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 an advocate

Kenya’s population stands at approximately 53.3 million and is expected to continue growing, with a demographic structure heavily skewed towards young people. Children account for about 41.3 per cent of the population, equivalent to roughly 22 million. Overall, nearly 73 per cent of the population is under the age of 35, underscoring a predominantly youthful demography. Kenya’s governance system is devolved at sub-national level called “Counties” with main development sectors as county responsibility supported by the divisible pool of central government.

Kenya’s macroeconomic performance in recent years has remained broadly stable, with sustained growth despite emerging fiscal and external pressures. Since 2021, the economy has recorded consistent GDP growth above 4.5 per cent, reflecting post-pandemic recovery and resilience in key sectors such as production and services.

Despite sustained economic growth, poverty and inequality continue to affect a large proportion of Kenya’s children particularly in ASAL and Western Kenya as they continue to face significant barriers to realizing their rights and potential. This underscores the importance of their participation, ensuring that policies and investments respond to the realities they face in their communities.

UNICEF's impactful, multisectoral programmes reached over 18 million children, women, and adults in 2025, transforming lives in Kenya through health, education, nutrition, water, sanitation, and protection initiatives. Systems were strengthened, and access to life-saving and life-enhancing support was brought to the most vulnerable populations. UNICEF empowered youth through skill-building and employability via innovative projects like the BeGreen and EKYAN. Working collaboratively within the UN system, we played a pivotal role in implementing joint UN programmes and advancing the overall results of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). Kenya, being a lower middle income country with a positive trajectory of becoming a middle income soon, private sector and foundations are a strong part of partnership architecture along with the government Donors.

How can you make a difference?

The Deputy Representative reports to the CO Representative for general supervision and direction. The Deputy Representative serves as the principal adviser on the overall management of the CO, development of CO policies and strategies; and under delegated authority, for coordinating and managing all phases of the Country Office Programme, from formulation to delivery of results in accordance with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework, ethics, and integrity.

The Deputy Representative together with Chief/Partnerships supports the Representative in leading and leveraging partnerships with both public and private sectors for the achievement of results and fulfilment of the rights of children.

In fragile and humanitarian settings, the Deputy Representative is accountable for the delivery of a timely, efficient and principled humanitarian programmes, in accordance with UNICEF global Policy and Framework for humanitarian action.

Key Functions and Accountabilities

CO Programme planning and development
Support to the Representative on managing the CO
Monitoring and quality control of Programmes
Representation, alliance building and UN System coordination
Private Sector Engagement and Partnerships
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 1625 - Deputy Representative Programmes Level 5 - GJP.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:
- An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, international relations, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience:
- A minimum of ten years of professional development experience that combines technical and managerial leadership in development cooperation at the international level, some of which served in developing countries is required.
- Relevant professional experience in any UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
- Experience in humanitarian settings is strongly desired.

Skills
- Negotiation skills
- Emotional intelligence
- Risk-taking ability
- Soft skills required in sensitive political settings
- Works well under pressure in high threat environments

Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (3)
Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3)
Works Collaboratively with others (3)
Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3)
Innovates and Embraces Change (3)
Thinks and Acts Strategically (3)
Drive to achieve impactful results (3)
Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

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 candidates’ 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.

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.

Deputy Representative Programme, P-5, Nairobi, Kenya #1625