The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) -  The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

POSITION : Maternal Newborn Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) State Project Coordinator Consultant (NOC)

DESCRIPTION

• The goals of the Project Coordinator will be to accomplish project objectives by planning, monitoring, evaluating and reporting progress of project activities within the timelines with desired quality. The Project Coordinator is responsible for providing coordination, leadership, and management of resources on a daily basis of the EU project activities and the work plans, ensuring they are delivered on time and to the agreed quality standards and budgets.
• The state project coordinator will work under the guidance and supervision of the MNCHN state Team Leader and the CFO. He/she will work in close collaboration with the FO steering committee to perform his/her job duties and roles

Project Coordination at State , LGA and lower levels:

• Provide practical, hands-on coordination and technical support to the EU-MNCHN project ensuring the quality and timeliness of all project components.
• Coordinate day-to-day activities of integrated consultants for implementation of all MNCHN project components;
• Track project implementation progress and ensure timely completion of the planned activities as per approved EU-MNCHN state operational plan;
• Liaise with the CFO, MNCHN team leader and steering committee members at FO , to coordinate and monitor project implementation;
• Oversee review of project work plans and planning process for the subsequent periods;
• Ensure that project implementation conform to the policies and procedures of UNICEF and the Contribution Agreement signed with the EU;
• Oversee distribution of equipment and supplies; related to EU-MNCHN including delivery note ;
• Ensure that quality progress reports are produced and submitted in a timely manner to the MNCHN team leader, CFO after inputs from sectoral colleagues ;
• Prepare presentations for monthly EU-MNCHN State TWG, and provide all summarized inputs from state to Federal for quarterly EU-MNCHN Steering Committee meetings
• Liaise and coordinate with other all sectoral focal points involved in the EU-MNCHN project at state , specifically Nutrition, HIV, Child Protection, WASH and Communication (including C4D) to ensure all components are well implemented and reported ;
• While ensuring the CFO are fully appraised on progress, develop and maintain positive relationships with all state project partners, especially the SMOH and SPHCDA;
• Report regularly to the MNCHN team leader and CFO on project progress and provide regular updates on the EU-MNCHN project.

Personnel Coordination:

• While ensuring integration of EU-MNCHN project implementation, coordinate the EU-MNCHN project team of state consultants promoting a "One team approach" and ensuring accountability of all of the consultants across the state and LGAs for their expected deliverables;
• Provide leadership and direction to the EU-MNCHN state consultant for timely and quality project implementation;
• Promote and support effective team working through one-to-one communication and regular group meetings;
• Agree clear performance objectives for all consultants, and ensure all of them have appropriately set objectives and monthly individual work plan, and that performance assessment are undertaken in a timely manner;
• Contribute to the guidance and technical coaching of EU-MNCHN project consultants as required.

Financial Coordination:

• Provide guidance and technical support to state partners in proposal writing, and ensure timely submission to the FO for review and funding according to the plan.
• Ensure regular monitoring of expenditure against approved proposal budget as submitted by partners;
• Ensure financial reports as timely submitted to the FO.

Communication and Reporting:

• Prepare high quality presentations and briefing packs in appropriate formats for briefing of CFO, Team leader and steering committee members as well as partners and stakeholders as appropriate
• Review draft reports from assigned consultants and ensuring consolidation and quality standards are met
• Prepare a summarized comprehensive states regular narrative reports as required for all components of the project and in the M&E Framework as well as the Visibility Strategy outlining project progress, key achievements, challenges and steps being taken to address them, and next steps for submission to CFO and to State MNCHN team leader after review of all CFO sectoral staff

Expected Deliverables:

• Annual State work and operational plans
• Monthly progress reports for all components of MNCHN project including M&E Framework from all supported states/LGAs
• Quarterly reports of milestones achieved to advance project implementation and PPP for the meetings
• High quality presentation and briefing pack of the MNCHN project
• Consultancy report

Qualifications 

• Advanced University Degree in Social Sciences, Medicine, Public Health and/or related technical field.
• Eight years' experience working on child survival issues or public health projects.
• Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN working language an asset.
• Knowledge of local working language of the duty station, an asset.
• Knowledge of the latest developments and technology in related fields.
• Make timely and quality judgments and decisions and very good coordination and technical skills.
• Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.
• Willingness to travel to remote regions of the country
• Initiative, passion and commitment to UNICEF's mission and professional values.