UNICEF is seeking a Senior Programme Associate (G-7) in Abuja with 7 years of data or programme experience, MIS skills and cash-transfer programme expertise.

Senior Programme Associate (G-7) at UNICEF, Abuja

Support Cash-Transfer Programme Data and Reporting

UNICEF is seeking a Senior Programme Associate (G-7) to support programme data management and accountability activities in Abuja. The position is particularly relevant to professionals who have experience working with large datasets, management information systems and humanitarian cash-transfer programmes.

The role combines data management with programme operations. The successful candidate will work with recipient information, payment plans, reconciliation records and reporting systems while coordinating with data officers and teams working at headquarters level.

The vacancy requires seven years of relevant administrative or clerical experience, with specific experience in data management, programme management or cash-transfer programmes.

Job Details

Job Information	Details
Position	Senior Programme Associate (G-7)
Organization	UNICEF
Location	Abuja, Nigeria
Job Type	Contract
Experience	7 years
Education	Secondary education required
Job Field	Administration / NGO / Non-Profit
Posted	August 7, 2026
Deadline	Not specified
Salary	Not specified

What the Position Will Focus On

The position supports data and accountability processes connected to UNICEF programme activities, particularly the management of information related to recipients and payments.

Managing Recipient Information

One of the central responsibilities is maintaining recipient data within the HOPE Management Information System (MIS).

The successful candidate will work with recipient information and help ensure that data is properly organized, updated and available for programme operations.

Accuracy matters here because errors in beneficiary information can affect downstream programme and payment processes.

Consolidating Data From Different Sources

The role requires bringing together information from multiple sources and turning it into usable programme data.

Responsibilities include:

• Consolidating information from different datasets.
• Reviewing data for consistency.
• Supporting data quality and accuracy.
• Organizing information for reporting and programme decisions.
• Working with relevant data officers when additional verification is required.

Experience handling large or complex datasets will therefore be valuable.

Payment Planning and Reconciliation

The Senior Programme Associate will also support financial and payment-related programme processes.

Key duties include:

• Preparing HOPE payment plans.
• Reviewing failed-payment lists.
• Supporting reconciliation activities.
• Coordinating with data officers to obtain payment-verification information.
• Following up on discrepancies and missing information.

Candidates with previous experience in cash-transfer programmes, payment systems, reconciliation or beneficiary databases should make that experience prominent in their CV.

Reporting and Data Insights

The position involves regular reporting and collaboration with programme teams.

The successful candidate will:

• Coordinate with data officers to produce regular reports.
• Work with HOPE headquarters teams when required.
• Analyze programme information.
• Identify useful trends or data issues.
• Provide insights and recommendations to support programme decisions.

The ability to explain data clearly to people who may have different technical backgrounds will be important.

Accountability Support

The position also includes other work related to accountability mechanisms.

This means the successful candidate may need to support processes that help programme teams verify information, identify discrepancies and maintain reliable records.

Strong documentation and follow-up skills can therefore be just as important as technical data skills.

Experience and Education Requirements

The vacancy specifies completion of secondary education as the minimum educational requirement.

Applicants must also have:

• Seven years of administrative or clerical work experience.
• Relevant experience in data management, programme management or cash-transfer programmes.
• Experience working with management information systems and data-collection tools.
• Experience with beneficiary data systems used in humanitarian cash-transfer programmes at field level.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Good communication skills.

Experience working with UN agencies or NGOs is also required, with UNICEF experience identified as preferred in the vacancy.

Technical Skills That Matter

Applicants should be comfortable working with data-management tools and large datasets.

The listed skills include experience with:

• Microsoft Excel
• Database Management Systems (DBMS)
• Management Information Systems
• Data-collection tools such as KoBo Collect
• Large and complex datasets
• Data integration
• Data visualization
• Programme reporting

Experience working with data across sectors such as health and finance can also be useful.

Working Across Teams and Cultures

The position involves communication with different teams and audiences, including data officers and headquarters-level colleagues.

UNICEF is therefore looking for someone who can communicate effectively in writing and verbally while working respectfully with people from different cultural and professional backgrounds.

The ability to explain technical information in a clear way is particularly useful when programme data needs to inform operational decisions.

Language Requirements

Fluency in English is required.

Knowledge of another official UN language—Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish—or a relevant local language is considered desirable.

Applicants who meet an additional language requirement should include it clearly in their CV.

Additional Qualifications That Can Help

Professional or university-level coursework in areas such as:

• Computer Science
• Information Technology
• Business Administration
• Social Sciences
• Related data or programme disciplines

is considered desirable.

Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings or humanitarian contexts, is also an advantage.

What to Highlight in Your CV

This is a role where specific experience will matter more than generic statements about being “hardworking” or “results-oriented.”

If applicable, highlight experience with:

• Humanitarian cash-transfer programmes.
• Beneficiary or recipient databases.
• Management information systems.
• Large-scale data management.
• Payment reconciliation.
• Data verification.
• Excel and database systems.
• KoBo Collect or similar data-collection tools.
• Data reporting and visualization.
• Coordination with field teams.
• UN or NGO programme operations.
• Working with multiple datasets or sectors.
• Programme accountability mechanisms.

Where possible, describe the scale of the work you have handled—for example, the number of beneficiaries, locations, datasets or programme partners involved.

Who Is This Role Best Suited To?

This is not an entry-level programme position. The combination of the G-7 level, seven-year experience requirement, humanitarian cash-transfer exposure and data-management responsibilities makes it more suitable for an experienced programme or data professional.

Candidates with a background in humanitarian operations, social protection, cash assistance, programme data or NGO/UN administration may find their experience particularly relevant.

Application Information

The supplied vacancy does not provide a closing date or salary.

Applicants should use UNICEF’s official recruitment platform for the application. UNICEF’s Nigeria office directs candidates seeking employment opportunities to its global employment site rather than accepting unsolicited CVs.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should apply through the UNICEF on jobs.unicef.org.

Applicants should search for Senior Programme Associate (G-7) and follow the instructions provided in the official vacancy.

Final Advice for Applicants

This position is best suited to professionals who can combine strong administrative ability with practical data-management experience in programme or humanitarian settings.

Before applying, review your CV against the specific requirements—particularly seven years of relevant experience, beneficiary data systems, cash-transfer programmes, MIS/DBMS tools, Excel, data analysis and NGO or UN experience. Make those qualifications easy to identify rather than relying on a general description of your responsibilities.