Programme Officer (HACT) at United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Programme Officer (HACT)

Job No.: 590762
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Level: NO-1
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Categories: Programme Management

Background

• The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. UNICEF has adopted the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) as an approach for obtaining assurance that results have been achieved in line with resource utilization.
• It aims at managing risk related to cash transfers made to implementing partners in support of programme implementation, reducing partner transaction costs and allowing progressive use of national systems for management and accountability of results and resources. 

Purpose for the Job

• The Programme Officer (HACT) reports to the Monitoring Specialist for close guidance and supervision, and provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programme cycle through the application of theoretical and technical skills in researching, collecting, analyzing and presenting technical information to facilitate the integration of HACT plans in all programming activities and to ensure the application of HACT and related organizational rules, regulations and procedures in the field office. 

Key Function, Accountabilities and Related Duties / Tasks
Summary of Key Functions / Accountabilities:

• Support to HACT planning during the programming process
• Support to implementation of HACT activities
• Review and use of HACT reports
• Networking and inter-agency partnership 
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Support to HACT planning during the programming process:

• Participate in discussions, collection, analysis, verification and synthesis of HACT related information/documentation to gain good knowledge of HACT and programme planning and implementation.
• Participate in the preparation of HACT related materials/documentation to ensure incorporation of HACT in the country programming process.

Support to implementation of HACT activities:

• Serve as the reference person on HACT implementation in the office 
• Participate in and assist with the preparation and regular updating of CO micro assessment and assurance plans.
• Together with qualified/experienced CO colleagues, undertake spot checks of implementing partners to gain knowledge and experience.
• Provide technical and administrative support to external service providers in the execution of HACT activities to ensure timely and efficient delivery of results.
• Assist with maintenance of records of relevant HACT related documentation, including CO decisions related to HACT.

Review and use of HACT reports:

• Assist with recording and update of risk ratings of implementing partners in VISION through regular review of the Vendor Master and provision of information to relevant colleagues in the CO.
• Share with implementing partners and CO staff HACT related reports, especially reports of assurance activities, to ensure adequate awareness and followup of identified issues.
• Participate in the review of micro assessment reports of implementing partners to identify common weaknesses in financial and procurement management and propose capacity development actions that can be supported by UNICEF. 
• Participate in the review of assurance activity reports of implementing partners to identify issues that need follow-up and common weaknesses in financial and procurement management and propose capacity development actions that can be supported by UNICEF.

Networking and inter-agency partnership:

• Exchange information and/or operational support to implementing partners, UN system partners and other stakeholders in the CO on the implementation of HACT to reinforce UN/CO harmonization and coordination.
• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of HACT information and knowledge to facilitate/build their capacity for implementing HACT.
• Participate in appropriate inter-agency meetings/events to facilitate and promote sharing of information, knowledge, experiences and best practices.
• Interact regularly with other country offices and the regional office on HACT.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building:

• Identify, capture, synthesize and share lessons learned from HACT and its implementation for integration into broader knowledge development planning and management efforts. 
• Participate in the design, planning and implementation of capacity development strategies/initiatives for implementing partners which can be supported by UNICEF through participation in review of reports of micro assessments and assurance activities of significant and high risk partners.
• Participate in the design and implementation of capacity development strategies/initiatives for CO staff to ensure that staff has the knowledge and skills to fulfill their responsibilities related to HACT.

Requirements
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

Educational Qualification:

• A University Degree in one of the following fields is required: Development Studies, International Development, Business Administration, Financial Management, Economics, Auditing, Project/Programme Management or another relevant technical field.

Experience:

• A minimum of one year of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: programme development/management, financial planning and management, or another related area.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset. 

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. 
• Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are:

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others 

Application Closing Date
17th February, 2026 (West Central Africa Standard Time)

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

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