Clement Mbiko Gbatanawo

• Leading UNICEF's field office in Western Equatoria State, I manage emergency preparedness and response across health, nutrition, WASH, education, social behavior change, and child protection sectors
• I ensure timely and quality service delivery in emergencies and resilience programming

Key Achievements:

• Partnerships and Programme Documents Management: Collaborated with over 15 implementing partners over the last 3 years (2022 – 2025), enhancing internal and external partnerships with various CSOs as direct implementing partners, with sister UN agencies (UNFAO in the nutrition programming, UNHCR in the duration solution working group, UNDP in their rule of law platform which informs our child protection advocacies and agenda, with WHO in the high-level state taskforce committee on disease outbreaks, health emergency preparedness and response, and with UNMISS on safety of personnel, negotiations with state government, and access issues)
• Dry-Season Prepositioning: Led the initiative to planning the preposition of essential and bulk supplies ahead of the rainy season which impacts on roads, and floods-prone locations in Mvolo, Mundri East, and some parts of Mundri West, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery, such as health, nutrition, WASH, and educations supplies
• Enhanced Internal Controls: Established sound internal controls with the Operations Section and admin and logistics subsections, supporting clear accountability on all field office operations
• Strategic Coordination: Maintained close collaboration with section chiefs through the chief field operations for effective programme delivery of strategic programmes such as the newly initiated HSTP, KfW and the urban water projects in Western Equatoria State
• Sectoral Programme Leadership: Offered clear leadership role during the field office planning, reviews, and the implementation of sectoral programmes with state government ministries (health, education, Gender Child and Social Welfare, & Housing Lands and Public Utilities) and key partners, providing technical advice and advocacy
• Effective Staff Management: Managed performance and conduct of 18 staff, and other 5 consultants, ensuring quality delivery of results for children in the state
• Safety and Security Measures: Ensured the safety and security of staff and assets, serving as an ASMT and CMT member
• Took up professional training in security (BSAFE, SMT, etc.) and risk and disaster management course to ensure safety of personnel and assets of UNICEF
• Programme Efficiency: Established and monitored programme work plans, ensuring proper fund allocation, utilization, and liquidation of all direct cash transfers to IPs (implementing partners), and government departments
• Annual Sector Review Participation: Participated in sector review meetings, ensuring timely preparation of annual program status reports
• Innovative Recommendations: Proposed new initiatives and management strategies to achieve field office objectives, as provided for in the field office BCP (business continuity plan)
• Children Associated with Armed Conflict: Collaboratively worked for the release of 21 children associated with armed forces and groups, leading their reintegration programme.

Additional Roles:

• Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
• Staff Management: Managed a diverse team comprising programme and operations staff
• UN Compound Management: Oversaw the overall management of the UN Compound led by UNICEF, including MoUs on cost-sharing of common premises
• Inter-Agency Coordination: Managed the colocation of UN agencies within the compound, including UNHCR (22 staff), FAO (12 staff), WHO (9 staff), and UNDP (6 staff)
• Guesthouse Management: Supervised guesthouse premises with 24 UNICEF guest houses and 12 guesthouses belonging to UNHCR

Key Projects with Partners:

• HSTP (Health Sector Strengthening Programme): being implemented by SPDP in the greater Mundri counties of Mvolo, Mundri East and Mundri West; AMREF in the greater Maridi and Yambio counties of Yambio, Nzara, Ibba, and Maridi; WVI implementing in Ezo, Tambura and Nagero counties
• It implies that all 10 counties are being supported
• KfW: This is the resilience programming (PfRR) which funding only the stable counties of South Sudan
• In Western Equatoria, it is implemented only in Yambio County, by the CHD (County Health Department) in 15 health facilities where nutrition and health activities are supported, including incentives to staff
• Nutrition Programming Transition to Government Implementation – UNICEF prioritized Western Equatoria State for transitioning nutrition programming by the government
• Field Office leadership and all technical team supporting this transition
• Resilience WASH - this is a special funding to support displaced populations in Ezo, and Yambio
• Other Nutrition programme -> CMMB: Implemented the nutrition programme in Yambio, Nzara, Ezo, Tambura, Nagero, and Mvolo counties
• Andre Foods South Sudan: Implemented nutrition programming in Ibba, Maridi, Mundri West, and Mundri East counties
• WASH Programme > LM International: Implemented the resilience WASH project in Yambio, Ezo, and Mundri West counties
• Child Protection Programme - Eve Organisation for Women: Implemented the child protection programme on GBV and PSS in Yambio, Nzara, and Mundri East; Save Lives Initiatives (SLI): Implemented the child protection programme on GBV and PSS activities in Tambura, Ezo, and Nagero counties.
• Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.

Yambio Field Office (Western Equatoria, Coordinated the design, planning, implementation, and monitoring of activities for multi-donor funded programmes on Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, and Communication for Development (C4D). Programme donors included EU ECHO, SIDA, USAID/CDC, OFDA, Global Partnership for Education, and the German and Spanish Committees for UNICEF. Coordinated staff performance and appraisals. Served on various management teams including ASMT, CMT, and chaired the UNICEF Compound Management Team

Key Contributions:

• Acted as the Head of Office for 15 months, representing UNICEF in all coordination meetings with the government, UN, and other non-governmental organizations
• Supervised 7 direct reports (1 IP, 4 NO-Bs, 1 national consultant, and 1 GS) as the OIC Chief Field Office, and 5 staff members as Programme Specialist
• Coordinated entire office operations, which hosted 5 other UN agencies (WFP, UNHCR, FAO, UNDP, & UNOPS) and 1 international NGO (AAH)
• Directed MoU negotiations and chaired the compound management quarterly meetings with all stakeholders
• Coordinated the response to over 90,000 displaced people due to violent conflict, which caused the Tambura Crisis, affecting 6 counties of Western Equatoria State
• The inter-tribal conflict in Tambura County forced huge populations to flee to Ezo, Yambio, and Nzara, creating a massive humanitarian situation
• Funding was secured by OCHA on behalf of humanitarian actors to support the response
• Faced challenges such as insecurity of local humanitarian workers, lack of adequate funding to meet the needs of over 80,000 people, limited shelter space at the UNMISS protection of civilian site, and absence of psychologists and specialist counselors for mental health support
• Coordinated surge support from the country office to mitigate risks and threats
• Many children were reunified with their parents or guardians through UNICEF's child protection interventions
• Health and nutrition support included the treatment of malnutrition in over 5,000 children and the provision of essential health services to displaced populations
• Oversaw over $6.4M in budgets allocated to the field office in 2021, ensuring timely utilization and liquidation of funds in line with donor requirements and UNICEF financial SOPs
• Coordinated the planning, implementation, and monitoring of programmes across the 10 counties in Western Equatoria State and provided guidance in the development of situational analyses and reports
• Served as the focal point for Pillar 2 of the Partnership for Recovery and Resilience (PfRR) programme – a collective of donors, UN agencies, and NGOs working together under a framework to increase resilience and reduce vulnerability of South Sudanese people and institutions
• UNICEF and WFP were funded to implement resilience and early recovery projects in counties of Western Equatoria State
• Coordination of these activities was directly under my radar
• Monitored programme expenditures while disbursing quarterly funds to implementing partners and certifying the allocation of funds to the implementing partners
• Facilitated capacity building of seven programme staff through coaching and mentoring
• Appraised the performance of these staff members directly, and indirectly the performance of the entire office of 17 staff members
• Developed programme reports for submission to management and donors – ranging from biweekly emergency response reports, monthly SitRep, midyear management reports, and annual reports for management-informed decisions.

• P3, (Surge Support Deployment), Identified through the “Frontlines” programme to serve on a surge deployment mission in Somalia UNICEF Country to support the planning, strategy, and implementation for emergency preparedness and response programming activities in South Central Somalia, Somaliland, and Puntland regions of the Federal Republic of Somalia
• Incorporated into the Somalia Country Office Emergency Management Team

Key Contributions:

• Coordinated the implementation of Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans for locust invasion, drought, floods, and AWD/Cholera in accordance with UNICEF quality standards
• Worked collaboratively with the Chief of Field Offices (in South-Central Region, Somaliland, and Puntland) in the day-to-day coordination and management of emergency and humanitarian programming
• Supported the development of monitoring and evaluation tools to assess programme progress and impact
• Performed UNICEF sectoral needs and priorities analysis, and defined strategies and standards to ensure delivery of interventions in line with national and international humanitarian standards
• Engaged in State-level emergency coordination meetings and liaised with government and partners (UN, NGOs, and Civil Society Organizations) on emergency programme implementation
• Ensured UNICEF’s engagement in cross-sectoral assessment, analysis, and evaluation of emergency response
• Prepared programme reports for submission to the Chief of Field Office and the Emergency Manager: midyear SitRep, and August SitRep 2021
• Conduct policy analysis from a children's and women's rights perspective and advocacy at the government, community, and family levels for elevating credibility in national and international policy debates
• Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through active advocacy and communication in line with UNICEF national advocacy guidelines and strategy.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to achieve project goals on time and within budget.

Coordinated the development, overall management, and reporting of donor-funded programmes in Nutrition, Health, WASH, Child Protection, Education, and Communication for Development

Served as an alternate member of the Area Security Management Team (ASMT), and a member of the Country Management Team (CMT) and the Field Office Management Team

Key Contributions:

• Managed a team of five programme staff and led humanitarian actors to support vulnerable populations in hard-to-reach, rebel-controlled regions of Western Equatoria
• Coordinated the successful release and reintegration of over 1,800 children under the Children Formerly Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups (CAAFAG) programme, while serving as Officer in Charge of the Chief Field Office (CFO-OiC)
• Developed programme work plans and led the implementation of initiatives, including the CAAFAG programme and the Ebola Preparedness Taskforce
• Acted as the focal point for coordinating humanitarian assessments (IRNA and monthly monitoring plans) and conducted over 30 emergency assessments for internally displaced persons (IDPs)
• Managed relationships with implementing partners such as World Vision International, Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), and International Aid Services to facilitate emergency responses
• Led the Field Office, overseeing information exchange with partners and State Ministries of Health, Education, Physical Infrastructure, and Public Utilities in Western Equatoria, while managing a team of seven staff
• Developed training and programme orientation materials to support capacity-building activities
• Conducted field visits and data analysis to monitor and assess programme progress, identify bottlenecks, and recommend corrective actions to enhance performance accountability
• Ensured inter-sectoral integration of programme activities, including school feeding programmes, nutrition, education, WASH, and child protection, to increase efficiency
• Supported knowledge management through data collection and analysis in the Business Continuity Plan (BCP), and through accurate programme reporting and documentation of best practices and lessons learned.

• Conflict Transformation: Planned and implemented conflict transformation processes and activities to enhance stakeholder skills and knowledge in peacebuilding and conflict mitigation across six states, supporting durable peace in South Sudan
• Key Contributions:
• Budget Management: Managed a budget of $800,000 for the South Sudan Peace and Reconciliation Commission, contributing to the development of a roadmap for the peace process in South Sudan
• Training Design and Delivery: Designed training materials and delivered peacebuilding training to over 100 peace cadres, including police, Civil Society Organizations, youth, and women, using community rural appraisal tools
• Empowered peace cadres to cascade the training further
• Regional Coordination: Coordinated the Eastern Africa Regional Teleconference for Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, and Somalia during the “Seven Days of Activism” on the International Day of Peace, strengthening efforts to launch the National Peace and Reconciliation Programme
• Youth Engagement: Managed the youth component of the National Platform for Peace and Reconciliation (NPPR), organizing the first South Sudan National Youth Consultative Meeting for 60 national youth leaders focused on grassroots peace initiatives.

Project Management: Promoted to manage a project with four components: Health, Food Security and Livelihood (FSL), Protection, and Economic Recovery, supporting refugees and the host community in Western Equatoria State

Key Contributions:

• Budget and Staff Management: Managed three staff members and nearly $1M in budgets
• Food Security: Established 25 farmer field schools to enhance food security for displaced populations
• Economic Empowerment: Facilitated the training of 400 persons of concern on Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), resulting in household economic strengthening and improved income for affected populations
• Healthcare Access: Coordinated the renovation of nine health facilities to scale access to primary health care for populations in Ezo, Yambio, and Nzara counties
• Community Protection: Set up protection committees to coordinate protection prevention and response, enhancing community-based protection for refugees and the host community.

• Protection Programme Coordination: Coordinated the protection programme to provide timely and effective protection to populations of concern/Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in three counties, and supervised protection interventions
• Key Contributions:
• Programme Implementation: Drove the implementation and monitoring of the protection programme, ensuring that identified protection needs incorporated the Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) approach
• Youth Engagement: Organized peace-building events targeting the youth and trained 30 children’s groups on Child Rights and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Preparedness
• Community Preparedness: Set up four Community Disaster Preparedness Committees (CDPC) and trained the committees on Demobilization, Reintegration, and Rehabilitation (DRR), as well as Early Warning Systems
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Conducted programme monitoring and evaluation to assess programme efficiency and effectiveness
• Capacity Building: Prepared training materials and delivered trainings to child protection institutions (prisons department, police, chiefs, and protection committees) on child protection issues
• Community Protection: Established three Community Protection Committees to address child rights and issues affecting children
• Child Protection Systems: Strengthened child protection systems, policies, and mechanisms to promote child rights and participation in peacebuilding, as part of child protection in emergencies and children in conflict work plans
• Partnerships: Forged partnerships with local government counterparts, other UN agencies, NGOs, and Civil Society Organizations to facilitate the operation’s protection objectives
• Advocacy: Worked with local authorities to promote child protection and emergency response actions, including prosecution of child rights violations and Gender-Based Violence prevention and response.

Census Coordination: Led and coordinated the planning and implementation of the South Sudan Population and Housing Census in Western Equatoria State, directing a team of 10 staff

Key Contributions:

• Training Oversight: Oversaw the training of trainers in Western Equatoria on conducting the census during the South Sudan Population and Housing Census
• Census Planning: Supported the State Statistical Director in planning the census and distributing census materials to enumeration areas
• Monitoring and Reporting: Monitored the enumeration exercise and reported any irregularities and the security situation to the Director
• Payroll Management: Prepared payroll for 79 enumeration staff, including enumerators, county coordinators, and supervisors.