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, a champion

HEAR WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN US => LinkedIn / X 

How can you make a difference? 

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Chief, Field Operations, the Chief of Field Office (CFO) in Lubumbashi will provide overall leadership, coordination, and strategic direction for UNICEF’s programmes and operations in the area. The CFO will represent UNICEF at the local level, ensure effective delivery programme, foster partnerships, and manage the performance of staff and use of financial resources in line with organizational goals and humanitarian principles.

3. Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities

A. Strategic Leadership and Representation

• Represent UNICEF in the three provinces and engage with government authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, donors, and local stakeholders.
• Lead strategic and programmatic discussions to advance the rights and well-being of children and women.
• Ensure the safety and security of UNICEF personnel and assets in accordance with UN security protocols.

B. Programme Management and Delivery

• Lead the development, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of UNICEF programmes.
• Oversee and ensure the effective use of programme funds, human resources, and supplies.
• Provide technical guidance to programme teams and ensure alignment with UNICEF’s rights-based and results-based management approaches.

C. Knowledge Management and Reporting

• Ensure robust systems for data collection, situation analysis, and knowledge sharing.
• Prepare and supervise timely and high-quality reports for internal and external audiences, including donors.
• Promote the use of evidence and lessons learned in improving programme effectiveness.

D. Capacity Building and Partnership Development

• Strengthen national and local institutional capacities through technical support and training.
• Foster effective partnerships for programme implementation and coordination.
• Promote community engagement and advocacy on child rights and development issues.

E. Child Safeguarding and Accountability

• Uphold UNICEF’s child safeguarding policies and takes proactive steps to mitigate risks to children.
• Ensure all team members are trained and accountable to safeguarding standards.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TOR - CFO Lumbumbashi -.docx

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Public Administration, Sociology, or related fields.
• Experience: Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible experience in programme management, operations, or emergency response in international development or humanitarian settings. Prior experience in a UN system agency is an asset.
• Language: Fluency in French and English required. 
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in programme planning, RBM, humanitarian coordination, financial and HR management, and security protocols.

Desirables:

• Annual and mid-year Field Office work plans and performance assessments.
• Timely and quality reports (programme, donor, situation, and security reports).
• Evidence of effective budget utilization, compliance, and resource mobilization.
• Stakeholder engagement and coordination mechanisms strengthened.

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 

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

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 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 women and persons with disabilities 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.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

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

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.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.