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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]

Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief Monitoring, Analytics, Planning, Learning and Evaluation (MAPLE), the Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Disaster Risk Reduction) Officer provides technical advice and support to RO and country offices in undertaking emergency preparedness and response actions, climate change and environment protection, disaster risk reduction to support risk informed programming in Iraq. Responsible for the development, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the climate change adaptation (CCA), disaster risk reduction (DRR) and emergency interventions to ensure the survival, well-being, protection and strengthen resilience of children and mothers, and recommend and support implementation of efforts to promote social cohesion and peace building among IDP, North-East Syrian (NES) and Refugee families and communities.

How can you make a difference? 

Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Preparedness Planning

1. Support Child-centered Disaster Risk Reduction (CCDRR) planning, implementation, monitoring to engage and support the most vulnerable children, young people, and their families to reduce the disproportionately negative impacts of disasters; noting especially the fragile post-conflict context (social cohesion) and climate change.
2. Advise sections on improving child-sensitive policies and practice; expand age-inclusive multi-hazard risk assessments and reduction efforts; build safer, more resilient environments and services for children and young people; and accelerate all-of-society awareness, engagement, and action in CCDRR.
3. Support a Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) nexus approach to reduce vulnerabilities and risk and prevent crises and conflicts before they materialize — particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings. This includes adherence to the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) recommendation of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on the HDP nexus.
4. Supports the office on the work with federal and local government along with communities to strengthen their risk reduction efforts and the local service delivery during and after crises; promoting social cohesion and peace-building; support the co-chair of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on NES Returnees to implement the TWG workplan in support of the One UN Plan on NES Returnees.
5. Continuously monitor and update as required political, security and humanitarian developments in the country. CO supported in implementing emergency preparedness and contingency planning measures. 
6. Implementation of emergency capacity development initiatives supported in the region, including through monitoring of progress, providing inputs to reports, participating in donor visits, and addressing any bottlenecks in consultation with the supervisor.
7. In the event of an emergency in the region and as requested, deployed to the affected country to provide on-site support (or provides remote support, depending on the situation) in responding to the emergency in line with UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children. CO supported with rapid assessments, situation reports, appeal documents, response plans, supply plans, inter-agency coordination, etc.
8. Support children and youth as agents of change and efforts to give the space and modalities to contribute to disaster risk reduction, in accordance with legislation, national practice and educational curricula. (Sendai Framework).

General

9. Strong contacts maintained with the international partner agencies and donor representatives based in Middle East and North Africa Region and regular exchange of information ensured regarding DRR programmes and EPP for all UNICEF Iraq country office programmes. Status updates and donor reports prepared as required.
10. Fundraising and advocacy for climate change adaptation, disaster risk and environment protection programming in the region supported, including through the partnership with other actors. 

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

Minimum requirements:

1. Education

• University degree (bachelor’s degree) in one of the following fields: social sciences, public administration, international law, public health, nutrition, WASH, international relations, business administration, emergency, or post-conflict project/programme management. Preferably a combination of management, disaster management, administration, and relevant technical fields.

2. Work Experience

• Two years of relevant progressively responsible professional work experience at national or international levels in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and administration.
• Developing field work experience.

3. Language Proficiency 

• Fluency in English, with Arabic as a second language highly prioritized; Local working language of the duty station(s) an asset.

Technical Knowledge

a) Specific Technical Knowledge Required

• UNICEF policies and strategy to address CCDRR. 
• Knowledge of global humanitarian issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current UNCEF position and approaches. 
• Knowledge of UN humanitarian reform principles, international humanitarian laws.
• Knowledge of the principle of gender parity and equality.

b) Common Technical Knowledge Required

• The UNICEF mission statement; UNICEF Board policy papers and decisions.
• The Core Commitments for Children in Emergencies. 
• The Convention on the Rights of the Child; Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women.
• EMOPS Technical Notes, EMOPS Emergency Field Book; CCDRR guidelines.
• UNICEF Program Manuals, policy guidelines, ExDirs, PROs; Country Programme documentation. 
• UNICEF personnel, financial, supply and administrative rules, regulations, and manuals. 
• National development plans and policies; Guidelines and manuals from NGO/donor partners.
• Annual work plan. 
• UNDAF; The UN Humanitarian Reform; HFA, IASC documents, guidelines and materials on UN Humanitarian Reform and the cluster approach.
• Information & Communications Technology literacy, including skills and knowledge of office system applications, LAN, internet navigation, telecommunications, and data analysis.
• Gender equality and diversity awareness.

c) Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced

• UN security operations and guidelines.
• Knowledge of local conditions and country legislation relevant to UNICEF programmes.
• Knowledge of the latest developments and trends in emergency preparedness and response management related fields.
• UN policies and strategy to address international humanitarian/emergency issues and response.
• UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions in international developing cooperation. 
• Current knowledge of development issues and social programming in international development cooperation context.

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 (1)

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact (1)

(4) Innovates and embraces change (1)

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

(6) Thinks and acts strategically (1)

(7) Works collaboratively with others (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as 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:

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable [female candidates] 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.

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.