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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 Survive!

The 2026–2029 Strategic Plan reaffirms UNICEF’s commitment to an integrated, rights-based approach that bridges humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts. In a world increasingly shaped by conflict, climate change, and economic instability, UNICEF prioritizes resilience, inclusion, and sustainability in all its work. Strengthening community-based systems, promoting climate-resilient WASH and health services, and empowering families and youth are central to achieving sustainable results. UNICEF combines innovation, data, and partnerships to address both medical and social barriers affecting child well-being. Through collaboration with governments, civil society, and the private sector, UNICEF strives to build systems that protect and empower every child. By tackling inequities and preparing for future risks, UNICEF advances progress toward a fairer, safer, and more sustainable world for all children.

How can you make a difference? 

The Chief of Child Survival and Development (CSD) provides strategic leadership to an integrated programme encompassing Health, Nutrition, and WASH to advance child survival, growth, and resilience in Eritrea. This position is pivotal in ensuring that every child, especially the most vulnerable, benefits from equitable access to essential services and from improved health, nutrition, and hygienic practices during the crucial first 1,000 days of life.

With a strong technical focus on WASH, the Chief leads the design and implementation of climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene systems that directly contribute to better health outcomes and reduce disease burden. The role promotes integration between WASH, Health, and Nutrition to address both medical and social determinants of child well-being.

The Chief also steers UNICEF’s engagement in humanitarian preparedness and response, ensuring that WASH and health systems remain functional and adaptable amid climate and environmental challenges. A key part of the role involves building and sustaining strategic partnerships with government institutions, development partners, and donors to strengthen systems, mobilize resources, and advocate for sustainable investment. Through evidence-based planning, coordination, and innovation, the Chief ensures integrated, climate-smart, and results-driven programming that delivers lasting impact for every child in Eritrea.

Key roles and responsibilities

Managerial leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the integrated Child Survival and Development (CSD) programme, encompassing Health, Nutrition, and WASH, with a strong focus on climate-resilient systems, equity, and sustainability. Lead the development of the annual workplan with clear priorities, measurable targets, and performance indicators aligned with the Country Programme and UNICEF’s Strategic Plan (2026–2029).
• Foster programmatic integration and synergy across the Health, Nutrition, and WASH components to maximize efficiency and impact, ensuring that interventions collectively contribute to improved child survival and well-being.
• Establish clear, results-oriented performance objectives and work plans for all CSD team members. Provide regular coaching, technical guidance, and performance feedback to promote accountability, professional growth, and high-quality delivery.
• Promote teamwork, collaboration, and knowledge sharing across sectors and with partners, cultivating a culture of innovation, inclusion, and continuous learning.
• Oversee team management and coordination, ensuring effective planning, monitoring, and timely achievement of results. Uphold UNICEF’s values of care, integrity, trust, and accountability, and lead by example in demonstrating ethical and transparent leadership
• Program development and planning
• Lead and provide strategic, technical, and operational guidance for the design, planning, and regular updating of evidence-based situation analyses to inform an integrated Child Survival and Development (CSD) strategy encompassing Health, Nutrition, and WASH. Ensure that analyses capture emerging humanitarian, climate, and socio-economic trends affecting children and communities in Eritrea.
• Coordinate and supervise the formulation of programme strategies and plans that strengthen health and nutrition outcomes through climate-resilient WASH interventions, community systems strengthening, and social and behavioural change. Ensure that programme goals, targets, and results frameworks are based on results-based management (RBM) principles and informed by disaggregated data and evidence.
• Ensure full alignment of CSD components with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan (2026–2029), the Country New CPD, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), regional strategies, and national development priorities. Promote coherence and integration across sectors and levels of intervention.
• Engage collaboratively with government counterparts, UN agencies, civil society, and development partners to provide technical support and policy advice. Foster innovation and cross-sectoral synergies to achieve sustainable and climate-smart results for children’s health, nutrition, and well-being.

Program management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Lead the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the integrated Health, Nutrition, and WASH components of the Eritrea Country Programme (2027–2031), ensuring coherence with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan (2026–2029) and alignment with national development priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
• Collaborate with government counterparts, UN agencies, civil society, and development partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, and accountability frameworks. Ensure these systems capture cross-sectoral linkages, climate resilience, gender equality, and equity dimensions.
• Oversee joint monitoring missions, programme reviews, and evaluations to assess progress, identify bottlenecks, and determine corrective actions for timely achievement of results. Facilitate adaptive management, learning, and innovation across Health, Nutrition, and WASH programmes.
• Strengthen evidence-based decision-making by preparing and reviewing analytical monitoring and evaluation reports, identifying best practices, and using lessons learned to inform strategic planning and resource allocation.
• Ensure effective management and optimal use of financial, human, and administrative resources, in full compliance with UNICEF’s regulations, donor requirements, and standards of accountability and transparency.
• Produce high-quality progress reports, donor proposals /updates, and knowledge products demonstrating results, value for money, and the impact of integrated, climate-resilient interventions on children’s survival and development

Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Build, sustain, and strengthen strategic partnerships with government institutions, development partners, donors, academia, and civil society to advance the integrated Health, Nutrition, and WASH agenda under the Eritrea Country Programme (2027–2031). Promote multi-sectoral collaboration that accelerates progress on child survival, equitable service delivery, and climate-resilient systems.
• Lead evidence-based advocacy and policy dialogue to position UNICEF as a trusted partner in advancing child rights, social justice, and equity. Engage actively in national and Inter-Agency platforms to influence policy, planning, and resource allocation for Health, Nutrition, and WASH, ensuring UNICEF’s priorities are reflected in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
• Contribute to the development and dissemination of high-quality advocacy, communication, and knowledge products showcasing results, innovations, and lessons learned in integrated CSD programming. Use these materials to raise awareness, mobilize partnerships, and attract funding to close financing gaps, particularly in WASH infrastructure, nutrition, and health systems.
• Strengthen collaboration with private sector partners and non-traditional donors to promote innovation, climate-smart technologies, and sustainable financing models that enhance resilience and service delivery for children and communities.

 Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Promote innovation and evidence-based solutions that strengthen integrated Health, Nutrition, and WASH programming, with a focus on climate-resilient and community-driven systems. Encourage the use of digital platforms, data systems, and technology-enabled approaches to enhance real-time monitoring, service delivery, and accountability for results.
• Keep abreast of global and regional trends in public health, food systems, and WASH innovation. Research, document, and institutionalize cutting-edge practices and lessons learned to inform adaptive programming and policy dialogue. Facilitate cross-sectoral learning and the exchange of best practices between government, partners, and communities.
• Integrate climate adaptation, community health, and sustainable food systems approaches into programme design to address the interlinkages between nutrition, health, environment, and livelihoods. Ensure that innovations contribute to reducing inequalities and building resilience at household and community levels.
• Lead the design and implementation of capacity development initiatives for government counterparts, service providers, and community structures. Strengthening institutional and individual competencies in digital data use, programme integration, climate-sensitive planning, and results-based management to ensure sustainable, high-impact outcomes for children.

Other duties as assigned

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• An advanced university degree in Public Health, Environmental Health, Water and Sanitation Engineering, Climate and Environmental Sciences, Nutrition, or other relevant health-related or social science field is required.
• Additional qualifications or specialization in climate resilience, WASH systems strengthening, community health, or environmental sustainability are considered a strong asset.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience in public health, WASH, climate-resilient systems, or nutrition programme planning and management at the international level, including experience in developing countries, is required.
• Proven experience in integrated Child Survival and Development (CSD) programming that combines Health, Nutrition, and WASH interventions is highly desirable. Experience in the design and implementation of climate adaptation and resilience-building initiatives, particularly those linking WASH and community health, is an asset.
• Relevant experience in programme and project management within the UN system, multilateral development institutions, or international organizations is required.
  Experience working with or in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), or familiarity with its funding modalities and coordination frameworks, will be considered a strong asset.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of other UN language and the local working language of the duty station is an asset.

Desirables:

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

 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 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

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 and persons with disability 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.

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 UNICEF personnel 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.

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.