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 Education

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

The Pacific Multi-Country Office is the oldest and largest MCO in UNICEF. As such it is a model for the new MCOs being established. All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. UNICEF’s programme focuses on advancing children’s rights and wellbeing through integrated efforts in health, nutrition, education, child protection, climate resilience, and social policy—addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing small island developing states, including vulnerability to climate change, geographic isolation, and service delivery constraints.

Explore the different areas of our work here: UNICEF Pacific Islands and in the short video: Work for UNICEF in the Pacific

Living in Fiji

Working and living in Fiji offers a rewarding experience in one of the Pacific’s most vibrant and culturally rich settings. Based in Suva, the country’s administrative and commercial hub, staff benefit from a welcoming community, diverse cultural traditions, and access to a range of amenities including quality housing, healthcare, education, banking, and reliable communications. Fiji’s tropical maritime climate brings warm temperatures year-round, with a wet and cyclone season that requires preparedness and flexibility. While the cost of imported goods can be relatively high and occasional service interruptions may occur during severe weather, Suva provides a generally comfortable and supportive living environment. With its strong sense of community, emphasis on respect and cultural awareness, and opportunities to travel across the Pacific, the duty station offers a unique balance of professional fulfillment and personal enrichment, ideal for those ready to adapt and make a meaningful impact for children and communities.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Education Manager, the Education Officer (Climate Resilience) will support implementation of UNICEF’s resilient education agenda on issues relating to climate change and disaster risk reduction in multiple countries across the Pacific as well as harnessing opportunities for regional coordination. S/he will work closely across the Education team, including the multi-country office and Field Offices, and with other relevant sections including WASH, Supplies, ECD and Climate and Emergency.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Support to programme development and planning.
Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.
Technical and operational support to programme implementation.
Coordination and partnership building.
Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.

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

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements
1. Education: Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Education, Psychology, Sociology, or any other related fields.
2. Work Experience: 2 years of relevant work experience in Programme planning, Management, Research in Education, or any other related fields.
3. Skills: Programme planning and development; Programme management and monitoring; Research, data analysis and reporting; Partnership building and Coordination; Technical understanding of climate-resilient education.
4. Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables
1. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language.
2. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
3. Experience in working with government, UN, private sector and other partners to promote climate priorities, including in humanitarian contexts.
4. Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
5. Experience managing education programmes at global, regional and/or multi-country levels.
6. Experience working in the Pacific or any SIDS context.
7. Experience of working in more than one country on education programming.

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 are conditional on the selected candidate’s willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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 female candidates, eligible and suitable candidates (both male and female) who are age 35 years and under, candidates from the East Asia and Pacific region and people with disability 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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

Education Officer, P-2, Temporary Position, Fiji (Pacific Islands) - MCP, 364 days, Pacific Office, Suva, Fiji, #00138166