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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 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, a fair chance 

UNICEF has been an active partner of the Government of the Philippines and civil society in realizing the rights of every Filipino child, in line with priorities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNICEF efforts have been focused on the most vulnerable regions identified by the Government of the Philippines Development Plan, particularly in the regions of Visayas and Mindanao. To ensure that interventions are sustainable and scaled up, UNICEF will support both the national and local government units (LGUs) as the main instruments of delivering services and building systems. The level of engagement with government institutions will consider capacities, economies of scale and sector issues.

UNICEF Philippines has two offices. One office is based in Manila and a field office in Cotabato City.

Visit this link for more information on Philippine Country Office: https://www.unicef.org/philippines/

How can you make a difference? 

The Programme Specialist (PSEA Coordinator) reports to the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) and day-to-day management by the Head of the RC Office. S/He will also have a reporting line responsibility to the Chief of Child Protection in UNICEF for direction setting.

Under the overall supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) and day-to-day management by the Head of the RC Office, the PSEA Coordinator is responsible for coordinating and supporting the collective PSEA activities of organizations in the Philippines. The PSEA Coordinator will act as an interagency resource and support to UNCT and HCT in implementing the PSEA Strategy and country-level PSEA framework. S/he supports the Philippines PSEA Network, currently co-chaired by the World Food Programme (WFP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Plan International Pilipinas, and its key activities, such as risk assessments, capacity building and learning sessions, safe reporting and referrals, maintaining a database of PSEA allegations made in country, and preparing technical and guidance documents and procedures.

The PSEA Coordinator is responsible for overseeing and supporting the collective PSEA Network activities at the national and sub-national level. The PSEA Coordinator shall support strengthening of PSEA programs across the UNCT (including the integration of PSEA in UN Cooperation Framework, collaboration with the Thematic Groups, Operations Management Team, MEL Group), HCT (including ICCG, Thematic Working Groups, and MHT as HCT’s operating arm and humanitarian coordination platform in Mindanao/BARMM), and its operational partners, including government entities, local CSOs/NGOs, donors, and the private sector.

The presence of the PSEA Coordinator does not lessen the responsibility of individual organizations to develop and/or strengthen their own PSEA programs. While the PSEA Coordinator will support organizations to meet minimum standards on PSEA implementation and foster the sharing of best practices, the final responsibility for institutional and collective PSEA program implementation lies with Heads of Organizations and the RC, respectively.

The role is expected to evolve further – building on core responsibilities while expanding strategic focus in the following areas:

• Review and strengthen the PSEA Network’s Terms of Reference and SOPs to explore the integration of sexual harassment within the Network’s scope, broadening the membership to be more inclusive, and developing inter-agency protocols for victim/survivor assistance that complement existing government services.
• Increase engagement with key stakeholders: the national and sub-national government agencies, local government units, national and local NGOs/CSOs, donors, the private sector, and sectoral groups such as persons with disabilities, indigenous people, migrant and labor groups, security forces, service providers, and interfaith organizations, among others. The goal is to mainstream PSEA into policies, systems, and practices.
• Enhance strategic visibility and advocacy in various coordination and thematic groups within development, peacebuilding, and humanitarian structures to advance and mainstream the PSEA agenda. This includes communicating PSEA effectively to diverse audiences and platforms.
• Engage in policy and legislative advocacies, contributing to the passage of national and sub-national legislative initiatives, reinforcing PSEA principles and institutional accountability.

The PSEA Coordinator will have the following Tasks and Responsibilities:

A. Support the PSEA in-country program

B. Strengthen PSEA in Development and Peacebuilding Programming

C. Strengthen PSEA in Humanitarian Programming

D.  Integration of the Victim/Survivor-Centered Approach

E. Recommendations to Senior Leadership and Support Bodies

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Programme Specialist NOC UN PSEA Coordinator TA ToR(Y3).pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: 
  • Advance university degree in the field of Social Work, International Relations, Law, Development Studies, Gender Studies or other related fields.  

(In the absence of an advance university degree, equivalent of minimum of 7 years of work experience may be considered)

• Work Experience:
  • A minimum of five (5) of progressive work experience in the related field
  • Proven technical expertise in the field of PSEA, Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) /Community Engagement, Gender Equality Programming, Protection, Human Rights, and staff misconduct and discipline is very desirable.
  • At least 5 year of relevant field experience working in humanitarian and development settings and previous work experience in the Philippines on humanitarian response is an advantage.
  • Understanding and familiarity with the UN System, international development (like the SDGs) and humanitarian architecture (like the Inter Agency Standing Committee [IASC], HCT, ICCG) will be an advantage.
  • Proven experience in leading/supporting coordination for inter-agency mechanisms / platforms like the PSEA Task Force/Task Force, Protection and Gender is highly desirable.
  • Proven experience in supporting the development of training materials and facilitating capacity building activities is an advantage.

• Skills:

  • Coordination (experience in an inter-agency coordination role is an advantage)

  • Professionalism (proven integrity, objectivity, and professional competence)

  • Communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills

  • Ability to work with different stakeholders and build consensus

  • Advocacy across a wide variety of actors

  • Leadership (ability to lead a technical network)

  • Leveraging (ability to engage at senior leadership level and secure buy-in)

  • Problem-solving (ability to know what needs to be done and identify the resources to do it)

• Language Requirements:  
  • Excellent Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required.

How to apply

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an online candidate profile in http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ by 26 November 2025. Only applications sent through the e-recruitment portal will be considered.

By applying through our Talent Management System (TMS) you agree to our privacy statement which is in line with the Philippines’ Data Privacy Act. You are strongly advised to read carefully through the privacy statement before submitting your application.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

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…

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

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 and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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.

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living 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.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

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.

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.