Background
UNICEF operates in some of the world’s most challenging regions to reach the most disadvantaged children and ensure their survival, rights, and development.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work tirelessly for every child, everywhere, every day, striving to build a better world for all.
And we never give up.
For every child, results
UNICEF’s core mission is to uphold the rights of every child, everywhere, in all aspects of its work – in programs, advocacy, and operations. The equity strategy, focusing on the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that every child has the opportunity to survive, develop, and reach their full potential without discrimination, bias, or favoritism. When any child faces unequal opportunities in life – in social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions – their rights are violated.
There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens, addressing inequality, not only provides all children with the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also contributes to sustained growth and stability in countries. Hence, the focus on equity is crucial. It accelerates progress toward realizing the human rights of all children, which is UNICEF’s universal mandate, as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
The DRC faces multiple development and humanitarian challenges. Despite some progress made in the country in the fields of child survival, development, and child protection over recent years, none of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have been achieved. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 will be a tremendous challenge for the country. There are 3.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country, with two million being women and girls. Additionally, there are nearly half a million refugees and multiple health epidemics, including Ebola, cholera, measles, and polio, as well as underlying chronic malnutrition affecting children across the country. Regional disparities in access to and utilization of services by children also exist, with more than 75% of children in four regions experiencing two or more disparities. For example, in the Katanga Region, more than 50% of children face two or more disparities.
A. Purpose of the Position
Under the supervision of the Deputy Representative Operations, the incumbent will be responsible for strengthening risk assurance and compliance efforts in the context of a large, medium, or small-scale country office.
He/She will provide complementary expertise, support, and monitoring related to risk management, including but not limited to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of risk management practices at the process, systems, and entity levels.
He/She will ensure that risk management objectives are achieved following organizational rules and regulations and acceptable ethical behavior. This includes internal control, information and technology security, sustainability, and quality assurance. Moreover, he/she will provide analysis and reports on the adequacy and effectiveness of risk management and internal control.
B. Key Expected Results
1. Risk management support
• Provide guidance and support to the office in the annual risk assessment process and monitor the reliability of reports and their compliance with applicable rules and regulations;
• Ensure the monitoring of risk mitigation action plans, including a mid-term review;
• Lead the office peer reviews process, undertake visits to project sites and field offices to verify the quality of performance;
• Ensure the risk management approach is embedded in any project/proposal, in office governance committees’ review of submissions, and in any major decision made by the management.
2. Compliance support
• Review the office systems, procedures, and processes for compliance with organizational rules and regulations;
• Enforce and strengthen internal controls to ensure that systems are in place to prevent, detect, and report non-compliance. Support the process for the preparation of the annual Statement of Internal Control (SIC) by the office;
• Review internal work processes in Programme and Operations to ensure that accountabilities are clear and placed at the adequate levels as per global policies and/or best practices;
• Establish a risk-based system to periodically and systematically review a sample of activities (Programme and Operations) to ensure they are carried out according to established work processes and in compliance with UNICEF policies and procedures;
• Ensure smooth preparedness of internal and external audit, conduct quality assurance, and follow up on the implementation of recommendations and provide feedback to the management;
• Periodically test compliance with the Table of authority and adherence to the delegation of authorities in line with UNICEF policies and procedures and ensure staff understand roles and responsibilities delegated to them;
• Review the conformity of statutory and non-statutory committees, assess that committee members have been trained/oriented on their roles and responsibility.
3. Fraud risk Management support
• Support the management of the office in collecting evidence to respond to OIAI’s queries when initially assessing allegations of fraud and misconduct or during actual investigations;
• Advise the management on lessons learned from investigations and measures to be taken accordingly;
• Ensure the implementation of the global anti-fraud strategy, suggest internal fraud prevention mechanisms, and alert the management to any fraudulent issues as well as unethical behaviors detected;
• Lead the process of Fraud risk training/orientation to Partners and suppliers.
4. Oversight and advisory to the Management
• Advise the management on actions to be taken to enforce and strengthen accountabilities for a robust, responsive, and transparent governance framework;
• Contribute to the effective management process by participating in key governance meetings (particularly CMT, PMT, and OMT);
• Coordinate Risk assessment and control activities with other UN agencies by representing the office in meetings related to Risks and Compliance activities.
5. Create awareness/capacity building
• Establish a system to document and report weaknesses in internal control and implement actions aimed at addressing internal control gaps (SOP, memos…) and building the capacity of responsible staff;
Analyze the cause and effect of policy changes on the operations of the office, anticipate changes, and advise on the new way of doing business;
• Support the implementation of a continuous learning and development plan for the Risk and Compliance function;
• Ensure that management provides staff with access to relevant training and that staff and other personnel understand key UNICEF policies, including PSEA, Fraud, and Ethics.
6. Any support needed from the regional office
• On request, support the Regional Office in conducting review exercises in countries where Risk and Compliance positions are not established or in supporting any other review in the area of expertise (Peer reviews, assessment…);
• Develop a network/community of risk and compliance specialists at both regional and global levels for experience sharing, updated working documents, as well as office rules and policies.
C. Qualifications of Successful Candidate
Education
An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Business Administration and Financial Management, Operations Management, Strategic Management, Risk Management, Audit, Investigation, Internal Control, Statistics and Data Analysis, or Accounting certifications are considered assets. A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
Work Experience
At least 8 (eight) years of continuous professional work experience in Risk and Compliance or another directly relevant area, with several years in internal audit. Experience in financial management, particularly developing and implementing financial control systems, ERM, audits, internal control, preferably with international organizations, NGOs, and the UN. Field experience/familiarity with Emergency contexts may be necessary depending on the assignment.
Fluency in both French and English is required, and knowledge of another official UN language or the local language of the duty station is considered an asset.
D. CHILD SAFEGUARDING
Child safeguarding involves proactive measures to limit direct and indirect collateral risks of harm to children, arising from UNICEF’s work, UNICEF personnel, or UNICEF associates. The risks may include those associated with physical violence (including corporal punishment), sexual violence, exploitation, or abuse, emotional and verbal abuse, economic exploitation, failure to provide for physical or psychological safety, neglect of physical, emotional, or psychological needs, harmful cultural practices, and privacy violations.
Certain UNICEF positions present elevated child safeguarding risks (« elevated risk roles »), and candidates and/or incumbents may be subject to more rigorous vetting and training. Roles may be elevated risk roles because of significant unsupervised direct contact with children, their data, having a role in responding to safeguarding incidents, or being otherwise assessed as presenting an elevated risk. This position has been identified as an assessed risk role.
E. UNICEF values and competency Required (based on the updated Framework)
i) Core Values
- Care
- Respect
- Integrity
- Trust
- Accountability
- Sustainability
ii) Core Competencies
- Nurtures, Leads, and Manages People (2)
- Demonstrates Self-Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
- Works Collaboratively with Others (2)
- Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
- Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
- Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
- Drives to Achieve Impactful Results (2)
- Manages Ambiguity and Complexity (2)
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITA) and core competencies of Nurtures, Leads and Manages People, Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness, Works Collaboratively with others, Builds and Maintains Partnerships, Innovates and Embraces Change, Thinks and Acts Strategically, Drives to achieve impactful results, and Manages ambiguity and complexity.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, encouraging all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply and become part of the organization.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy regarding 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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.
All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles, undergoing rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. Selected candidates may also be required to provide additional information for background checks.
UNICEF offers various benefits to its staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF appointments are conditional upon medical clearance and may require vaccination, including against COVID-19. Candidates that are government employees must typically resign from their government positions before accepting employment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment if necessary visa, medical, or inoculation requirements are not met within a reasonable timeframe.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further stages of the selection process.
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply!
