Reports Officer

General

Description of assignment title: Reports Officer
Assignment country: Malawi
Duty stations: Lilongwe
Work location: UN Premises
Expected start date: 01/04/2026
Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)
Sustainable Development Goal: 17. Partnerships for the goals
Host entity: UNICEF
Modality: Onsite
Type: National
Volunteer category: Specialist UCoS to Mar2026
Work arrangement: Full-time
Number of Assignments: 1

Mission and objectives

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. And we never give up. UNICEF Malawi Country Programme (2019-2023) is aligned with the Government of Malawi’s Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS III) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The programme supports the Government of Malawi to meet its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights in line with international conventions and standards. The country programme is guided by the principles of children’s rights, equity, gender equality, inclusion and resilience, and supports evidence-based, integrative and innovative programming. The vision is that ”all girls and boys in Malawi especially the most disadvantaged and deprived, realize their rights”. The programme focuses on early childhood (parenting, high-impact social services, early stimulation and learning), middle childhood and adolescence (learning, multi-sectoral services, active citizenship), communities (decentralized services and systems, community ownership, social norms), programme effectiveness (monitoring, evaluation, HACT, Innovation, Social Protection and Social Policy and External Communication. The programme is based on “leaving no child behind”, realizing ‘rights for all children in Malawi’.

Context

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. And we never give up. UNICEF in Malawi seeks to identify and scale up sustainable approaches to funding, financing, and investing in children with both public and private sector capital, to sustainably accelerate impact for children. An increasingly core component of our efforts to maximize sustainable revenue is through developing and implementing Innovative Financing mechanisms which will address core deprivations which impact the well-being and rights of children in Malawi. These initiatives will address critical issues such as climate change, health systems strengthening, nutrition improvement, protection of children, disaster risk reduction and inclusion, targeting the most vulnerable and marginalized children and adolescents. A national UNV with the relevant experience is required to assist in this role of supporting resource mobilization with a focus on alternative mechanisms, and international financial institutions and non-traditional donors for UNICEF in Malawi.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Chief, Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships (or her designated mandated representatives), the UN Volunteer Partnerships Officer will perform the following responsibilities, but not limited to:

Reporting

• Under the guidance of the Partnerships Specialist, manage all aspects of donor reporting based on inputs from programme sections in the Country Office.
• Responsible for the timely preparation, review, and dissemination of donor reports for the Deputy Representative Programme’s clearance and prepare briefing materials for the Representative for donor engagements.
• Provide timely, high-quality donor reporting, including information gathering, consolidation, editing, layout, branding, and compliance with donor requirements and results-based reporting standards.
• Collaborate with programme and support sections to produce mandatory UNICEF reports, including SitReps, Annual Reports, and donor briefings.

Partnership Development and Donor Recognition Strategy Implementation

• Maintain effective donor reporting systems, including reporting trackers, records management in SharePoint, and submission of reports to donors and the UNICEF FIORI system.
• Collaborate with Communications Officers to support donor recognition and ensure donor visibility requirements are met in line with reporting commitment
• Support the Partnerships Specialist with management of donor-related field missions

Media Monitoring

• Support the Communication team with the daily monitoring of media.

Results/expected outputs

1. High-quality and timely donor reporting delivered

• All donor reports are prepared, reviewed, and submitted on time, meeting UNICEF and donor-specific requirements and results-based reporting standards.
• Accurate, well-edited, and branded donor reports are produced, reflecting consolidated inputs from programme and support sections.

2. Effective coordination and clearance of reporting products

• Donor reports and briefing materials are sent to the Deputy Representative Programmes (DRP) in a timely manner in order for sufficient time for adequate clearance from the DRP.
• Comprehensive briefing materials are prepared for the Representative to support donor engagements.

3. Mandatory UNICEF reports produced and disseminated

• SitReps, Annual Reports, donor briefings, and other mandatory reports are compiled and shared in coordination with relevant sections, ensuring consistency and quality.

4. Robust donor reporting and records management systems maintained

• Up-to-date donor reporting trackers and records are maintained in SharePoint and the UNICEF FIORI system.
• Donor submissions are accurately logged, archived, and easily retrievable.

5. Donor visibility and recognition requirements fulfilled

• Donor visibility commitments are consistently reflected in reports and communication materials in collaboration with Communications Officers.
• Donor recognition standards are met in line with agreed reporting and branding guidelines.

6. Donor engagement and field missions supported

• Donor-related field missions are effectively coordinated and supported, contributing to positive donor engagement and partnership development.

7. Media monitoring information regularly shared

• Daily media monitoring outputs are produced and shared with the Communications team to support situational awareness and external communication efforts

Relevant experience

3 years

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Business Administration, Communication, Journalism, or a closely related field is required.

Competencies and values

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented.
• Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority.
• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues.
• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
• Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.
• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups.
• Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary.
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance, and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Skills and experience

• At least 3 years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required in public or private sector partnership engagement is required.
• Experience in innovative finance is required.
• Experience in writing and / or reviewing detailed written documents is required.
• Experience with international agencies, or international financial institutions or development finance institutions is highly desired.
• Familiarity with the UN system and UNICEF’s mission is considered an asset.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills are required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills able to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners is required
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment is required
• Solid overall computer literacy is required
• Self-motivation with the ability to work effectively with minimum supervision and with tight deadlines is required.

Area(s) of expertise

Communication, Development programmes

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