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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, Peace

The humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire, especially for children. After more than fourteen years of conflict, around 7.5 million children are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The prolonged conflict has led to repeated mass displacement, with many families living in overcrowded and unsafe conditions. The economic crisis has exacerbated the situation, pushing more families into poverty and increasing the reliance on negative coping mechanisms such as child labour and early marriage. Additionally, the destruction of infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, has severely limited access to essential services, leaving many children without education and adequate healthcare.

Following the collapse of the Syrian government on December 8, the country has experienced a mix of optimism and disorder. It is now grappling with unstable security, an escalating humanitarian crisis, and widespread displacement. Amid this uncertainty, the situation in Syria remains fluid, with considerable impacts on the population. The humanitarian situation remains dire across Syria, with significant challenges in access to health, education, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), and other services. UNICEF's Syria Country Office has been at the forefront of the humanitarian response, providing a range of services for women and children and has concrete plans to scale up its response further in the coming months. For information of the work of our organization, please visit our website:  UNICEF Syrian Arab Republic

How can you make a difference? 

Under the guidance of the Programme Specialist (PEA), 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, prioritizing child safeguarding, prevention of exploitation and abused (PEA), and gender-based violence (GBV).

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties and tasks 

1. Effective knowledge management and systems, information exchange and the development of training and orientation materials developed and deployed for strengthening of country programme management and activities, including community engagement, coordination with government authorities and interagency network coordination.

2. Situation Analysis prepared/ updated, critical programme intervention point/ measures identified, and programme work plans/ recommendations prepared and incorporated. Programme reports prepared as required.

3. Programme funds optimally used.

4. Programme monitoring, and evaluations effectively conducted to improve programme performance, and programme status reports timely prepared. Including data management and confidentiality of the information.

5. Rights-based and results-based programming approach fully incorporated into all phases of programme and projects processes, including coordination with the team to conduct programme related needs assessment are aligned with standards and requirements as per UNICEF PEA Implementing Partners Procedures and the UN Protocol.

6. Rights perspective and advocacy at the community and family levels incorporated in policy analysis for establishing and elevating UNICEF’s credibility in national and international policy debates. This will include strengthening coordination with Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), and Social and Behavior Change (SBC) teams.

8. 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:  TOR Temp Appt Programme Officer.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A university degree (Bachelor or higher) in one of the following fields is required: Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, English or another relevant technical field.

• Work Experience:

  A minimum of two (2) years of relevant continuous professional work experience is required, preferably in child safeguarding, gender-based violence (GBV), protection from exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and related areas.

  Background/ familiarity with emergency is considered as an asset.

  Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.

  Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.

  Field work experience will be considered an asset.

  Experience in the UN/UNICEF or humanitarian organization will be considered an asset.
• Skills

  • Methodology of programme/project management

  • Knowledge of global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women.

  • Emergency programme policies, goals, strategies, and approaches.

  • Gender equality and diversity awareness
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Arabic is required

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…

Builds and maintains partnerships, demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, drive to achieve results for impact, Innovates and embraces change, manages ambiguity and complexity, Thinks and acts strategically, Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: UNICEF Competency Framework.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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 delivering the best results for children. 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

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

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.

For National Officer (NO) positions, only nationals of the country are eligible, except staff members who are already legally permitted to work for UNICEF in the country, who are eligible to apply.

This is an internal and external vacancy announcement.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.