Current vacancies

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 fulfill 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, care.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. UNICEF has introduced its new global Safeguarding Policy in 2024 which incorporated Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) being rolled out across all country offices.

Vanuatu and Solomon Islands are amongst the world's most vulnerable countries to disaster recurrence, severity, and a range of natural hazards including volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, cyclones, earthquakes, floods, tidal surges, landslides, droughts etc. The UNICEF Solomon Islands and Vanuatu Field Offices have development and humanitarian programming through respective sectors (WASH, Education, Health, Nutrition, Child Protection). UNICEF coordinates closely with the National Disaster Management Offices and cluster partners to provide life-saving responses and support recovery activities across these sectors.

UNICEF is implementing large-scale climate-resilient infrastructure and post-disaster reconstruction projects in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu which will require Safeguarding risk management and monitoring. These projects include climate adaptation infrastructure and earthquake reconstruction. To support the safe implementation of these projects and manage the ongoing safeguarding risks across UNICEF Programmes and partners, the office seeks to scale up its own Safeguarding and PSEA mechanisms, including supporting government and civil society partners.

How can you make a difference? 

Within this context, UNICEF has identified the following significant needs related to improved child safeguarding and robust protection against sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA):

i) Strengthen UNICEF’s oversight and safeguarding management of corporate contractors, vendors, suppliers on infrastructure projects (climate adaptation, retrofitting schools, solarizing health facilities, WASH infrastructure, post disaster school reconstruction).

ii) Strengthening existing capacity of UNICEF staff, Consultants, Contractors and Implementing partners (Civil Society and Government);

iii) Institutionalizing and rolling out the newly established UNICEF Global Safeguarding Policy and strengthening internal PSEA mechanisms.

iv) Integrating safeguarding, PSEA, and GBV risk mitigation into all sectoral programmes (WASH, health, nutrition, education, child protection, SBC) v) Improving child-friendly, accessible and safe reporting mechanisms on safeguarding and SEA within UNICEF and all partners, including government ministries. vi) Improve the integration of PSEA, accountability for affected populations and GBV Risk mitigation actions within disaster planning and emergency response and recovery for Clusters and UNICEF response plans in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.

Due to the increasing safeguarding and PSEA risks in both country contexts and UNICEF programmatic and humanitarian portfolios, a dedicated staff member is required to take on this role. UNICEF has existing staff members covering the safeguarding focal point roles on top of their regular programmatic duties. UNICEF has the basic structures and processes in place for Safeguarding & PSEA, yet there is a need to institutionalize and socialize them across the Country Office in line with overall UNICEF accountability. The Safeguarding Officer will be based in the Solomon Islands Field Office in Honiara with travel to the Vanuatu Field Office in Port Vila and will report to the UNICEF Pacific PSEA & GBViE Specialist.

Please refer to the ToR ( ToR_safeguarding PSEA consultant solomon islands.pdf) for further information on the deliverables and the timelines. 

GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS:  

Please submit a separate financial offer along with your application. The financial proposal should be a lump sum amount for all the deliverables and should show a break down for the following:

• Monthly / Daily fees– based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference above.
• Travel (economy air ticket where applicable to take up assignment and field mission travel
• Living allowance where travel is required.
• Miscellaneous- to cover visa, health insurance (including medical evacuation for international consultants), communications, and other costs.

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

Education:

• An Advanced University degree in social work, child psychology, human rights, social sciences, law or other relevant field.

Experience & Skills:

• Strong technical understanding of child protection and child Safeguarding in Vanuatu and Solomon
• Islands, including cultural context, legal frameworks and referral pathways
• Experience and awareness of gender mainstreaming, gender-transformative practices.
• Experience conducting safeguarding risk assessments or risk matrix of programmes and activities.
• Strong facilitator skills and experience delivering training sessions, orientations, and workshops
• using practical, participatory learning methods.
• Local language skills highly desirable.
• Strong advocacy skills.
• Strong understanding of gender-based violence in the Pacific context and Experience identifying
• and mitigating GBV risks in Programmes.
• Experience working for a development or humanitarian organization (UN, NGO, CSO or similar).
• Experience designing and developing child-friendly messaging and content which is culturally
• relevant and age appropriate.
• Understanding of utilizing a survivor-centered approach with victims of sexual exploitation, sexual
• abuse or child abuse- including informed consent procedures and confidentiality.
• Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background 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.  

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.