Programme Specialist, P-3, Temporary Position (6 months), Florence, Italy, Office of Strategy & Evidence -Innocenti, #00138802 (maternity cover)
Organizational Context
UNICEF works in over 190 countries to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work for children. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling. UNICEF offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.
Job Purpose
The Programme Specialist will support the Strategic Planning and Analytics Unit in strengthening the quality, coherence, and timeliness of UNICEF country programming and related corporate processes. The role will contribute to effective coordination of CPD submissions, extensions, and Executive Board preparations; robust quality assurance and analysis of CPDs; and the continued improvement of programming guidance, tools, and learning. Through strong collaboration across Country and Regional Offices, Headquarters Divisions and Offices, and relevant corporate functions, including the innovative and responsible use of AI, the incumbent will support evidence-informed decision-making and programme excellence across UNICEF, ensuring organizational priorities lead to measurable results for children.
Responsibilities
The Strategic Planning and Analytics Unit leads the process for UNICEF’s Strategic Plan development, reporting, and analysis of performance, including analysis of cross-cutting strategies, alignment of resources to results, and ensuring alignment between Office Management Plans of HQ Divisions/Offices and Regional Offices with the Strategic Plan. The Unit helps UNICEF define, translate, and assess its strategic direction. Building on this strategic direction, the Unit helps empower Country Offices to design and deliver quality Country Programmes in differentiated contexts, including humanitarian situations. The Unit provides guidance to help ensure Country Programmes are relevant, coherent, and responsive to the needs of children and communities while remaining aligned with UNICEF’s global priorities and results framework. Working with Country and Regional Offices, Headquarters Divisions and Offices, and external partners, the Unit strengthens the linkages between UNICEF’s global strategic direction and its work in countries. Through evidence-informed planning, reporting, and analysis, the Unit supports better decision-making, stronger accountability, and more effective programmes for children.
Work Experience
5 years of relevant work experience in strategic planning, performance analysis, quality assurance, results-based management, humanitarian planning, policy analysis, interagency coordination, and country programming is required.
Skills
Country Programme Development (CPD), Country Programme planning, Results-Based Management (RBM), UNSDCF development, Analytical skills, Digital tools proficiency, AI tools proficiency, Knowledge management, Programme country contexts, Emergency response operations, Artificial intelligence applications, SharePoint solutions