Internal & external Vacancy Announcement: Risk and Compliance Specialist, (NOC) FT, Dakar (Sénégal) #133809

Dakar

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
Location: Dakar
Grade: Mid level - NO-C, National Professional Officer - Locally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Legal - Broad
- Ombudsman and Ethics
Closing Date: 2026-01-20

Under the supervision of the Deputy Representative Operations, the Risk and Compliance Specialist will be responsible for strengthening risk assurance and compliance efforts in the context of a large/medium/small scale country office. This includes providing complementary support and monitoring related to the management of risk, encompassing the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of risk management practices at process, systems, and entity levels. The Specialist will ensure that risk management objectives are achieved in accordance with organizational rules and regulations, ethical standards, internal controls, information and technology security, sustainability, and quality assurance. A key component of the role is leading the planning and execution of HACT assurance activities—including micro-assessments, spot checks, programmatic visits, and audits—while ensuring timely follow-up on findings and recommendations. The incumbent will maintain a comprehensive assurance calendar, coordinate with implementing partners, and produce quality documentation and analysis on the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls. Additionally, the Specialist will supervise a General Service (GS) staff member, providing guidance and oversight to support the delivery of assurance tasks.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to fair chance

Under the leadership of the Deputy Representative Operations, the Risk and Compliance function plays a pivotal role in strengthening the overall accountability and assurance environment of the country office. UNICEF is committed to ensuring that its operations are efficient, transparent, and compliant with organizational rules and regulations, while advancing its mission to deliver results for children. Within this framework, the Risk and Compliance Specialist contributes to office-wide objectives by enhancing risk management practices, reinforcing internal controls, and supporting effective collaboration with implementing partners. This role ensures that operational and programmatic activities are carried out in alignment with ethical standards, information security requirements, and sustainability principles, thereby safeguarding UNICEF’s resources and credibility.

How can you make a difference?

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks

Summary of key functions:

1. Risk management support

Support the office management team 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 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 the office governance committee’s 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 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 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 audits, conduct quality assurance and follow-up on the implementation of the 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 the roles and responsibilities delegated to them.
Review the conformity of statutory and non-statutory committees, assess committee members have been trained/oriented on their roles and responsibility.

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 of any fraudulent issues as well as unethical behaviors detected.

Lead the process of Fraud risk training / orientation to Partners and suppliers.

HACT Assurance Oversight

Lead the coordination and implementation of HACT assurance activities, including micro-assessments, spot checks, programmatic visits, and audits.

Ensure the development and maintenance of a comprehensive assurance plan, timely execution of activities, and systematic follow-up on findings and recommendations.

Collaborate with program and operations teams to strengthen partner capacity and mitigate risks through effective assurance mechanisms.

Oversight and advisory to the Management

Help advise the management on actions to be taken to enforce and strengthen accountabilities for a robust, responsive and transparent governance framework.

Contribute to an 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.

Supervise a General Service (GS) staff member supporting HACT assurance tasks, ensuring quality and consistency in documentation, data management, and reporting. Provide technical guidance and capacity-building support to enhance the effectiveness of assurance processes and compliance with organizational standards.

Create awareness/capacity building

Establish a system to document and report weaknesses in internal control and implement actions aimed at addressing internal controls gaps (SOP, memos…) and building the capacity of responsible staff.

Analyze the cause and effect of policy changes to 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.

Partnership Management

Support the effective implementation of HACT partnership assurance by coordinating with implementing partners to ensure compliance with financial and programmatic requirements.

Facilitate partner capacity assessments, contribute to the development of risk-informed engagement strategies, and promote the use of assurance findings to strengthen partner performance and accountability.

Ensure that partnership-related assurance activities are documented, tracked, and used to inform decision-making and continuous improvement in collaboration with program and operations teams

Impact of Results

The Risk and Compliance Specialist is expected to be fully knowledgeable in the field of work, to work with minimum supervision and therefore exercise judgement, take initiatives, establish work priorities and ensure follow-up actions.

The ability to support assessment, mitigation, monitoring, review and reporting on the most significant risks that could potentially harm the organization, is a critical element of UNICEF’s risk and internal control performance management framework. Risk management skills are necessary to safeguard UNICEF’s reputation, resources, continuity of operations and reputation to fulfill our primary mission to save and protect children, globally.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD Risk & Compliance version F.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

Advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in Business Administration and Financial Management is required.

Operations Management, Strategic Management, Risk Management, Audit, Investigation, Internal Control, Statistics and Data Analysis or Accounting certifications are considered as assets.

Two years of additional relevant work experience that was gained after obtaining a bachelor’s degree may be accepted in lieu of advanced degree.

Experience:

At least five years of continuous professional work experience in Risk and Compliance or another directly relevant area, several of which in internal audit. Experience in financial management, particularly developing and implementing financial control systems, ERM, audits, internal control preferably with international organizations, NGOs and UN.

Field experience /familiarity with Emergency. (Depending on contexts)

Language:

Fluency in French and working knowledge of English are required. Knowledge of the local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

(8) Nurtures, Leads and Manages People

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

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