Current vacancies

UNICEF, guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, works together with partners in 190 countries and territories to promote and advocate for the protection of the rights of every child.

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, safety

Kiribati is facing a triple burden of malnutrition—undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising rates of overweight and obesity. Suboptimal diets are a key driver of these issues, compounded by climate change, food insecurity, and a growing reliance on imported, nutrient-poor foods.

To address these challenges, UNICEF is commissioning a comprehensive dietary intake assessment to generate evidence-based, context-specific food-based recommendations. This work will inform updates to national nutrition policies, guidelines, and communication materials.

We are looking for two consultants with distinct but complementary technical expertise to lead this important initiative.

How can you make a difference? 

As a consultant, you will:

• Conduct a quantified dietary intake assessment for key population groups.
• Map the local food basket, including seasonal availability, pricing, and cultural relevance.
• Analyze dietary data to develop food-based recommendations tailored to the Kiribati context.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to modify local recipes and create practical, nutritious meal plans.
• Map the food system to identify opportunities for improving access to nutritious foods.
• Identify socio-cultural barriers to healthy eating and propose strategies to overcome them.
• Review and update existing SBCC materials and nutrition guidelines based on findings.

For full details, please refer to the Terms of Reference ( TOR Dietary Assessment.pdf).

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

Education:

• An advanced University degree in Nutrition, Food Science, Dietetics, Public Health, or other relevant disciplines, a PhD will be an added advantage

Experience & Skills:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in nutrition related work
• Experience in conceptualizing, designing and implementing dietary intake assessments and linear programming-based analyses for developing food-based recommendations.
• Work experience serving in a developing country is required. Work experience in the Pacific Islands region is an asset.
• Experience working in UNICEF or a UN system agency is an asset.
• Able to work effectively with people internal and external parties
• Communicates clearly and concisely
• Excellent analytical and conceptual skills
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality analytical reports
• Proficiency in various analytical applications for Nutrition, OptiFood, or any Linear Programming software.
• Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions

Language:

• Fluency in English is required, and knowledge of a local language would be an asset.

GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS:  

Please submit:

• A technical proposal outlining your approach and relevant experience.
• A separate financial proposal (lump sum) with a breakdown of:
  • Daily fees
  • Travel and in-country costs
  • Living allowance (if relocation is required)
  • Miscellaneous expenses (visa, insurance, communications, etc.)

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about children’s rights and making a lasting difference on children’s lives, one of the global leading entities on children’s rights would like to hear from you.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

UNICEF is also proud of a diverse workforce who are profoundly committed to supporting the full realization of children’s rights, and in uplifting a rights-based approach in all that we do.

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 

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 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.

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.