Monitoring Officer, NOA, Fixed Term, #122926, Islamabad, Pakistan

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, Commitment!

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges.

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among other things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilisers, communities and families, and of course the children and adolescents themselves. 

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

• Every child survives and thrives — being in good health, immunized, protected from polio and accessing nutritious food.
• Every child learns.
• Every child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.
• Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

To learn more about UNICEF work in Pakistan, please visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan and videos on YouTube and Vimeo

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Monitoring Officer is responsible for supporting oversight and coordination of all monitoring activities within the organization. The role involves supporting the collection and analysis data, tracking project progress, and ensuring effective reporting to support evidence-based decision-making. The Monitoring Officer will work closely with the program teams, partners, and stakeholders both in Islamabad and the Field Offices to enhance monitoring processes and capacities and contribute to the organization’s overall success.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES, DUTIES & TASKS

1. Planning, Coordination and Quality Assurance of Monitoring

• Support the design and implementation of a robust and risk-informed monitoring plan, including key performance indicators (KPIs), timelines, and ensure its alignment with RWPs and UNSDCF M&E Plans.
• Coordinate with sectoral teams to ensure timely planning, completion and reporting of monitoring visits.
• Contribute to joint monitoring with developmental partners, fostering collaboration for monitoring UNICEF’s programs.
• Support the preparation and presentation of periodic reports on the outcomes of monitoring activities to senior management.
• Support in developing monitoring tools and methodologies for monitoring project activities and outcomes.
• Support in establishing monitoring systems to track and analyze key annual program indicators, providing regular updates to Planning and Monitoring Specialist.
• Integrate M&E tasks identified in the CO Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan to anticipate and address information needs during emergencies.
• Facilitate data collection planning in humanitarian response situations, collaborating with partners in the humanitarian clusters.

2. Analysis of Monitoring Information

• Gather and systematize monitoring data from relevant sources, ensuring comprehensive and accurate information for analysis of the situation of children and programme performance.
• Support in establishing and maintaining an effective monitoring system to track programme indicators and performance against targets.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of monitoring data to evaluate programme performance, identify trends, and measure progress toward objectives. Monitor and follow up on management decisions resulting from performance monitoring.
• Generate comprehensive reports to communicate findings from monitoring data to stakeholders, ensuring clear understanding and actionable recommendations.
• Monitor project activities, outputs, and outcomes according to established timelines and milestones.
• Identify potential delays or challenges and communicate them to the relevant stakeholders.
• Provide support towards the management of  third party independent monitoring
• Identify risks and performance gaps based on monitoring data and suggest corrective actions.
• Provide synthesis of M&E/KPI results to the Planning and Monitoring Specialist for further sharing with country office senior management, the Country Management Team and key programme and operations staff.
• Ensure that monitoring recommendations are communicated to the relevant sections/partners for implementation, with advice on the Implementation Plan and follow-up action for future programming.

3. Monitoring Capacity Building

• Provide training and support to staff and partners on monitoring procedures and data collection methods.
• Strengthen the monitoring skills and capacities of UNICEF internal staff and relevant stakeholders, ensuring that they have the basic knowledge and skills to fulfil their monitoring and evaluation responsibilities, and training is planned and carried out to fill identified gaps.
• Provide technical support for implementation of capacity building strategies as a joint commitment with other developmental partners with special attention to the interest, concern and participation of primary stakeholders.
• Promote and provide support to ensure that Country Office staff and national partners are aware of and have access to UNICEF monitoring learning resources.
• Assist in liaising with knowledge institutions to seek partnerships for the identification of capacity gaps and the development of strategies to address them.
• contribute to integrated planning of research and monitoring activities within the Country Office, with national partners, the UN Country Team and the wider international community, in the context of internal office management plans, the country programme process, the UNSDCF and sector wide approaches respectively, in consultation with child-right partners.
• contribute to joint monitoring activities with national partners, the UN Country Team and the wider international community, wherever possible in the context of the above processes.

4. Reporting and Documentation:

• Prepare timely and accurate monitoring reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain and follow up on Monitoring reports on etools.
• Present findings in a clear and visually engaging manner to facilitate understanding.
• Reporting support for mid-year and end-year and supporting the UN reporting.
• Maintain comprehensive and up-to-date records of all monitoring data and reports.
• Supporting coordination and technical assistance for programme review processes
• Knowledge management support for monitoring information

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

• A university degree (bachelor’s) in social sciences, Computer Sciences, Statistics or a relevant technical field.
• Proven experience of 01 year in monitoring, evaluation, and data analysis within a development or similar context.
• Familiarity with monitoring and evaluation methodologies and tools.
• Proficiency in data analysis software and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for effective reporting and collaboration
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

Personal Attributes:

• Demonstrated commitment to accuracy, reliability, and maintaining data integrity.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to draw insights and recommendations from data.
• Strong organizational and time management skills to meet deadlines and prioritize tasks.
• Team player with the ability to work collaboratively and build positive working relationships.
• Adaptability and openness to learning and implementing new monitoring approaches

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…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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 females 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.