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 Safety.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide strategic, analytical and coordination support to the Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) in advancing the humanitarian component of UNICEF’s Africa Strategy and shaping UNICEF’s engagement with the African Union Commission on the operationalisation of the African Humanitarian Agency (AfHA). The consultant will help translate the strategic direction into a coherent EMOPS engagement framework, UNICEF’s positioning, partnerships, and programmatic approaches grounded in African ownership, subsidiarity, co-creation, child-centred humanitarian action and a One UNICEF approach.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0004907 ToR.pdf

Minimum requirements:

Education:
- Advanced university degree in international relations, political science, public policy, humanitarian affairs, development studies, African studies, social sciences or another relevant field.
- A first university degree combined with additional 10 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree, in accordance with UNICEF procedures.
Work Experience:
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian policy, strategy development, institutional advisory work, international cooperation or a related field.
Language requirement:
- Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
- Working knowledge of French is a strong asset;
- knowledge of another African Union or UN language is desirable.
Skills:
- Demonstrated experience working with or advising African Union institutions, Regional Economic Communities, African governments or continental policy processes.
- Strong knowledge of humanitarian coordination, preparedness, early warning, anticipatory action, emergency response, localisation and systems strengthening.
- Proven experience developing strategies, institutional frameworks, roadmaps, governance arrangements and senior-level policy products.
- Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations and managing relationships with senior officials from governments, regional institutions, the UN, civil society and development partners.
- Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, facilitation, diplomatic and drafting skills.
- Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outputs within tight timelines.

Desirables:

Familiarity with UNICEF’s mandate, child rights and humanitarian action is highly desirable; previous UNICEF or UN experience is an asset.

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 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 reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. 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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
Cover letter
A separate financial proposal TMC0004907 Financial Proposal Template.docx

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not visible on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

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.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

EMOPS Africa Strategy and African Humanitarian Agency Engagement Consultant, UNICEF Office of Emergency Programmes, Geneva, Switzerland, 12 months (remote) #596368