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We believe that every child should be able to be a child, always and everywhere
As the United Nations Children's Rights Organization, UNICEF stands up for the rights of every child in all countries of the world, day in and day out. Thanks to you and our partners, we help more children than anyone else in the world. We believe that every child should be able to be a 'child'. In fact, they are entitled to it. Not all children grow up in a safe and loving environment. For their development, they urgently need protection, health care, (healthy) food, and education.
That is what we stand for because we are UNICEF.
Project Manager Sint Maarten - 32 hrs pw - The Hague
Location of Assignment: The Hague
Languages required: English, Dutch
Travel: Regular travel to St. Maarten
Duration of contract: One year – extension based on performance
Vacature
Vacaturekenmerken
Type functie
Introduction to the assignment
On September 6, 2017, a Category 5 Hurricane made landfall on Sint Maarten, causing significant destruction throughout the country. UNICEF the Netherlands has been active on Sint Maarten since September 2017 implementing a programme comprising disaster preparedness and strengthening resilience, psychosocial support, youth participation, child protection, public campaigns, and research. In collaboration with the Government of St. Maarten (GoSXM) and the Sint Maarten Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Trust Fund managed by the World Bank, we are implementing a Child Resilience and Protection project up to 2024. For this project, we are recruiting a project manager.
The objective of the Child Resilience and Protection Project is to strengthen the capacity of the education and child protection systems to address and respond to the needs of children and adolescents resulting from natural disasters and external shocks. The Project has four components: (1) Nurturing children and adolescents’ well-being (2) Strengthening the Child Protection system; (3) Strengthening schools and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport’s (MECYS) resilience to disasters; and (4) Project Implementation Support.
Under component 1, the Project will support and strengthen MECYS’ comprehensive approach to support in and out-of-school children by integrating psychosocial interventions following a natural disaster at the school, family, and community levels. It will also support violence prevention interventions. While the project was initially designed as a response to Hurricane Irma, its scope has been expanded to cover other external shocks, such as epidemics, learning from the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. This component has two sub-components: (i) Enhancing the management of students’ and teachers’ psychosocial needs within education sector institutions; and (ii) Addressing occurrences of violence affecting children and adolescents. This includes interventions for adolescents to strengthen their resilience.
Under component 2, the Project will strengthen the Child Protection system on Sint Maarten, including policies and institutional mechanisms and practices that aim at preventing and responding to children’s rights violations, which are defined as violence, abuse, and neglect. It will also enhance inter-agency child protection mechanisms and the system’s capacity to protect children during emergencies. Specifically, the component will : (i) support the child protection referral and case management system; (ii) support the development of a Child Protection Information System; (iii) build capacity of professionals working with children; (iv) support early interventions for vulnerable children; and (v) support the mainstreaming of the Child Protection in Emergencies approach.
Under component 3, the Project will strengthen coordination for disaster risk management at the education system and school levels?to better prepare and respond to natural hazards and protect children’s safety during emergencies.
Responsibilities
The Project Manager is responsible for managing the project. He/she is accountable to the Director of Programs and Advocacy. The project manager is responsible for:
1. Managing the project team and external consultants and ensuring smooth collaboration and efficiency within the project team, and across departments
2. In close collaboration with the Government of St. Maarten and the World Bank team, coordinating the preparation of annual action plans, budgets, procurement plans, progress reports, and other required documentation
3. Ensuring that the project is implemented within budget
4. Ensuring that the project complies with the applicable World Bank Environmental and Social Policies and Instruments
5. Ensuring that project implementation is in line with UNICEF standards and compliant with provisions of the Grant Agreement, the Project Implementation Manual (PIM), World Bank guidelines, and internal procedures.
The project is implemented and managed by staff employed by UNICEF the Netherlands as well as by consultants recruited by UNICEF the Netherlands. Some of the staff (mainly HR, Finance & Control and Compliance) is based in the office of UNICEF the Netherlands in the Hague while most of the project implementation staff and consultants are based on St. Maarten and the Latin American and Caribbean region.
The current project implementation team includes a Team Coordinator/Child Rights Advocate; a Child Protection Specialist, an Adolescent Development Specialist, a Child Resilience Specialist, an Education/School Safety Specialist, a Communication Officer, and a Project Support Officer. For specific technical assignments, we work with short-term consultancies.
To ensure quality project implementation and strong working relations with the GoSXM, the Project Manager is supported by the Team Coordinator on St. Maarten. The Project Manager decides on the deliverables and tasks of staff and consultants. The Project Manager can delegate the monitoring of the delivery of day-to-day activities to the Team Coordinator, based on St. Maarten.
Tasks/deliverables
• Prepare annual work plan in close collaboration with the Government of St. Maarten and in accordance with the Grant Agreement
• Prepare & monitor the annual budget and ensure the project is implemented in line with the budget
• Co-ordinate the preparation of the annual procurement plan and ensure procurement processes are implemented in line with World Bank procedures and standards
• Prepare progress reports, in consultation with the GoSXM
• Implement and report on the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP)
• Act as primary liaison with the World Bank team & secure World Bank no objection and approval of the work plan, budget, progress reports, and ESCP report
• Draft Terms of Reference for staff and consultants in consultation with the GoSXM; agree on detailed deliverables with the GoSXM; secure no-objection from the World Bank, as relevant
• Ensure staff/consultants have clear deliverables, oversee the implementation of these deliverables in close collaboration with the Team Coordinator
• Liaise with UNICEF offices and experts to ensure the project is implemented in line with UNICEF standards
• Ensure that all project documentation is correctly filed in Sharepoint and that procurement-related documentation is uploaded in World Bank’s Systematic Tracking of Exchanges in Procurement system (STEP)
• Ensure programmatic and operational emergency preparedness in close cooperation with other departments and UNICEF
• Liaise with the UN in the region, the Government of the Netherlands and with other stakeholders in the Netherlands and on Sint Maarten
• Report to the internal steering committee of the project (UNICEF NL Director, Programs Director, Operations Director)
Requirements & Competencies
· Advanced university degree in international development or related field.
· At least ten years of relevant professional work experience
· Proven track record in effective project management, including results based management
· Experience in managing teams, including in remote settings
· Knowledge of Sint Maarten culture and context or knowledge of Eastern Caribbean culture and context
· Experience in working in close collaboration with governments
· A background in working with UNICEF International is strongly desired
· Experience in managing donor relations; experience in working with the World Bank is desirable
· Knowledge of the areas of work: child protection, adolescent development, school safety, emergency preparedness, and response, specifically in emergency/disaster contexts
· Excellent command of English and fluent in Dutch
· You are a team player and have strong diplomatic skills
· You are energetic and solution-oriented
· You are willing to work flexible hours (considering the time difference) and you are able to travel regularly
Our offer
The successful candidate will be offered a one-year contract with
UNICEF The Netherlands, with the possibility for extension.
With us, you get a special mission as a bonus: contributing to a better world for children. A beautiful view of the Haagse Bos and a casual and professional working atmosphere are also included in this position. Moreover, our office is within walking distance of The Hague Central Station. Our employment conditions are in line with the charitable sector.
How to apply
Potential candidates are invited to apply for this position by submitting their CV and letter of motivation by September 30th, 2021 via the online portal/ application button.
Any further information on the position may be obtained from sbokkerink@unicef.nl.
A reference check and certificate of good conduct are part of the procedure.
We ask all employees to be willing to comply with our code of conduct and to cooperate in requesting a Declaration of Good Conduct.
Our society is colorful and UNICEF Netherlands is too. We strive for our employees to be a reflection of society and the international character of our organization.
We do not appreciate acquisition as a result of this advertisement.
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