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 Results

The Role in RMI

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) illustrates many of these challenges. RMI's low-lying atolls face increasing risks from sea-level rise, drought, extreme weather events and other climate-related hazards. These pressures directly affect children's health, nutrition, education, safety and wellbeing and place additional strain on already limited service-delivery systems. Geographic dispersion across remote outer atolls, limited transport and connectivity, shortages of skilled personnel, and constrained institutional and financial resources can make it difficult to ensure that children and families have equitable access to essential services.

The Programme Specialist will play a pivotal role in strengthening an integrated UNICEF programme in RMI. Working closely with Government, donors, civil society, traditional and faith-based organizations, development partners and other stakeholders, the incumbent will support programme coordination, partnership development, resource mobilization and strategic engagement across sectors. The position will help translate CRC commitments into practical results for children and families by strengthening collaboration across health, nutrition, WASH, education, child and family protection, with particular attention to equity, inclusion, climate resilience and children and families who are hardest to reach.

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

Living in RMI

Working and living in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) offers a unique and rewarding experience in one of the Pacific’s most remote and close-knit island nations. As the capital and administrative center of the country, Majuro provides access to essential services including housing, healthcare, education, banking, telecommunications, and a range of local shops and restaurants. The Marshall Islands enjoys a tropical maritime climate with warm temperatures year-round, high humidity, and occasional periods of heavy rainfall, particularly during the wet season. Due to its geographic isolation, imported goods can be expensive and availability of certain products may be limited, while internet connectivity and transport services may be less reliable than in larger regional hubs. However, residents benefit from a welcoming community, rich cultural traditions, and a relaxed island lifestyle built on respect, family, and strong community ties. For those who are adaptable and open to life in a small island setting, Majuro offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute professionally while experiencing the unique culture, natural beauty, and resilience of the Pacific.

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Field Office (North Pacific), and with technical guidance from specialists in Pohnpei and Suva, the P-3 Programme Specialist is responsible for overall programme coordination, planning, implementation, monitoring, and partnership management in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The incumbent will serve as UNICEF's key operational focal point in Majuro, driving multi-sectoral alignment, coordinating with government ministries, UN agencies, development partners, and donors, and optimizing the use of programme resources for children.

Multi-Sectoral Programme Coordination & Operational Management
Partnership, UN Coordination, and Donor Engagement
Programme Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
Fund Management, Financial Governance, and Internal Controls
Knowledge Management, Policy Advocacy, and Capacity Building

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File Programme 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: Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or another relevant technical field.
Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Programme, Social Policy, Government, knowledge management, capacity building, advocacy, grant management, humanitarian response and any other related fields.
Technical Knowledge: Experience with Rights-based and Results-Based Management, Programme Monitoring & Evaluation, Partnership Management, UNICEF Programme Policy, Procedures, and Guideline Analysis.
Detailed knowledge of UNICEF procedures and guidance is required, including:
- Methodology of programme/project management
- Knowledge of global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current UNCEF position and approaches is required.
- Gender equality and diversity awareness is required.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
Regional or international development experience.
Experience in building capacity for programs to respond to child survivors of sexual violence is highly desirable.
Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
Experience in a Pacific or small island developing state (SIDS) context is desirable, including familiarity with challenges related to remoteness, geographic dispersion, and climate vulnerability.
Strong coordination, facilitation, and partnership management skills, with the ability to work effectively across sectors and institutions, is desirable.
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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable. Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks. 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.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates, 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.

Programme Specialist, P-3, Temporary Position, Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands, #00138682, 364 days