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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfil their potential.  

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.   

And we never give up.  

For every child, dedication.

The Representative serves as the accredited representative of UNICEF in the country and reports to the Regional Director for general direction and oversight. The Representative is responsible for establishing dialogue with the Government to develop the framework of cooperation in the country and for working closely and collaboratively with the Government and national institutions, stakeholders and partners, to develop the Government-UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation in active support of efforts to advance children’s rights as established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, other international treaties/frameworks, the SDGs, and UN intergovernmental bodies.  

As Head of a small size Country Office, the Representative is responsible for providing leadership and vision to the UNICEF Country Office team in managing and leveraging resources for the achievement of results and realization of the rights of children. The Representative leads and oversees the various programme sectors and operations teams ensuring delivery of quality results in accordance with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework, ethics and integrity. The Representative is accountable for upholding UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability, and ensuring the establishment and maintenance of a non-discriminatory, inclusive and nurturing working environment for all staff and personnel, to enable them to effectively and efficiently deliver high-quality results for children. 

How can you make a difference?

The Representative’s key functions and accountabilities include:

• Implementing the Country Programme: Lead the implementation of the Country Programme 2026 – 2030 submitted to the Executive Board in February 2026. Promote the integration of equity, gender, climate resilience, and child rights across all programme sectors, as well as incorporate a through emergency preparedness and response approach.
• Leading and managing the Country Office: Provide strategic direction to a team of 20 staff plus consultants and contractors, ensuring effective programme planning, coordination, performance, monitoring and staff well-being. Foster a culture of accountability, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Representation and external relations: Serve as the UNICEF’s principal representative with the Government of Cuba, development partners, UN agencies, civil society, and the private sector. Advocate for the rights and wellbeing of children, including the need to establish a comprehensive child protection system based on newly approved Code of Children, Adolescents and Youth.
• Monitoring and quality control of the Country Programme: Ensure the effective application of results-based management and regular monitoring and evaluation. Drive adaptive programming and risk-informed planning, particularly in the context of recurrent climate-related emergencies and socio-economic volatility.
• Delivering high quality results for children: Lead efforts to tackle increasing inequality, violence against children, responding to climate related crisis and ensuring sustainable health, education and WASH services, particularly in a complex operating environment 
• Support to the Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team: Actively contribute to the UNCT,  advance the UN Cooperation Framework and the SDG platforms. Lead or co-lead inter-agency working groups as relevant. Drive UN coherence and joint programming, ensuring UNICEF’s technical leadership is fully leveraged.
• Leading resource mobilization efforts and nurturing and strengthening partnerships: Spearhead outreach to traditional donors, national committees, cooperation actors, private sectors and IFIs. Advocate for increased investments in children and diversified funding sources to sustain and expand programme delivery.
• Leading innovation, knowledge management and capacity building: Foster a culture of learning and innovation, promoting South-to-South exchange, digital solutions, renewable energy and strengthened data systems.
• Safety, security and well-being of staff, programmes and organizational assets:  Ensure robust security measures are in place and staff are supported, especially during hurricane season and in contexts of social unrest.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Qualifications:

• An Advanced University Degree in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, international relations, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development or other related fields.
• A minimum of ten years professional development experience that combines technical and managerial leadership in development cooperation at the international level, some of which served in developing countries is required. Relevant professional experience in any UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in English and Spanish is required and essential. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is considered as an asset.

Person Profile:

Given the most complex political profile, previous experience as a Representative or similar senior position, managing operation in complex political environments is desirable, preferably with a strong policy, humanitarian and advocacy record. Proven political and diplomatic skills are essential, as well as capacity to manage sensitive relations and handle external pressure. Capacity of managing sudden emergency onsets is also essential.  

In particular:

• Proven ability to build and leverage external partnerships to achieve shared objectives.
• Excellent track record of dealing with and influencing at the highest levels within and beyond the organization.
• Ability to assimilate and analyze complex issues to develop strategies and policies.
• Capacity to drive results in complex humanitarian and changing environments.
• Ability to analyze political context and adopt to country specific dynamics.
• Strong diplomatic and negotiation skills and ability to handle politically sensitive issues.
• Strong public relations and communication skills and the ability to influence and persuade high level government and non-governmental stake holders.
• Proven experience in translating strategic priorities into concrete programmatic actions, identifying and developing opportunities for children, with special emphasis on the implementation of public policies, budgeting and investing for children, and institutional reforms.
• Strong knowledge and hands-on experience in both humanitarian and programme development including emergency/security issues, emergency preparedness and response.
• Ability to strategically position UNICEF as a partner of choice in the development sector, both at the government and non-governmental level, to advance national and local initiatives aimed at fulfilling children's rights.
• Strong interpersonal skills and capacity to lead and motivate a team of international and national professionals.
• Experience in establishing and managing partnerships, as well as on corporate alliances is desirable.
• Experience in mainstreaming gender or gender specific programming.
• Ability to use innovation (including technological innovation) in advancing children’s and adolescent’s rights.
• Experience in working across inter-sectoral areas and on cross-cutting issues, with key experience with theory of change and a results-oriented background with strong people management skills.
• Experience with the UN Reform (including UN coordination/Delivering as One/BOS), especially in leading inter-agency groups is desirable.
• Ability to successfully operate under pressure in complex political and economic context, as well as institutional and public policy changes both at the national and local levels.

Country Typology:

• Country Income Level: Cuba is an upper-middle income country with a population of 9.7 million.
• Duty Station: Havana is a “B”, family duty station.
• Office Size: 21 Staff (71% F, 29 % M), 2 IP (100% F, 100% P)
• Annual Budget : The annual budget varies between $6M to $10 M (853,000 RR; up to 2M ORR; can get up to 6M ORE)
• Good for 1st Time Rep: Yes, combined with previous experience working in complex operational and political contexts.
• Schooling: There are two main international schools in Havana. The first is the International School of Havana (ISH), which is an English language school offers that preschool education (age 2.5) through grade 12. It has the IB program as well as the ISH Graduation Diploma Programmes, and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (I.G.C.S.E.) for students in Grades 9 and 10. The second is the French School in Havana, which is controlled by the Agency for the Teaching of French abroad (AEFE). It consists of an ecole primaire and a collège et lycée. It follows the official French programs with French language.

Brief country context:

• Cuba has historically kept one of the best indicators in health and education in Latin America and the Caribbean. The deep economic crisis facing the country, market by an acute shortage of critical supplies and an important exodus of key professionals is affecting long achieved indicators.  Increased unilateral sanctions and the inclusion in the list of countries sponsored of terrorism limit Cuba access to major international financial institutions and financial markets.  
• Despite being considered an Upper Middle-Income Country, Cuba has one of the lowest GDP per capita in the region at USD 1370 (ECLAC 2024) with a contraction of over 11% since 2018. With sustained double-digit inflation, Cuba is also one of three countries in Latin America with the highest inflation rate and one of four countries with chronic inflation in the region.

• Over the past year, three total disconnections of the National Electric System took place, two caused by technological problems and one by hurricane Rafael and frequent power outages are affecting the population.  National authorities are implementing a strategy for energetic transition to incorporate renewable sources of energy, including in Health centers and schools that require expansion.  
• In the current economic situation, even with a strong political commitment towards public policies that protect the population, there is a real deterioration in household income and in the quality and access to universal social services. In the context of competing financial priorities, resources to sustain traditional social protection schemes are limited, exacerbating vulnerabilities particularly among families with children.  

• The country is experiencing an unprecedented migratory flow. More than one million people left the country over the past three years, resulting in a reduction of more than 10 per cent of the total population between 2020 and 2024.  Nearly 80 per cent of migrants are between the ages of 15 and 59. This unprecedented exodus has resulted in a reduction on newborns, from 95,000 in 2022 to 71,000 in 2024 and a rapid change in the demographic dynamics, with more people over 60 years living in Cuba than children from 0 to 18. 
• The health system faces serious challenges that are affecting the quality of services. Among them, the reduction of medical supplies and devices, the deterioration of infrastructure, the lack of medicines and the loss of health personnel due to internal and external migration.
• Health indicators that have been a benchmark for the region have begun to deteriorate: i) Life expectancy at birth has been reduced for the first time since 1969 (2020); ii) infant mortality increased from 4.9 per thousand live births in 2020 to 7.1 in 2024 and 8.2 in the first six months of 2025; and (iii) maternal mortality increased from 38.7 per one hundred thousand live birth in 2023 to 40.6 in 2024 and 56.3 in the first six months of 2025.
• While WASH indicators show good coverage nationwide, the lack of access to financing and credit, particularly for the acquisition, maintenance, and renovation of infrastructure, has negatively impacted the WASH system in health facilities and schools, causing the partial or total closure of their water and sanitation networks and hygiene facilities. An estimated 19 per cent or 2,088 educational centers require urgent investments to meet the basic WASH needs of more than 300,000 children and adolescents.   
• The country is undergoing a legislative and normative reform with the entry into force of a new Constitution in 2019. The current Code of Families (2022) and the newly approved Code of Children, Adolescents and Youth) include key principles outlined in the CRC and pave the way for establishing a comprehensive child protection system.
• Its position in the Caribbean basin make Cuba prone to recurring climate-related emergencies (hurricanes from June to November, prolonged droughts in some regions and a high-risk of earthquakes in the Eastern region).
• The Cuba Country Office is currently finishing a new country program document (CPD) for the period 2026 – 2030 that will be submitted to the UNICEF Executive Board regular session in February 2026 for its approval.  The associated Country Programme Management Plan (CPMP) will need to be completed in early 2026.   
• The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (MINCEX in Spanish) is the government-assigned counterpart to coordinate international cooperation.

For every child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values 

Competencies 

• Builds and maintains partnerships (level III) 
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (level III) 
• Drive to achieve results for impact (level III) 
• Innovates and embraces change (level III) 
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (level III) 
• Thinks and acts strategically (level III) 
• Works collaboratively with others (level III) 
• Nurtures, leads and manages people (level III) 

To view our competency framework, please visit here. 

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 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. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. 

Remarks: 

• Shortlisted candidates who are not part of the Leadership Talent Group (LTG) will be invited to participate in the Assessment Centre. Successful completion of the Assessment Centre is required to be further considered for this role.
• Language skills will be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. 

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also 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 cancelled.