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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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a CHAMPION

UNICEF’s Innovative Finance Hub, based in Helsinki, aims to catalyze global capital in support of children to fill the SDG gap and radically accelerate progress towards the SDGs. It sits at a unique vantage point where an organization working on global issues meets the startup thinking, new ideas, and partners to turn this energy into scalable solutions.

We aim to understand and solve a pressing challenge: why is finance not working for children? On one hand, the funding gap to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) continues to grow (currently at over 4 trillion USD), where children are particularly vulnerable to the educational, health, protection and climate challenges the SDGs try to address. On the other hand, children are seldom considered in the investment practices of investors, even the most responsible and socially conscious –though virtually all companies have material impacts on children lives, as consumers, through their employed parents and caregivers, as community members and as future leaders.

To continue our expanding work, the Innovative Finance Hub is looking for a Programme Specialist (Child Rights) who, as part of our core team, will drive Innovative Financing projects and expand the Hub’s influence within the investment ecosystem.

How can you make a difference? 

Based in Helsinki the Programme Specialist (Child Rights) will support the Innovative Finance Hub team in its work across (1) building guidance, (2) scaling adoption, and (3) building the field of child-lens investing, including in public equities. The incumbent will support opportunities for the IF Hub to engage with investment actors, lead on technical assistance coordination with partners, support the Hub with its fundraising efforts with the Government of Finland, and coordinate from the IF Hub with UNICEF’s global teams on Innovative Finance, as needed.

The incumbent reports to the Lead, Innovative Financing of the IF Hub in Helsinki. He/she will work closely with other divisions on innovative finance, including internal divisions such as PPD, PFP, PG, DFAM, Legal and SD, as well as external actors.

Under the supervision of Lead, Innovative Financing, the incumbent will build guidance, support scaling of adoption and building the field of child-lens investing, including in public equities. This, among other related tasks, also includes the following:

1. Build Guidance on Child Lens Investing Framework
2. Technical collaboration with various actors, including scaling CLIF adoption
3. Building the Child-lens Investing field

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Programme Specialist_Child Rights_P3TA.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree in relevant field, e.g., Public Policy, Business Administration, Law, Finance, Development, or related degree.

Alternatively, a first-level university degree in a relevant field combined with 2 years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

• Work Experience: At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional work experience in Child Rights, ESG/sustainability, responsible business, or international development.
  • A technical background in child rights or human rights is essential
  • Experience in the finance sector and an in-depth understanding of Impact investment or Responsible Investment
• Skills:  Strong capacity to work effectively in inter-divisional teams
  • Strategic and global thinking and analytical ability.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. 

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 
• Experience in/knowledge of the UN system and knowledge of UNICEF’s work would be an asset
• Experience in development/ESG data, metrics development and monitoring would be considered a strong asset.
• Ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas as well as to manage projects.
• Developed organizational, interpersonal and communications skills.

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 is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable Male candidates from Programmatic countries 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.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

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.

In case of any questions, please contact us at swe-ooi-recruitments@unicef.org