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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 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 protection

In The Gambia, UNICEF works with the Government to deliver services for children across the country. Guided by the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF works to ensure every child survives and thrives, and is protected from violence, discrimination and all forms of harmful traditional practices.

Since 1965, we have partnered with the Government of The Gambia to strengthen national laws and policies and empower local communities to deliver better services for women and children. Our interventions are based on our Country Programme, signed with the Government of The Gambia. We implement our programmes in line with the country's National Development Plan, the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

How can you make a difference? 

1. Support the process of repealing and drafting a new Children’s Act, ensuring that the revised legislation is fully aligned with The Gambia’s obligations under the CRC, ACRWC, and other relevant international and regional child rights instruments.
2. Contribute to strengthen the coordination role of the MoGCSW in the implementation of the CRC Committee’s Concluding Observations through a multisectoral approach.
3. Support the establishment and operationalization of a Child Rights Monitoring mechanism, under the leadership of the NHRC.
4. Support the establishment of a functional Child Rights Centre at the University of The Gambia.
5. Provide technical assistance to the reporting process under the UN CRPD, with particular focus on the situation of children with disabilities, including support to both government and civil society actors in preparing State and alternative reports.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: ToRs - Child Rights Expert updated

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in law, human rights, international development, social policy, or a related field. Specialization in child rights or international human rights law is highly desirable.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of child rights, human rights law, or child protection, including at the international level.
• Proven experience in legal and policy analysis, particularly in reviewing and drafting child-related legislation in line with international standards.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting government institutions in the coordination, implementation, and monitoring of child rights frameworks or action plans.
• Experience working with or supporting national human rights institutions, academic institutions, and/or civil society organizations on child rights issues.
• Familiarity with international and regional human rights reporting mechanisms and bodies, particularly the CRC and CRPD Committees, including experience contributing to State or alternative reports
• Skills: 
  - Strong analytical and writing skills, with the ability to produce high-quality technical documents and policy recommendations.
  - Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
  - Demonstrated excellence in building and maintaining partnerships.
  - Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and deliver results within tight deadlines.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required

Desirables:

• Strong skills in training and facilitation are an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 
• Experience in and knowledge of the child rights context in West Africa or The Gambia is an asset.
• Experience working with UNICEF or other UN agencies is a strong 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

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 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 female 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.

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.