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 advocacy

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Chief of Child Protection and in close collaboration with relevant programme sections and field offices, the Programme Officer supports the planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of Selo UNICEF and Agenda Cidade UNICEF initiatives.

The incumbent contributes to strengthening municipal governance and accountability for children's rights by supporting partnerships with governments and stakeholders, facilitating programme implementation, monitoring progress against agreed results, promoting knowledge exchange, and supporting evidence-based decision-making.

The position contributes to the achievement of UNICEF Brazil Country Programme outcomes by strengthening local capacities, enhancing intersectoral collaboration, promoting child-centred public policies, and accelerating equitable results for children and adolescents across participating municipalities.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Support to Programme Development and Planning
Programme Management, Monitoring and Delivery of Results
Technical and Operational Support to Programme Implementation
Networking and Partnership Building
Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: Download File TOR_Programme Officer SELO_NO1 TA.pdf

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education: Completed first level university degree in Public Administration, Social Sciences, International Development, Public Policy, Economics, Sociology, Education, Political Science, Law, International Relations, or another relevant discipline related to governance, social policy, local development, and the promotion of children's rights is required.

Work Experience:

A minimum of one year of relevant professional experience in programme management, local governance, public policy, social development and municipal development is required.
Experience in planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of development programmes is required.
Experience working with municipalities, public institutions, civil society organizations, or development partners is required.
Experience supporting stakeholder engagement, partnership management, and capacity-building initiatives is required.

Skills:

Strong understanding of municipal governance, public policy processes, and decentralized service delivery systems affecting children and adolescents is essential.
Strong analytical, monitoring, reporting, and communication skills are required.
Demonstrated ability to navigate complex institutional environments and build strategic partnerships across government, civil society, academia, and private-sector stakeholders is required.
Strong systems-thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to translate data and evidence into actionable recommendations for programme improvement and policy influence is needed.
Proven capacity to facilitate intersectoral collaboration, mobilize stakeholders around shared objectives, and foster collective accountability for results is required.
Sound political awareness and understanding of Brazil's federative system, enabling effective engagement and coordination across different levels of government is required.
Excellent strategic communication, negotiation, and influencing skills, with the ability to promote innovation, institutional learning, and sustainable ownership of programme outcomes is required.

Language Requirements: Proficiency in English and Portuguese is required.

Desirables:

Experience with UNICEF, UN agencies, or international organizations is desirable.
Experience in data analysis and results-based management is desirable.
Knowledge of Brazil's decentralized governance structure and municipal policy environment is an asset.
Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts 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.

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. 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 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 candidates 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 (Selo UNICEF), NO-1, TA, 364 days, #00138132, Brasilia – Brazil