Consultant (Operations, Rwanda)

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency that works in over 190 countries and territories. Its mission is to reach the world's most disadvantaged children, save their lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. UNICEF operates with a workforce dedicated to building a better world for every child, emphasizing education as a critical area of focus. The organization has a global presence and collaborates with various stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, and private sector partners, to implement programs that address pressing issues such as learning poverty and youth unemployment.

Job Overview:
The Consultant (Operations, Rwanda) will play a crucial role in providing operational guidance and support for the implementation of the Education Outcomes Fund (EOF) program in Rwanda. This position involves working closely with EOF's team and reporting directly to the Operations Specialist. The consultant will be responsible for conducting site visits, verifying expenses, and drafting reports that provide insights and recommendations for improving financial processes. The role requires an estimated 12 mission travels within Rwanda to oversee program implementation, ensuring that it aligns with established standards and protocols. The consultant will also engage in workshops and collaborate with various stakeholders to address implementation challenges and enhance program outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the expense verification exercise for EOF’s program in Rwanda, including requesting transaction listings, reviewing transactions, and drafting reports with recommendations for financial process improvements.
• Conduct site visits to EOF’s implementing partners, summarizing key observations and ensuring program implementation aligns with standards.
• Produce market research reports to support local procurement planning for office supplies and vehicle hire.
• Organize logistics for site visits to ECE centres, ensuring smooth travel and accommodation arrangements for EOF’s team.
• Write reports detailing the assets held by EOF in Rwanda, their storage in line with UNICEF policy, and associated risks.
• Facilitate workshops to develop solutions to program implementation challenges, preparing necessary materials for participants.
• Coordinate payment processes for implementing partners, ensuring timely and accurate financial transactions. Overall, the consultant will be responsible for a total of 426 estimated working days throughout the contract period.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a degree in political science, economics, finance, business, education, international development, international public policy, or a related field. A minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in operations, program implementation, project management, or monitoring activities is required. Experience in logistics, administrative tasks, low-value procurement, and processing invoices is essential. Candidates should also have experience coordinating meetings and maintaining effective communication with counterparts, including government officials, as well as drafting reports and presentations for various stakeholders. Familiarity with the local operational context of Rwanda is necessary.

Educational Background:
A degree in political science, economics, finance, business, education, international development, international public policy, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background provides the necessary foundation for understanding the complexities of program implementation and operational management within the context of UNICEF's mission.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in operations, program implementation, project management, or monitoring activities. Candidates should have a proven track record of managing logistics, administrative tasks, and procurement processes, as well as experience in coordinating meetings and maintaining effective communication with various stakeholders, including government officials. Familiarity with the local context in Rwanda is also essential for successful program implementation.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda is required for this position. Proficiency in these languages is crucial for effective communication with stakeholders and for conducting site visits and workshops. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy assignment is expected to involve travel within Rwanda, and candidates are required to submit a financial proposal outlining their daily fee rate in USD and anticipated travel costs. Selected candidates will not be considered staff members under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage. The conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Candidates must ensure that they have valid visas and health insurance for the duration of the contract. Additionally, selected candidates will be required to confirm their fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) prior to taking up the assignment.