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 a future.

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.

Through the MCO approach, staff contribute to meaningful, system-level changes supporting governments and communities to strengthen essential services, improve equity for the most vulnerable children, and build resilience across generations. With nearly 40 per cent of the region’s population under 18, the impact of UNICEF’s work is both immediate and long-term, shaping healthier, safer, and more inclusive futures for children across the Pacific. Education forms an important part of programming.

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

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Chief of Field Office in Samoa and with technical guidance from the Education team in Suva, you will provide technical, operational and programme management support across the Education and Early Childhood Development (ECD) portfolio. You will contribute to the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of programmes across Samoa, Niue, Tokelau and the Cook Islands, helping to deliver results that improve learning outcomes and promote equitable, inclusive and quality education for all children.

The Education Specialist (ECD) is expected to apply strong technical expertise, analytical skills and a collaborative approach to programme delivery. Working closely with government counterparts, partners and colleagues, you will support the achievement of UNICEF’s education and ECD priorities, with a particular focus on reaching children who are marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Support to Education and ECD programmes/projects development and planning

Support the design, planning and implementation of Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes using evidence-based approaches and results-based management principles.
Contribute to the integration of ECD priorities across sectors and ensure alignment with national priorities and UNICEF strategies.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results on Education and ECD programmes

Monitor programme implementation, track results and support reporting to ensure the effective delivery of ECD outcomes.
Support programme reviews, field monitoring and resource management to identify challenges, promote accountability and drive continuous improvement.

Technical and operational support to programme implementation

Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, partners and stakeholders throughout the programme cycle.
Contribute to the development of policy briefs, strategic documents and technical materials to support programme delivery and decision-making.

Networking and partnership building

Build and maintain strong partnerships with government, development partners, academia and civil society to advance ECD priorities and results.
Support advocacy, resource mobilization and inter-agency collaboration to strengthen investments and partnerships for children.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Promote innovation, knowledge sharing and the application of good practices to strengthen programme effectiveness and impact.
Support capacity-building initiatives to enhance partner competencies and strengthen sustainable ECD systems and services.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File ECD Specialist Level 3.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: education, public administration, public health, nutrition, economics, psychology, sociology, human development, child development, family studies or another relevant technical field. A first-level university degree (Bachelors) in a relevant field combined with two additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience in social development planning and management, research in education, early childhood development, and related areas is required.

Skills: Strong skills in child protection programming, programme management, monitoring and reporting, partnership building, research and analysis, and effective communication.
Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirables:

Experience working in a developing country context.
Experience with the UN system or an international development organization.
Experience in early childhood development, education programming and partnership coordination
Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language 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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Nurtures, Leads and Manages People
Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
Works collaboratively with others
Builds and maintains partnerships
Innovates and embraces change
Thinks and acts strategically
Drive to achieve results for impact
Manages ambiguity and complexity

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. For this position, suitably qualified female candidates and persons with disabilities who are nationals of Samoa are strongly encouraged to apply. 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, suitably qualified female candidates and persons with disabilities who are nationals of Samoa are strongly 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.

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 Specialist (Early Childhood Development), NOC, TA, 364 days, #138826, Apia, Samoa (Pacific Islands) MCP, APR, For Nationals of Samoa Only