Technical Officer (Beneficiary Data Officer) (Port Sudan) – UNICEF
Job Description
| Job no | 567886 |
| Contract type | Temporary Appointment |
| Location | Port Sudan |
| Level | NO-1 |
| Categories | Knowledge Management |
| Advertised | 30 Nov 2023 E. Africa Standard Time |
| Deadline | 06 Dec 2023 E. Africa Standard Time |
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, hope
UNICEF is dedicated to providing humanitarian, peace, and development assistance to children, families, and communities in Sudan, with a focus on health, nutrition, WASH, child protection, social protection, learning and skills.
The needs of children and young people at risk of and affected by the conflict, epidemics, and climate change, are at the heart of UNICEF’s work in Sudan. This includes large-scale response to emergencies and lifesaving needs; investment in preparedness and resilience; seeking durable solutions for displaced people; supporting conflict prevention, social cohesion, and peace; building and strengthening support to and partnerships with civil society, local and international NGOs, private sector, frontline workers and local institutions; and preserving and strengthening systems that deliver basic services.
Early childhood is a particularly precarious time for children in Sudan due to high under-5 mortality rates, poor health and nutrition outcomes, and extreme vulnerability to child protection concerns. Approximately 76 percent of infants do not make it past their first year of life in Sudan, and although there has been a steady decline in the infant mortality rate in Sudan, it consistently remains higher than the African average. Children who make it past infancy are highly susceptible to communicable diseases particularly diarrhea, malaria, and acute respiratory infections, which are compounded by malnutrition which is the single largest risk factor of mortality and illness in early childhood. Additionally, poor birth registration rates present barriers to healthcare access for children which can exacerbate healthcare deprivation. Lack of birth registration also makes children vulnerable to neglect, deprivation, and abuse of human rights throughout their lives due to lack of recognition by the state. Children are at risk of violence in the home in early childhood, and children with disabilities face even further discrimination and deprivation.
Mortality in a child’s early years (0-5 years) can be attributed to multiple causes. As a result, child mortality indicators are widely utilized as a key marker of overall population well-being, inequality, and service provision, quality, and use for a variety of public services. According to the MICS survey 2014, 48 percent of all under 5 deaths in Sudan occur within the first month of life, and 76 percent occur within the first year (28 percent of which occur between 2-11 months). Only 24 percent of deaths occur between 12-and 59 months.
In April 2021, UNICEF Sudan Country Office (SCO) launched a new Mother and Child Cash Transfer Plus (MCCT+) in two eastern states of Kassala and the Red Sea States, with funding support from KfW/BMZ. MCCT+ is an integrated social protection program for pregnant women and children during the first 1,000 days of life. MCCT+ builds on UNICEF’s ongoing support of primary health care (PHC) facilities which serve as the platforms for an integrated package of services and support to vulnerable women and children. The programme is expected to contribute to a reduction in child and maternal mortality and malnutrition through improved family practices and access to essential services for to first 1,000 days of life.
MCCT+ was originally designed as a government program implemented by the Ministry of Social Development, the ministry responsible for social protection in Sudan, with UNICEF technical and financial support. In light of the October 2021 military takeover, the program is being reoriented as a nexus program implemented by UNICEF with support from frontline workers including social workers, midwives, and health and nutrition staff.
To date, the MCCT+ programme has successfully enrolled approximately 52,000 women benefiting 312,600 individuals in 4 localities in Kassala and 5 localities in Red Sea state. In early 2024, UNICEF will expand the program to reach an additional 30,000 pregnant women in additional states. In this expansion, UNICEF will collect data through KoboCollect and import this data into HOPE, UNICEF’s management information system for humanitarian cash program operations.
How can you make a difference?
Under the general guidance of the supervisor, you are responsible for delivering timely beneficiary data management services while upholding UNICEF data protection policies.
As an advocate for children, you will have the following duties/tasks:
- Grievances of data oversight, Reporting, and Third-Party Monitoring
- If required, provide technical oversight on the ToRs of the Third-Party Monitoring, assessment of technical proposal based on agreed criteria, and selection of the third party for verification of existing payees’ lists
- Draft process and output monitoring report based on data available in HOPE and TPM sources
- Support the SLCO section in drafting program monitoring reports when required
- Coordinate partner’s grievances management work by supporting the documentation of grievances management in the HOPE system
- Data Processing and Analysis
- Write, manage, and update scripts in Python and another relevant language to consolidate, parse, clean, and prepare external personal data sources for import in HOPE
- Consolidate different data sources such as KoBo registration surveys, RapidPro surveys, payment records in CashAssist, post-distribution monitoring (PDM) surveys, and other monitoring data (such as market monitoring, grievance, and feedback data, etc.) for data analysis and data comparison, including longitudinal comparisons
- Perform advanced statistical analysis for report writing, including data analysis tables and visual representation of findings
- Detect individual records flagged as errors upon import in HOPE and perform adequate correction based on programmatic instructions
- Spot check and ensure the quality of data stored in HOPE and in another digital platform for the case of programmatic nonpersonal data
For more information on the specific technical expertise needed, kindly visit the JD: 
CIU_JD_Beneficiary Data Officer_TA NOA.pdf
To qualify as a Champion for every child you will have:
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in information technology, social science, or a related field complemented with relevant industry certifications and work experience.
- 2 years of professional work experience in data or humanitarian program/project management experience, including with multiple stakeholders. Experience in emergency contexts is desirable.
Experience:
- Experience in implementing humanitarian cash transfers program
- Experience in beneficiary data systems for humanitarian cash transfer at the field level
- Experience in business operation environments with a proven track record of interfacing with multiple stakeholders (internal and external) and successful project completion
- Experience in working with UN agencies or NGOs (UNICEF experience preferred) at the interagency level
- Detailed knowledge of the project lifecycle and fluency in project management methodologies
- Experience collaborating across multiple functions and working with operational subject matter experts, technical resources, and architecture teams.
- High motivation, and dedication to deliver results within strict timeframes.
Language:
- Fluency in English and Arabic is required.
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
Core Competencies
- Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
- Works Collaboratively with others (2)
- Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
- Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
- Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
- Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
- Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)
During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.
UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. 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. UNICEF is committed to promoting 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.
Remarks:
The VA is open to all (internal and external candidates). However, priority will be given to staff on TA, and UNVs who have current experience working in Sudan, especially in active conflict areas.
Eligible staff members in the National Officers (NO) or General Service (GS) categories on fixed-term, continuing, or permanent contracts can apply for the post and keep a lien against their original positions.
The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 30 days of receiving an offer.
This position is not considered an elevated-risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.
UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable males are encouraged to apply.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.
Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.
Advertised: 30 Nov 2023 E. Africa Standard Time
Deadline: 06 Dec 2023 E. Africa Standard Time
