Expression of Interest: Representative, P-5, Luanda, Angola

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 fulfil 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, dedication.

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, Accountability and Sustainability, 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.

How can you make a difference?

The Representative's key functions and accountabilities include:

• Developing and planning the Country Programme
• Leading and managing the Country Office
• Monitoring and quality control of the Country Programme
• Representation and external relations at global/regional and national level
• Delivering high quality results for children, including in a complex operating environment
• Support to the Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team to advance the UN Cooperation Framework
• Leading resource mobilization efforts and nurturing and strengthening partnerships
• Leading innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
• Safety, security and well-being of staff, programmes and organizational assets

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Qualifications:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, international relations, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of professional development experience that combines intellectual and managerial leadership in development cooperation at the international level, some of which served in developing countries is required. Relevant professional experience in any UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Portuguese is highly desirable.  Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

Person Profile:

• Strong management skills and track record at the international level.
• International and developing country knowledge and practical field experience, in the areas of programme and operations.
• Strong experience in policy advocacy and upstream work.
• Proven knowledge and experience in formulating strategies and managing a large size programme (sectoral and multisectoral, development, humanitarian, advocacy, policy dialogue and capacity building).
• Experience in engagement in policy level dialogue and on development aid effectiveness.
• Substantive knowledge of application of a human rights-based approach in practice, and results-based programming.
• Experience in ensuring integration and synergy across sectoral programmes in accordance with best practices.
• High levels of political acumen and strong diplomatic skills.
• Demonstrated capacity to provide leadership and engagement in a strong Delivering as One context.
• Demonstrated ability to direct and foster strategic partnerships, and to mobilize and leverage resources for children.
• Emergency preparedness and response, and related capacity building support experience, at country and international levels.
• Proven capacity to lead, motivate and develop a medium size team.
• Proven risk management skills.

Country Typology:

• Country Income Level: Angola is a Lower Middle-Income country.
• Duty Station: Luanda is a "B", family duty station.
• Office Size:  49 staff
• Annual Budget: USD 23.7 Million
• Good for 1st time Representative: No
• Schooling: Schooling: 1 IB school. Concerns are high tuition costs and few slots available for the primary years programme.

Brief country context:

Angola is a stable lower middle-income country which relies on its oil and other extractive resources for its economic development. Angola's estimated population is fast-growing and in 2022 the country has a population of 35 million of which 54 percent are under 18 years.  While there has been progress on key child-related indicators, disparities are high. Child poverty is high as is under-five mortality.

UNICEF works to uphold the rights and well-being of all children in Angola, with a mix of change strategies, intending to leverage the resources of the government. In Angola, UNICEF's Country Programme aims to reach the most disadvantaged children through its engagement both at national and decentralized levels with a special focus in the marginalized areas which are severely affected by climate change. The programme has an integrated and multi-sectoral approach across the life cycle and clear links between the social policy agenda and sectoral work. UNICEF works with the national Government on policies, public financing, systems strengthening, social and behavior change and resilience building. The programme is fully aligned to the UNSDCF and the National Development Plan offering opportunities for increase private sect engagement. to Angola is a Delivering as One context.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

Competencies

• Builds and maintains partnerships (level III)
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (level III)
• Drive to achieve results for impact (level III)
• Innovates and embraces change (level III)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (level III)
• Thinks and acts strategically (level III)
• Works collaboratively with others (level III)
• Nurtures, leads and manages people (level III)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 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.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Remarks

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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). 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 cancelled.