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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, Hope 

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Purpose for the job:

Background and Strategic Context  Organizational context  

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations. 

 Background  

UNICEF Sudan is committed to enhancing access to sustainable energy solutions that improve the delivery of essential services 

for children and communities, particularly in health, education, and water sectors. In alignment with UNICEF’s global climate and energy strategy, the Sudan Country Office is initiating efforts to scale up solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to power critical infrastructure such as health clinics, schools, and water pumping stations plus its own offices and guest houses. This Solar Expert supports UNICEF’s goal to promote climate-resilient infrastructure and reduce dependency on fossil fuels, contributing to improved service delivery and environmental sustainability. 

 Objective for the Job  

To provide technical expertise and guidance for the design, evaluation, and quality assurance and supervision for the implementation of solar PV systems across UNICEF-supported facilities in Sudan, ensuring cost effectiveness, reliability, and scalability. The Solar Expert will also support capacity building, policy dialogue, and stakeholder engagement to foster a conducive environment for solar energy adoption. 

How can you make a difference? 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities   

Procurement and Specification Support 

• Develop technical specifications for solar PV equipment and installation services. 
• Advise on procurement strategies, including local sourcing and vendor evaluation. 
• Support quality assurance during installation and commissioning. 
• Develop terms of reference and provide required specifications for solar PV projects 

 Monitoring and Capacity Building 

• Work with consulting firms to design remote monitoring tools for PV performance and energy usage. 
• Develop training materials and conduct sessions for local technicians and facility managers. 
• Recommend tools for remote monitoring and data collection. 

Stakeholder Engagement 

• Facilitate workshops with government, private sector, and civil society to identify policy gaps and investment opportunities. 
• Support UNICEF’s advocacy for net-metering and renewable energy incentives. 
• Contribute to national clusters on energy access and climate resilience. 

 Reporting and Documentation 

• Submit an inception report after review of solar PV gaps in selected states with a work plan for the contract period. 
• Provide a monthly report on the status and performance of different solar systems with recommendations for improvement.

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

The following minimum requirements:

Education:

• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy, Civil Engineering, or other relevant areas is required. 
• A valid, relevant professional certification in PV solar  is an added advantage.  

 Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in solar PV systems design and implementation. 
• Experience working in humanitarian or development contexts, preferably in Africa. 
• Proven ability to engage with government and private sector stakeholders. 
• Strong analytical, communication, and training skills. 

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Spanish, Arabic, or Russian) or the local language 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

The 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) 

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 benefits to our staff, including 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:

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to  Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to internal staff only).

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

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.

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.