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 Protection

How can you make a difference?

Over the past five years, irregular mixed migration flows and irregular arrivals to through Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) have fluctuated considerably, reflecting broader developments along the Western Balkans route. Following the peak years of the migration response in 2018–2019, arrivals declined during the COVID-19 period in 2020–2021 as mobility restrictions constrained movements. Flows rebounded sharply in 2022 and 2023, when BiH authorities recorded over 34,000 irregular arrivals—the highest level in six years—driven by increased movements through the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Balkans routes. Since 2018, nearly 195,000 people have been recorded arriving irregularly in BiH, confirming the country’s continued role as a key transit point for migrants and refugees seeking to reach the European Union via Croatia, but also as a host country for asylum-seekers and refugees who remain in BiH.

UNICEF with partners World Vision, Ministry of Civil Affairs (MoCA), Center for Social Welfare (CSW) in Sarajevo and Una-Sana Canton (USC) provides 24/7 protection for unaccompanied children (UAC) and children in families including mental health and psychosocial support, legal guardianship and operating Child Friendly Space (CFS) in two TRCs.

In parallel, UNICEF supports the transition to government ownership through the support to MoCA for development of the state Transition plan, capacity building and trainings on the topic of case management and best interest determination for cantonal ministries, centers for social welfare and legal guardians in the field. The trainings explore the potential to improve outcomes for children by strengthening the capacity of professionals to work with local populations and children on the move. Competencies related to case management are crucial in child protection and will be further developed with this training for application in practice.

Join our Child Protection team to support the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of programmes, with a particular focus on the humanitarian and migration response and protection of children on the move. You will work closely with colleagues, government counterparts, civil society, UN partners and other stakeholders to help deliver timely, effective and sustainable child protection results.

Key responsibilities include:

Programme development and planning – Support research, analysis, programme design, results-based planning and preparation of programme documentation.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results – Monitor programme implementation, resources and results; contribute to reviews, evaluations and programme and donor reporting; and follow up on implementation issues.

Technical and operational support to programme implementation – Conduct field monitoring, identify bottlenecks and provide technical and operational support to partners.

Networking and partnership building – Strengthen collaboration with government institutions, UN agencies, NGOs and other partners, particularly in relation to migration and humanitarian response.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building – Capture lessons learned, promote good practices and support capacity development and sustainable transition towards government ownership.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File Child Protection Officer Level 1.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Social Science, International Development, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, International Studies, Law - International, international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, social sciences and any other related fields.
Work Experience: At least 1 years of relevant work experience in Child Protection, Programme Management, Programme, Emergency, Human Rights, International Development, Partnerships, United Nations, child protection, migration, humanitarian coordination, case management, programme management, monitoring and evaluation, partnership development, capacity building, policy advocacy, donor reporting. and any other related fields.
Skills: analytical, communication, report-writing, partnership-building, coordination and facilitation.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English and local language is required

Desirables:

Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
Child Protection experience in migration contexts, Experience with government institutions, Experience with civil society, Program monitoring experience, International child protection standards, Result based management, Humanitarian coordination experience, Field implementation experience, Child protection standards,
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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

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

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member's original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

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.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.

Child Protection Officer, NO-1, Temporary Position, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 364 days, Bihac O/P Location, Bosnia & Herz, #00138361