Current vacancies

 This is a re-advertisement, candidates who have already applied do not need to re-apply.

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, the right to a Future

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, 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. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism.

UNICEF Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is among the largest and most complex operating context in the world. Humanitarian operations in eastern DRC take place in a highly constrained environment marked by limited state presence, restricted access, and elevated protection risks, especially for children. Working in this context requires navigating complex governance dynamics while strictly upholding humanitarian principles, UN policies, and donor compliance. Experience from similar high-risk settings shows that effective delivery depends on strong senior judgment, deep contextual understanding, disciplined access negotiation, coordinated internal decision-making, and clear institutional red lines. The role therefore demands strategic restraint, operational agility, and credibility under sustained pressure.

Thereof, we are looking for a strategic and mission driven Emergency Specialist (Access) who is ready to contribute to transformational change for millions of children in DRC.

How can you make a difference

Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief Emergency, establishes and implements country office emergency preparedness and response. Responsible for the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the emergency interventions to ensure the survival and well-being of children and mothers, and the affected communities in an emergency situation.

Key end-results:
1. Emergency preparedness is effectively arranged together with establishment of country contingency plans and early warning mechanisms.
2. Emergency preparedness and response plans addresses gender issues that may be expected to intensify during emergencies.
3. Emergency plans of action are developed, and compliance and coordination of all sectors with the plans are implemented.
4. Technical advice on emergencies and programme management related to implementation of emergency preparedness measures are effectively provided.
5. Emergency preparedness and response, and a consistent flow of information of the humanitarian situation are effectively coordinated within the office.
6. Substantive improvements are made in the emergency preparedness and response capability of UNICEF staff and implementing partners through conduct of effective training activities.
7. In the event of an emergency, UNICEF's presence is promptly established and the initial emergency operational tasks are effectively executed, including provision of support for information communication technology, telecommunications facility and all staff security related assistance in the country office.
8. Needs assessment is effectively conducted to determine priorities and an appropriate intervention by UNICEF based on the local emergency situation affecting children, their families and community.
9. Timely delivery of assistance and supplies is provided, urgent staffing requirements are identified, and the appropriate use of UNICEF resources is monitored for effective project delivery.
10. Emergency appeals and project proposals are prepared, and concerted efforts are put forward to mobilize donor response and recovery/rehabilitation-related funding.
11. Longer-term requirements of the emergency operation/interventions are determined to build a regular operational and staffing structure.
12. Continuous, effective and strategic coordination, communication, consultation and liaison are maintained with Government, UN agencies, NGOs, donors and allies in support of the special needs of children and women affected by emergency situations within the framework of the cluster approach and based on the Core Commitment for Children.
13. Management is kept informed of humanitarian developments in relevant policies, situation developments, potential threats and opportunities/issues in the country.
14. Emergency preparedness and response strategies are mainstreamed in the country office's workplans. Sectoral input is provided for all related documents for the office’s Emergency Preparedness and Response, as well as for the Situation Analysis and the Country Programme Document.

Summary of key accountabilities and duties/tasks:

• Emergency Preparedness: coordinates emergency preparedness and response efforts by developing contingency plans, providing technical and programmatic guidance, managing information and resources, and building staff and partner capacity to ensure timely and effective action during emergencies.
• Emergency Response: Leads UNICEF’s on-the-ground emergency response by rapidly assessing crises, ensuring staff safety and communications, coordinating with partners, managing resources and logistics, and implementing immediate assistance to protect and support affected children and communities. 
• Emergency Project: Implements and manages emergency projects from response to recovery, coordinating with government and partners, mobilizing donor support, advocating for children’s needs, and ensuring emergency preparedness, mitigation, and resilience are integrated into UNICEF’s country programmes. 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD Emergency Specialist (Access)_P3

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

Minimum requirements::

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Social Science, Public Administration, Public Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, Business Administration, International Law, Nutrition, International Relations and any other related fields.  A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. This is applicable to internal (FT, Continuing and Permanent) staff only.
• Work Experience: Five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and administration. Developing country work experience (for IP) or field work experience (for NO).
• Skills: Humanitarian Policy, Emergency Management, Gender Equality, International Law, Programme Coordination, ICT & Data Literacy.
• Emergency Leadership:
  • Substantial experience in acute emergency or L3-type settings, including conflict-driven displacement, access constraints, and volatile security environments.
  • Ability to make time-critical decisions with incomplete information and high operational stakes.
• Access, Negotiation, and Risk Management:
  • Demonstrated capacity to manage access negotiations in sensitive contexts.
  • Strong understanding of duty of care, reputational risk, donor compliance, and humanitarian red lines.
• Strategic Judgment and Institutional Representation:
  • Ability to represent the organization credibly with internal and external stakeholders under politically sensitive conditions.
  • Clear understanding of when not to engage, escalate, or deploy, as much as when to act.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and French required.

Desirables:

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Specialized training/experience in emergency response management highly desirable.

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

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 female candidates from high income countries 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.

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

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.