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 Calling

How can you make a difference?

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Cox’s Bazar continues to represent a highly complex humanitarian and development setting, characterized by large-scale refugee presence, evolving funding constraints, and increasing emphasis on transformative approaches. The operating environment requires strengthened coordination, regular budget monitoring, and efficient resource utilization.

Under the guidance of the Chief of Planning and Monitoring, the Programme Officer (Budget) supports strategic programme financial management, budget planning, and grant oversight for UNICEF’s Rohingya Refugee Response in Cox’s Bazar. Operating in a complex humanitarian environment, the incumbent ensures efficient, compliant, and results-oriented use of resources across a large and diverse portfolio of grants.

This role contributes to evidence-based planning and monitoring by providing high-quality financial analysis, funding gap insights, and timely reporting to support senior management decision-making. The Programme Officer (Budget) strengthens grant management processes in support of Budget Owners by review and analysis contributing to compliance with donor conditions and UNICEF financial regulations and promotes transparency and accountability in resource utilization. The role contributes to the effective implementation of UNICEF’s Country Programme, aligned with the Core Commitments for Children (CCCs), Joint Response Plan (JRP), and inter-agency coordination structures. The assignment covers both refugee and host community contexts across camps and district-level systems, including engagement with government, sector coordination platforms, and inter-agency mechanisms.

In addition, the incumbent supports inter-agency financial reporting requirements, including contributions to the Joint Response Plan (JRP), reporting to the Rohingya Coordination Platform (RCP), and reconciliation and validation of funding data reported to the Financial Tracking Service (FTS). This role also contributes to strengthening financial management capacity and systems across programme sections to optimize programme delivery and results for children.

Key functions and responsibilities:

Contribution Management (Budget Planning, Allocation and Monitoring)
Support Management and Sections through Technical Assistance and Guidance
Reporting and Inter-Agency Financial Transparency
Support Partnerships in Financial Reporting (Donor Financial Reporting, Funding Gap Analysis), Contributing to Compliance of all Financial Operations with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), UNICEF Financial Regulation and Rules, Organizational Plans, Policies, Procedures, Guidelines, Standards of Performance, Ethics, and Integrity.
Support Cost Distribution and Payroll Calculations and Planning
Design and Implement Capacity-building Initiatives to Strengthen Budget Management Practices Across Programme Sections.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: Download File ToR_Programme Officer (Budget) P-2.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: A first level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in accounting, finance, business administration, economics, or financial management is required.
Work Experience: A minimum of two years of progressively responsible professional experience in programme budgeting, financial planning and management, grant management, or related areas is required. Experience in programme financial planning, monitoring, and reporting in a large and complex operational context is required.
Skills: Experience in Budgeting, Grant Management, Financial Analysis, SAP, Monitoring and Forecasting is required.
Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirables:

Strong familiarity with major donor requirements and reporting frameworks (e.g., ECHO, FCDO, World Bank, KfW, Government of Japan) is an asset.
Familiarity with Rohingya Refugee Response context is desirable.
Understanding of UNOCHA funding mechanisms, including Financial Tracking Service (FTS) reporting processes is an asset.
Prior Experience in strengthening grant management systems and tools is desirable.
Experience delivering capacity-building or training on financial management to programme staff is desirable.
Experience working with grant management and donor reporting is highly desirable.
Experience with UNICEF financial systems (VISION/SAP) or similar ERP systems is an asset.
Experience in a humanitarian or emergency context, preferably in refugee or displacement settings is strongly desirable.
Experience in inter-agency financial reporting platforms (e.g., FTS, JRP processes, or similar) is an asset.
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

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 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 an equal-opportunity employer, we actively encourage applications from female candidates, gender-diverse individuals and people with disabilities.

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 Officer (Budget), (P-2), TA (364 days), #138046, Cox's Bazar - Bangladesh, EAPR