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 hope.

The Humanitarian Affairs Officer, hired through UNICEF's Country Office, will operate under the direct supervision of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ecuador. Additionally, the Humanitarian Advisor will receive close technical support from the OCHA Regional Office, based in Panama. This arrangement is part of the commitment of OCHA's regional office in Ecuador.

The Humanitarian Affairs Officer will collaborate and support the United Nations Resident Coordinator and her/his Team, to coordinate the National Humanitarian Forum, and the Inter-sectoral Working Group to enhance the efficacy of humanitarian response.

How can you make a difference? 

This position will provide professional technical assistance by delivering these key end results: 

• The humanitarian response capacity of the UN system in Ecuador is strengthened by supporting RC/HC coordination efforts and establishing solid UN inter-agency mechanisms for preparedness and response
• Humanitarian coordination and advocacy mechanisms in Ecuador are strengthened in close coordination with key humanitarian partners, including the Ecuadorian authorities.
• Timely situational awareness and risk analysis, along with monitoring of natural hazards—including potential El Niño/La Niña impacts—inform programme planning, preparedness, and response to emerging humanitarian and protection needs.
• Emergency response preparedness is strengthened through support to Minimum and Advanced Preparedness Actions at national and sub‑national levels, including the development and application of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• In case of an emergency, the development of humanitarian strategies, documents, and appeals— informed by needs analysis, inter-agency response planning, and the capacities of humanitarian partners— is ensured.
• Inter‑agency needs assessments are supported and contribute to a clear understanding of humanitarian impacts and access constraints in priority areas.
• Humanitarian access trends are effectively monitored in collaboration with UN agencies, INGOs and government counterparts, using agreed tools and protocols.
• Mechanisms for collecting and processing humanitarian information from partners are established, and information is regularly disseminated through appropriate channels, while key information management tools.
• 3W/4W/5W systems, updated mapping of actors and sectoral activities, contact list, etc). are developed and regularly updated.
• Advocacy efforts are effectively supported to promote timely, coordinated and targeted humanitarian responses in collaboration with government counterparts and other partners

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD Humanitarian Officer NOB TA, Quito, Ecuador

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

Minimum requirements:

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

• Work Experience: A minimum of two years of relevant professional work experience is required. Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset. Background/familiarity with emergency is considered as an asset.
  
  
• Skills: 

  a) Specific Technical Knowledge Required (for the Job)

  • Rights-based and Results-based approach and programming.

  • Programme policy, procedures and guidelines.

  b) Common Technical Knowledge Required (for the job group)

  •  Methodology of programme/project management

  • Programmatic goals, visions, positions, policies and strategies.

  • Knowledge of global human rights issues

  • Policies and strategy to address on national and international issues, particularly relating to conflicts, natural disasters, and recovery.

  • Emergency programme policies, goals, strategies and approaches.

  • Gender equality and diversity awareness

  c) Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced (for the Job)

  • UN policies and strategy to address international humanitarian issues and the responses.

  • UN common approaches to programmatic issues and positions

  • UN security operations and guidelines.

  • UNSECORD training for members of Security Management Team.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in Spanish and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, or Russian) or a 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…

(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.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

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 candidates from underrepresented groups 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.