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 Care

In Ecuador, advancing children’s rights requires not only strong programmes, but also effective advocacy, strategic positioning, and the ability to influence decision-making processes in a complex and evolving political and social environment.

How can you make a difference?

Join UNICEF Ecuador programme team to support implementation, monitoring, partnerships, and evidence-based decision-making. The position contributes to strengthening territorial interventions and improving results for children and vulnerable communities through effective programme management and stakeholder engagement.

The Programme Officer will provide professional technical assistance and support for programme design, planning and implementation, management and evaluation of programme/project activities, data analysis and progress reporting, in support of programme goals and objectives.

Key functions/accountabilities include:

Knowledge Management for Programmes
Programme Development and Managemen
Optimum Use of Program 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.
Territorial Monitoring of Interventions and Implementing Partners

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File Job description-Programme Officer NOA- Quito Ecuador.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: A completed First Level university degree in one of the following fields is required: Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Public Health, Social Development, Community Development, or another relevant technical field.
Work Experience: A minimum of one year of relevant professional work experience is required.
Skills: Rights-based and Results-based approach and programming.
Programme coordination, monitoring and evaluation
Data analysis
Partnership management and advocacy
Financial monitoring
Knowledge management and capacity buildin
Language Requirements: Fluency in Spanish and English is required.

Desirables:

Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French or Russian).
Experience working in a developing country is considered an asset.
A minimum of one year of experience in direct territorial work with rural or indigenous communities, or in contexts of high social vulnerability, with emphasis on the implementation of social, public health, or community development interventions is desirable.
A minimum of one year of experience in monitoring territorial interventions or programmes, including oversight of implementing partners, analysis of progress indicators, preparation of technical reports, and formulation of operational recommendations is an asset.
Proven experience in the design, piloting, or transfer of methodologies for territorial implementation is considered an asset, including participatory diagnostic tools, continuous improvement approaches, capacity-building of local actors, or intersectoral coordination mechanisms is an asset.
Background/familiarity with emergency is considered as an asset
Previous experience working on related thematic areas within a United Nations agency or directly with UNICEF is considered a significant differentiating asset.
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…

Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
Works Collaboratively with Others (1)
Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
Drive to Achieve Impactful Results (1)
Manages Ambiguity and Complexity (1)

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

Programme Officer, (NO-1), TA, 364 days, #00137928, Quito— Ecuador, LACR