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 Advocate

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Programme Specialist (Climate & Environment) (P-3), the Champion is accountable for the planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and administration of assigned projects within the Climate and Environment cross-cutting programme, in accordance with the Country Programme Document (CPD) and Country Programme Management Plan (CPMP), contributing to the achievement of UNICEF's strategic priorities and results for children. The incumbent provides technical leadership on situation analysis, programme design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and human resource planning to ensure high-quality, evidence-based programming. The Champion identifies and recommends effective implementation strategies, innovative approaches, and optimal use of financial, human, and material resources to maximize programme impact and sustainability. The role also exercises delegated financial authority by certifying programme expenditures and determining funding, supply, and cash requirements to ensure timely, accountable, and efficient programme delivery.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

Knowledge Management for Programmes
Programme Development and Management
Optimum Use of Programme Funds
Programme Monitoring and Evaluations
Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach
National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability
Rights Perspective and Advocacy at the National, Community and Family Levels
Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration

Impact of Results

Effective knowledge management and systems developed and utilized to strengthen area/country programme management.
Situation Analysis prepared/updated, critical programme intervention points/measures identified, and programme work plans/recommendations/reports prepared.
Programme funds optimally used.
Programme monitoring and evaluations effectively conducted to improve programme performance, and programme status report timely prepared. Gender/sex disaggregated data and inputs relevant to country programme provided as integral part of programming.
Rights based and results-based programming approach fully incorporated into all phases of programme and projects processes.
Commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners effectively gained and established.
Rights perspective and advocacy at the national, community and family levels incorporated in policy analysis for establishing and elevating UNICEF’s credibility in national and international policy debates.
Effective partnership and collaboration achieved and maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, programme development/management/coordination, information sharing and networking.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File JD - Programme Specialist, NO-3, Fixed Term Position, Antananarivo, Madagascar, #00138014.doc

To qualify an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Social Science, International Business Relations, Anthropology, Public Administration, Natural Science, Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, Sustainable Development, Natural Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Anthropology, or another relevant technical field and any other related fields.
Work Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience in Programme, climate change, environmental management, program management, monitoring and evaluation, policy analysis, capacity building, partnership development, knowledge management, child rights, humanitarian coordination and any other related fields.
Skills: Programme Implementation, Sustainable Development, Social Policy, Social Development, International Relations, Public Administration, Natural Sciences, Community Development, Corrective Action, Technical Knowledge, climate and/or environment related thematics and socio-economic links.
Language Requirements: Fluency in French and in local language, Malagasy are required.

Desirables:

Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (English, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
Experience in developing countries, emergency response experience, humanitarian coordination experience, security management training, policy advocacy experience, donor relations experience, monitoring and evaluation experience.
The following Technical Knowledge is considered as an asset:

a) Specific Technical Knowledge Required:

- Gender equality and awareness diversity and programming in UNICEF.
- UNICEF programme policy, procedures and guidelines in the Manual.

b) Common Technical Knowledge Required:

- Methodology of programme/project management
- UNICEF programmatic goals, visions, positions, policies and strategies.
- Knowledge of global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current UNCEF position and approaches.
- UNICEF policies and strategy to address on national and international issues, particularly relating to conflicts, natural disasters, and recovery.
- UNICEF emergency programme policies, goals, strategies and approaches.
- Gender equality and awareness diversity.

c) Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced:

- UN policies and strategy to address international humanitarian issues and the responses.
- UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions
- UN security operations and guidelines.
- UNSECORD training for members of Security Management Team.

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

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 their 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.

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 promoting 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, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] 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.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of 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 advanced 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, NO-3, Fixed Term, Antananarivo, Madagascar, #00138014