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 strength

UNICEF’s Caribbean Multi-Country Office (MCO) serves twelve English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. As part of UNICEF's Future Focus Initiative, the Caribbean MCO brings together policy influence, technical expertise and strategic partnerships to advance results for children across the region through one integrated programme, one management structure and a shared pool of resources. The Multi-Country Programme 2027-2031 focuses on three shared outcomes: equitable access to primary health care, learning and skills; protection of children from all forms of violence; and child poverty reduction and resilience strengthening.

Children across the Caribbean face interconnected challenges including learning losses, mental health concerns, violence, child poverty and increasing exposure to climate-related disasters. Despite many countries being classified as upper-middle or high income, significant inequalities persist, particularly for vulnerable children, adolescents, indigenous communities and those living in remote areas. Small island developing states also face fiscal constraints and heightened vulnerability to economic and climate shocks, requiring stronger regional cooperation and system-based solutions.

The Caribbean MCO’s management strategy is governed by four principles that together translate the new business model into concrete ways of working:

Impact-driven: technical expertise is organized in shared multi-country working groups rather than replicated in each country, with enabling functions aligned around UNICEF’s strongest comparative advantages.
Effective and agile: parallel country ecosystems are replaced by harmonized systems and flexible cross-country staffing, keeping management lean and decisions close to implementation.
Grounded: regional scale is balanced with national depth through country-specific workplans, Heads of Office in each duty station, and matrix management that anchors authority and accountability at country level.
People-centered: structural and managerial choices are guided by staff wellbeing, transparency and inclusion, with clear role definitions, meaningful consultation, and continuous investment in learning and development.

The operational expression of this model is the working group model. Rather than replicating similar roles across four separate country offices, technical and operational expertise is organized into 16 thematic and functional working groups, each distributed across different duty stations and each serving the full 12-country MCO — not just its host location. Roles are designed around three organizing principles: shared regional service, meaning every specialist contributes to the wider MCO; complementary expertise, meaning team capabilities reinforce each other rather than repeating the same profile in multiple places; and agile presence, meaning the workforce can be rapidly deployed across countries through travel, surge support or remote modalities in line with evolving needs and priorities. This working group model is the foundation of a fundamentally new way of working for UNICEF in the Caribbean: depth replaces duplication, and shared capacity replaces fragmented country-by-country coverage.

with each post linked to a defined strand of fiscal and social policy, shock-responsive social protection, climate/DRR, or emergencies.

How can you make a difference?

The MCO is establishing two complementary Social Policy Specialist (Policy and Finance) positions, one based in Jamaica and one in Guyana, both with a mandate to support all 12 Caribbean MCO countries at regional and national levels. The positions will provide policy advice and technical assistance to strengthen evidence-based, child-sensitive social policies, legislation, strategies, and programmes that reduce child poverty, expand inclusive social protection, and enhance resilience to shocks. They will support the social and economic situation analysis of children, offer policy options, translate evidence into policies, and strengthen institutional accountability. Alongside this policy role, the positions will strengthen public finance for children, supporting governments to mobilize, allocate and monitor sufficient, equitable, efficient, effective, transparent, and sustainable public resources for child rights and essential social services. In line with UNICEF’s Public Finance for Children approach and relevant public financial management frameworks, the posts will promote child-sensitive and climate- and shock-responsive budgeting through macro-fiscal and fiscal-space analysis; budget and expenditure analysis; programme costing and financing strategies; budget classification, tagging and tracking; performance-informed budgeting; strengthened transparency, accountability and participation, including the meaningful engagement of children and adolescents; and stronger linkages between national development plans, medium-term fiscal and expenditure frameworks, sector plans and annual budgets.

The Jamaica-based position, located at the MCO headquarters and a key CARICOM hub, will emphasize regional policy influence, public finance advocacy and engagement with CARICOM institutions, IFIs, development partners and the private sector to shape social and fiscal policies, harmonize approaches and leverage financing for children at scale. The Guyana-based position will also serve the full MCO, using close engagement with Guyana’s significant social protection and public investment reforms amid oil-driven economic transformation as a source of practical experience, evidence, and lessons for adaptation across Caribbean countries. Together, the positions will support stronger coordination across social protection and other social services, advise on domestic resource mobilization and sustainable financing for social protection and social services; identify and support access to appropriate innovative financing opportunities, including blended and climate finance where appropriate; and strengthen child-sensitive disaster risk financing by linking risk assessments, contingency financing, budget reserves, insurance and other risk-transfer instruments with shock-responsive social protection and continuity of essential services. By connecting regional policy dialogue with country implementation and cross-country learning, the posts will help ensure that social and fiscal policies and public and complementary financing are aligned with child rights, poverty reduction, resilience, and measurable results for children throughout the Caribbean.

Under the supervision of the Assistant Representative for Child Poverty Reduction and Resilience Strengthening in Barbados, the incumbent provides technical leadership and support across the 12-country MCO for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of social policy, social protection policy and public finance for children programmes and related advocacy, from strategic planning and policy formulation through to implementation and the achievement of sustainable results. This includes strengthening: (a) evidence-based, child-sensitive public policies, legislation and strategies to reduce monetary and multidimensional child poverty and inequality; (b) inclusive, integrated and shock-responsive social protection policies and systems that expand coverage and improve outcomes for the most vulnerable children; (c) the adequacy, equity, efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and sustainability of public investments for children through child-sensitive budgeting and stronger public financial management; and (d) governance, accountability, participation and coordination mechanisms that improve the quality, equity, resilience and reach of social services. The role encompasses direct technical engagement with governments, regional institutions, civil society, IFIs and development partners, as well as cross-sectoral support to teams working on health, education, child protection, WASH, nutrition, climate and disaster risk reduction, and emergency preparedness and response.

This position belongs to the Child Poverty Reduction and Resilience Strengthening working group. If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: NOC Social Policy Specialist (Policy and Finance) Jamaica and Guyana.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: Economics, Development Economics, Public Finance, Public Policy, Social Protection, Social Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.

Work Experience: A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience in social policy, social protection, public finance, or economic policy required. Demonstrated experience in policy analysis and development, budget or public expenditure analysis, programme costing, fiscal-space analysis, child-sensitive budgeting, or social protection financing is required.

Required Skills:

Quantitative and analytical skills, including interpretation of fiscal, budget, expenditure, and socioeconomic data.
Knowledge of government planning, budgeting, and public financial management cycles.
Ability to influence and build partnerships, in close coordination with diverse stakeholders across countries.
Strong analytical and technical writing skills, including preparation of policy briefs, technical guidance, programme documents, and evidence-based recommendations. 
Strong coordination and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple reporting relationships and geographic contexts.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

Experience providing technical advice to ministries of finance, planning institutions and social sector ministries, and translating evidence into policy and resource-allocation decisions, is highly desirable.
Experience working with governments, IFIs, regional organizations and development partners
Experience in innovative financing, climate finance, or disaster risk financing.
Knowledge of Caribbean social policy, development issues, and CARICOM frameworks.
Experience with policy implementation and technical advisory services.
Experience working in a developing country is considered a strong asset.
Background and/or familiarity with emergencies is considered a strong asset.
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

Eligibility Requirements:

Candidates applying for National Officer positions must hold the nationality of the duty station country where the position is located, except for UNICEF internal candidates, holding a fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointment and are legally authorized to work in that country, independently of UNICEF appointment, and as per the UNICEF Staff Selection Procedure.

UNICEF internal candidates must hold and upload a valid CARICOM Skills Certificate when applying to positions located in a CARICOM Member State outside of their country of nationality and are accountable for taking the respective steps for the verification of the certificate in the Duty Station, immediately upon arrival to the new Duty Station if selected for the position, in accordance with applicable immigration and employment requirements of the respective Country.

This batch recruitment covers two positions across the Caribbean Multi-Country Office. Candidates must indicate, at the time of application, the duty station(s) for which they are applying and where they already hold legal authorization to work without requiring UNICEF sponsorship. The positions are located in Georgetown, Guyana and Kingston, Jamaica.

Note: While the Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean serves 12 English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries, the selected candidate will be based in the duty station indicated for this position and is expected to perform their duties from that location, consistent with organizational policies and operational requirements.

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…

(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 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, candidates that meet all the requirements and are legally allowed to work in the respective DS 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.

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.

UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.

Batch Recruitment (2 positions): Social Policy Specialist (Policy and Finance), NOC, FT, #138492 Jamaica, #138570 Guyana, Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean