Programme Associate (Education Cannot Wait)
Organizational Context
UNICEF Colombia operates in a complex, diverse, and middle-income country facing significant disparities. The country programme is implemented within a demanding environment shaped by the overlapping impacts of armed conflict, irregular migration flows, and localized natural disasters exacerbated by climate change, requiring a comprehensive territorial approach.
Job Purpose
The Programme Associate supports the implementation and consortium coordination of The Multi Year Resilience Program (MYRP), where UNICEF is the Lead Organization. This role is crucial for ensuring cohesive and collaborative efforts across the consortium by supporting all partners. The Associate will carry out a range of programme support functions to help develop, implement, and monitor the country programme, ensuring effective and timely delivery in compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations. The position requires close collaboration with Country Office staff, external partners, and agency counterparts to facilitate programme design and delivery, providing regular feedback on project status through monitoring milestones and advising on improvements to keep activities on track.
Responsibilities
Facilitate the development of programme cooperation agreements (PCAs) for MYRP implementation by providing information and drafting selected sections. Ensure timely and accurate recording and administrative processing of government and NGO proposals and requests for direct cash transfers (DCTs) for MYRP. Conduct programme monitoring and coordination of MYRP consortium partners for cash and supplies, informing team members of the status. Assist in conducting regular spot checks of MYRP partner projects to assess financial record-keeping, expenditure controls, and reporting systems. Support the education section in researching, compiling, and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data relevant to the section's work to facilitate MYRP programme delivery and report preparation. Execute transactions in VISION, ensuring programme results, activities, and MYRP coding align with annual work plans (AWPs) and making necessary amendments. Process VISION transactions for grants and MYRP-related items, including registering grant allotments and tracking expiring programme grants. Prepare monitoring and reporting information on MYRP for supervisors and the team, focusing on agreed performance indicators to enhance management efficiency and accountability. Regularly monitor MYRP budgets and financial expenditures using applicable tools, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations, and advising supervisors on actions for decision or follow-up. Assist in preparing periodic or ad-hoc MYRP financial and programmatic reports for the country office and donors to optimize programme fund utilization. Support capacity development activities related to programme development by preparing training materials and participating in exercises.
Work Experience
A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in programme support, administration, or a related field is required. Experience in coordinating with multiple partners and managing project activities is highly desirable.
Skills
Programme Support, Consortium Coordination, Project Monitoring, Financial Monitoring, Data Analysis, Reporting, Administrative Processing, Budget Monitoring, Capacity Development Support, UNICEF Rules and Regulations, Interpersonal Skills, Communication Skills