project delivery meets targeted goals and objectives.   This includes technical decision-making on child protection issues to ensure delivery of results.

Making recommendations of a technical nature on adjustments and changes on project implementation, to improve efficiency and effectiveness.  This includes technical recommendations for adjustments to child protection programmes.

To enhance better understanding of the local conditions, government planning and budgeting processes to facilitate correct programme approach which would lead to effectiveness of activities, and proper use of financial resources.

Ensuring that there are strong relations with local government counterparts and other partners so as to make solid implementation and UNICEF credibility. 

Ensure understanding of the local child protection context and foster strong relations with local government and other partners in child protection.

The incumbent interprets and applies the guidelines across programmes as well as applying technical knowledge on child protection guidance. 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will need to have the following:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, international relations, public administration, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in programme management, monitoring and evaluation, with specific experience, skills and competencies in child protection. 
• Experience in managing a humanitarian response is beneficial.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS).

The UNICEF's competencies required for this post are nurture, leads and manages people (I), builds and maintains partnerships (II), demonstrated self-awareness and ethical awareness (II), innovate and embraces change (II), drive to achieve results for impact (II), manages to achieve ambiguity and complexity (II), thinks and acts strategically (II) and works collaboratively with others (II).