Job Title Planning Specialist

• Stay abreast with the situation of children and women in Uganda, and ensure collection, analysis and dissemination of updated data and information on child survival, protection and development in the country, with emphasis on updated  human rights-based district specific situation analysis for the 58 UNICEF districts for additional emphasis.
• Ensure continuous flow of information on the situation to the Dep. Representative, the Representative and the PCR Managers for policy development, planning, advocacy and resource mobilization.
• Offer substantive technical support to the Deputy Representative for the new country programme process, including preparation of strategy note, country programme document (CPD), country programme plan of action (CPAP) and coordination of UNICEF inputs to the UN Country Assessment, UNDAF strategies/outcomes or UNDAF Action Plan and Joint Programmes, ensuring coherence with UNICEF CPD/CPAP and emerging needs of children.
• The Planning Specialist will be also responsible for the development and continuous updating of HRAP based planning and monitoring guidelines for the country programme and ensure that they also reflect decentralization of government planning procedures, participatory planning approaches and indicators for community and district monitoring.
• Ensure timely preparation and integration of UNICEF inputs into the District Development Plans for the 58   districts of additional emphasis, GOU Sector plans and UNICEF/GOU Rolling Work Plans for both districts and nationwide support. Ensure synchronization of the UNICEF support with the GOU planning cycles.
• Offer assistance and guidance and procedures to the area programme managers and project officers, districts on all aspects of program planning and monitoring according to UNICEF’s, policies, guidelines and operational procedures, especially those specifically developed for the CP.
• Ensure timely implementation and effective monitoring of UNICEF inputs (cash, supply, contract, training, and travel) and participate in quarterly and annual reviews and planning exercises for the 58 districts supported by the CP on a rotating basis and the national level meetings when needed. Undertake frequent CP monitoring visits to the 58 districts to assess the effectiveness and cost efficiency of UNICEF assistance to the districts for planning monitoring and adjustment of strategies and approaches.
• Ensure establishment of an effective district based monitoring system for regular assessment of community and district specific targets and outcomes related to CP goals and ensure linkage between lower government and district and national monitoring systems.
• Establish capacity building monitoring system at district level which reflects UNICEF’s contribution to the individual districts in terms of training, management support, communication and logistics and other items which are supposed to enhance and facilitate country programme implementation.
• Provide backstopping to the Reports Specialist to ensure timely submission of donor, progress and any other reports requested by the Deputy Representative or the Representative’s office.

• The Planning Specialist should possess an advanced university degree in Social Sciences or other related field.
• At least eight years (8) years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in programme planning, administration, monitoring and evaluation.
• Fluency in English and another UN working language. Knowledge of the local working language of the duty station would be an asset.

• Possess high-level communication skills, including engaging and informative formal public speaking.
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.
• Good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.
• Easily and quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of  individuals across organizational departments.
• Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.
• Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities.
• Demonstrates and shares detailed technical knowledge and expertise.
• Seeks and proposes opportunities for advancing UNICEF`s mission.

Deadline: 14^th March, 2014

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