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 Vision

Madagascar is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation, with recurrent cyclones, droughts, floods, and other climate-related shocks disproportionately affecting children and the most vulnerable communities. These challenges threaten progress in child survival, nutrition, education, water security, protection, and resilience. Aligned with the UNICEF Madagascar Country Programme 2024-2028, UNICEF works with the Government, development partners, and communities to strengthen climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, environmental sustainability, and adaptation measures across sectors. Climate and environmental considerations are integrated throughout UNICEF programmes to ensure that children and young people benefit from resilient, inclusive, and sustainable services and systems.

The Programme Officer (Climate & Environment) supports the implementation of UNICEF Madagascar's climate and environment agenda by contributing to programme coordination, policy dialogue, partnerships, evidence generation, and resource mobilization. The position plays a key role in advancing child-centred climate action and ensuring that climate resilience and environmental sustainability are systematically embedded across UNICEF's programme portfolio, contributing to equitable and sustainable development outcomes for children in Madagascar.

How can you make a difference?

Join UNICEF Madagascar and help drive child-centered climate and environmental action in one of the countries most affected by climate change. Reporting to the Programme Specialist, the Programme Officer (Climate & Environment) supports the integration of climate and environmental priorities across UNICEF programmes, ensuring that children and communities are better protected from climate and environmental risks. The role provides technical and programme management support for the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of climate and environment-related initiatives, while contributing to evidence generation, partnership development, policy dialogue and resource mobilization. Working closely with government counterparts, development partners and UNICEF programme sectors, you will help strengthen climate resilience, environmental sustainability and equitable outcomes for the most vulnerable children and families in Madagascar. 

The Programme Officer (Climate & Environment) will contribute to:

• Knowledge Management for Programmes
• Programme Development and Management
• Optimum Use of Programme Funds
• Programme Monitoring and Evaluation
• Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management
• National and Local Capacity Building and Sustainability
• Climate Advocacy from a Child Rights Perspective
• Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration

These responsibilities support the effective integration of climate and environmental considerations across UNICEF programmes and partnerships in Madagascar.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Programme Officer C&E NOB.pdf

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

Minimum requirements

• Education: Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Climate Change, Sustainability, Social Science, International Business Relations, Development Studies, Natural Science, Anthropology, Public Administration, International Relations, Government, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, Sustainable development, or another relevant technical field.
• Work Experience: 2 years of relevant work experience in Development, Programme, Programme Management, climate and environment thematic and socio-economic, climate change, environmental policy, program management, monitoring and evaluation, international development, partnership management, capacity building and any other related fields.
• Skills:

•  Methodology of programme/project management

• UNICEF programmatic goals, visions, positions, policies and strategies.

• Knowledge of global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current UNCEF position and approaches.

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

• UNICEF emergency programme policies, goals, strategies and approaches.

•  Gender equality and diversity awareness

• Language Requirements: Fluency in French is required. 

Desirables

• Knowledge of English is highly desired and knowledge of a local language is an asset.
• Emergency response experience, gender equality awareness, human rights knowledge, stakeholder engagement experience.
• 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

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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct.UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable.Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks.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 are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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 [Insert candidates from targeted 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.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.