UNICEF's Individual Giving (IG) programme plays a critical role in generating sustainable and flexible income that enables the organization to deliver for children worldwide. Through the acquisition, engagement, retention, and stewardship of individual supporters, the programme seeks to build long-term relationships with donors while maximizing lifetime value and enhancing supporter experience across multiple channels.
As digital fundraising continues to evolve, the volume of supporter data, interaction points, and content requirements has increased significantly. To remain effective and donor-centric, UNICEF is exploring innovative technologies that can support decision-making, improve operational efficiency, strengthen donor engagement, and enable more personalized supporter journeys.
The National Treasury implementing the 2023–2028 Public Finance Management Reform Strategy to strengthen efficiency, transparency, accountability, and equitable allocation of public resources. As part of Kenya's commitment to inclusive development, the Government has strengthened child-, gender-, and disability-responsive budgeting in the FY 2027/28 budget process, requiring improved costing, expenditure tagging, tracking, and reporting. With support from UNICEF and other development partners, the initiative will strengthen Hyperion costing, child and disability expenditure tagging in IFMIS, reporting systems, and capacity development for MDAs and counties, while supporting Kenya's commitments under the Amman-Berlin Declaration, including enhanced disability financing and the "15 percent for the 15 percent" target. The overall aim is to improve the visibility, allocation, monitoring, and reporting of public expenditure for children and people with disabilities.
This is intended to strengthen programme-based budgeting (PBB) and support Government of Kenya commitments to children and disability-through automated costing model and integrating children and disability tagging into IFMIS.
Viet Nam Country Office is looking for a Programme Associate (Temporary Appointment), GS6 level. Under the supervision of the Programme Specialist, CCDRR-Emergency, the Programme Associate provides financial, budget, grant, partner-management and administrative support to UNICEF’s climate, disaster risk reduction, emergency, environmental health and WASH portfolio transitioning into Result Area 3.The incumbent supports programme planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting by ensuring accurate and timely processing and tracking of programme resources; monitoring budgets, grants and expenditures; supporting DCT and HACT processes; maintaining financial and programme records; preparing financial analyses and reports; and supporting implementing partners to comply with UNICEF financial requirements.
Working day-to-day within NCLE, under the technical guidance of the Director of NCLE (or the designated iSRS focal point) and the contract management of UNICEF, the Consultant provides dedicated technical coordination to set up and scale up the integrated specimen referral system. The Consultant helps NCLE finalize the iSRS framework and tools, deliver the national ToT and the provincial-to-district cascade in the 14 scale-up provinces, put the transport, packaging and data arrangements in place, and monitor and report on system performance against PSRF indicator 2.3.3. The goal is for the referral system to be functional and sustained in all 17 provinces.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is responding to its 17th Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, confirmed in May 2026 and affecting Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. The situation remains complex and evolving, with transmission occurring in both community and health-care settings. Response efforts are led by national authorities in a context shaped by health system limitations, logistical constraints, insecurity, displacement, and diverse community perceptions influencing health-seeking behaviors.UNICEF supports the Government through a multi-sectoral approach, focusing on community engagement, surveillance, infection prevention, and the continuity of essential services for vulnerable populations.This context requires strong coordination, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity to support effective and equitable response efforts, particularly for children and at-risk communities.
The Senior Business Analyst Associate provides advanced technical, functional, and process-related support across assigned systems and business processes. The role contributes to the efficient delivery of services, system stability, process improvement, and alignment with applicable policies, procedures, and operational standards.
Are you an experienced fundraising professional passionate about building lasting supporter relationships and exploring new ways to grow long-term value? Join UNICEF as a Fund Raising Specialist (IG Legacy Pathways), P-3, based in Rome, and bring your expertise in individual giving and/or legacy fundraising to help markets strengthen donor journeys, develop innovative propositions and unlock legacy opportunities that contribute to sustainable income for children.
The IG systems success specialist will support UNICEF Individual Giving markets in the Asia pacific (EAP) region through enabling users to extract maximum performance out the technology provided (Optimizely CMS, Salesforce sales cloud, Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Data platforms). They will provide guidance, training, and by working closely with IG team members such as the UNIQ product owner and Marketing cloud strategists, assistance in the development of new features and functionalities which enable donors to become more engaged with UNICEF’s mission and in doing so raises increasing funds for children worldwide.
L'accès à des services d'assainissement gérés en toute sécurité demeure un défi majeur au Togo, particulièrement dans les
zones rurales et périurbaines où une proportion importante des ménages ne dispose toujours pas de ce niveau de service.
Malgré les progrès enregistrés ces dernières années grâce aux investissements du Gouvernement togolais et de ses
partenaires techniques et financiers, les contraintes financières auxquelles font face les ménages, les petites entreprises
d'assainissement et les institutions financières continuent de limiter les investissements dans le secteur.
Afin de répondre à ces défis, le Gouvernement du Togo, avec l'appui de l'UNICEF et de plusieurs partenaires, a mis en œuvre
un mécanisme pilote de Crédit Latrines reposant sur un fonds renouvelable (Revolving Fund). Ce mécanisme a permis de
faciliter l'accès des ménages vulnérables au financement des ouvrages d'assainissement, tout en renforçant les capacités
des institutions de microfinance et des acteurs privés impliqués dans la chaîne de valeur de l'assainissement.
The Warehouse and Inventory Management Centre (WIMC) is responsible for receiving, storing, packing and dispatching supplies at UNICEF global hubs in support of programme operations and humanitarian action as well as for inventory forecasting and planning for standard and emergency stockpiles. WIMC manages inventory levels and sales orders for standard stock materials, packing, processing and facilitating the deliveries to countries. WIMC also provides oversight and management of the UNICEF Supply and Logistics Hubs in Copenhagen, as well as in Brindisi, Dubai, and other global hubs as needed. In collaboration with the Global Transport & Logistics Centre (GTLC), WIMC also provides oversight and normative support for the management of warehouse operations in Regional and Country Offices. The Replenishment and Order Fulfillment unit (ROFU) is responsible for the effective replenishment of standard stock materials in SD managed warehouses and hubs with optimal stock levels to meet kit production and country demand as well as for the order fulfillment and processing for SD warehouse deliveries. The Replenishment Planning team in the unit manages the materials planning, authorizes stock replenishment and schedules the kit production. The Customer Service team in the unit processes the country orders from the Copenhagen warehouse and global hubs, which has a direct impact on shipping, timely delivery and (emergency) programme implementation.
Short free text, that is visible in TMS without opening the actual VA on the job portal. It is not part of the branded VA, but it is needed in the VA front page. The Driver provides reliable and safe driving services while ensuring compliance with local traffic rules and UNICEF protocols. Drivers are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism, discretion, integrity, adaptability and protocol awareness. They are also expected to support administrative tasks and engage in self-directed learning during non-driving periods. The Driver demonstrates a client-oriented approach, courtesy, tact, a high sense of responsibility, and the ability to work effectively with people of diverse national and cultural backgrounds.
The Operations Associate provides operational management support services in a sub-country office under the direct supervision of the Operations Officer. The incumbent contributes to the delivery of efficient, effective, and cost-conscious operational support services, provides guidance to administrative staff, and assists personnel with office operations activities. The role helps ensure that office operations are conducted in full compliance with organizational policies, procedures, rules, and regulations, while supporting the smooth and effective functioning of the office.
UNICEF Pakistan has provided critical support to the Government of Sindh in rehabilitating schools, WASH facilities, and health infrastructure. Building on these efforts, UNICEF, with support from various donors, plans to further assist the government in the rehabilitation and construction of facilities across the education, health, and WASH sectors. Further, more specifically, greater support will be directed towards the education sector to strengthen school infrastructure, enhance learning conditions, and improve accessibility for students. Additionally, in Sindh, UNICEF serves as the grant agent for both the System Transformation Grant (STG) and the System Capacity Grant (SCG), funded by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). Under the STG, the Sindh Learning Programme (SLP) has been launched as a four-year initiative targeting four districts: Dadu, Tando Allahyar, Tharparkar, and Umerkot. Key interventions under SLP include 1) Upgrading 50 primary schools to middle schools using prefabricated structures, incorporating pre-primary classrooms, separate latrines, and handwashing facilities for boys and girls.2) minor repairs and maintenance of 150 schools to enhance infrastructure and accessibility, ensuring a safer and more inclusive learning environment.
The Field Engineer/Consultant will provide technical support for planning, monitoring, supervision, quality assurance and field-level oversight of construction, rehabilitation, solarization and other related engineering activities in Sindh, with particular focus on the GPE-supported Sindh Learning Programme (SLP), especially Component 1. The assignment also allows for technical support to other UNICEF sectors, including Education, WASH and Health, where such support is required.
Under the supervision of the Education Specialist, the consultant will provide overall programme management, coordination, and technical support for UNICEF's EdTech initiative aimed at improving foundational learning outcomes.
The consultant will support the planning, implementation, monitoring, and scale-up of technology-enabled learning interventions, ensuring alignment with national education priorities and evidence-based approaches to foundational literacy and numeracy.
The consultant will serve as the primary focal point for coordinating stakeholders, managing implementation timelines, ensuring quality delivery, supporting partners, monitoring programme performance, and identifying opportunities to strengthen the use of technology to improve teaching, learning, assessment, and teacher professional development.
The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support to strengthen child protection preparedness, response and
recovery for children and families living in disaster- and climate-vulnerable communities in Oudomxay, Savannakhet and
Saravan province. The consultancy will contribute to the Child Protection component of the UNICEF-supported “Disaster
Risk Reduction for the Most Vulnerable Children” initiative, which seeks to strengthen child-sensitive disaster risk reduction
and the capacity of social service workforce and communities to prepare for and respond to emergencies. This consultancy
will contribute to the UNICEF Lao PDR Country Programme Document (CPD) 2027–2031, outcome 4: “By 2031, more
children and families in climate- and disaster-vulnerable areas are protected by child-sensitive risk information and early
warning systems and use climate-resilient WASH, health and education services,” and outcome 3, which aims to ensure that
adolescents, particularly those who are vulnerable and marginalized, use inclusive child protection and social protection
services.
Under the overall guidance of Chief, People and Culture & direct supervision of the People &Culture Specialist (Supply Community Talent Management), the People & Culture Officer (TalentDevelopment) contributes toward and help coordinate the Supply talent & learning strategies,enabling staff members to grow the skillset and competencies necessary to lead and work in theSupply Function globally. The role also provides support in performance management, talentreviews, staff mobility and talent partnerships, in line with the objective of having current andfuture talent gaps addressed in alignment with People & Culture and business objectives.
UNICEF is committed to ensuring that children, adolescents, families and communities affected by humanitarian crises are placed at the centre of humanitarian decision-making and programming. This requires programmes to be designed, implemented, monitored and adapted based on the expressed needs, priorities, capacities and feedback of affected
populations. It further requires approaches that are inclusive of children and young people, persons with disabilities, women and girls, and local actors representing affected communities, while ensuring meaningful participation, accessibility, dignity, safety and protection from all forms of harm.
The purpose of this consultancy is to provide strategic and technical monitoring and evaluation (M&E) expertise for the development of the M&E components of South Africa's Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 (GC8) Request for Funding (RF). The consultant will ensure that all M&E, performance measurements, and reporting requirements are evidence-based, technically robust, and fully aligned with Global Fund guidance and requirements across all funding request modules.
The Office of Strategy and Evidence- Innocenti requires an events vendor to support the production of major conferences in Florence. It is crucial that the event be carried out in a highly professional and sophisticated way. This includes maximizing the experience of the participants before, during and after the event. To allow the guests to be fully focused on the content, logistics need to be run smoothly, be well-conceived and emotionally resonant.
Individual Consulting Services Expert Consultant, GSSC Finance section, Budapest, Hungary, 12 months, office-based, with travel. UNICEF’s Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) provides Individual Consultant Services (ICS) supporting the contracting and administration of individual consultants across UNICEF. As part of the continued evolution of ICS, UNICEF is seeking to strengthen the way individual consultant talent is identified, accessed, managed and evaluated. Current opportunities include greater use of Long-Term Agreements (LTAs), stronger consultant talent data, simplified access to exceptional expertise, improved rate transparency and stronger guidance for both UNICEF users and consultants
UNICEF's Individual Giving (IG) programme plays a critical role in generating sustainable and flexible income that enables the organization to deliver for children worldwide. Through the acquisition, engagement, retention, and stewardship of individual supporters, the programme seeks to build long-term relationships with donors while maximizing lifetime value and enhancing supporter experience across multiple channels.
As digital fundraising continues to evolve, the volume of supporter data, interaction points, and content requirements has increased significantly. To remain effective and donor-centric, UNICEF is exploring innovative technologies that can support decision-making, improve operational efficiency, strengthen donor engagement, and enable more personalized supporter journeys.
The National Treasury implementing the 2023–2028 Public Finance Management Reform Strategy to strengthen efficiency, transparency, accountability, and equitable allocation of public resources. As part of Kenya's commitment to inclusive development, the Government has strengthened child-, gender-, and disability-responsive budgeting in the FY 2027/28 budget process, requiring improved costing, expenditure tagging, tracking, and reporting. With support from UNICEF and other development partners, the initiative will strengthen Hyperion costing, child and disability expenditure tagging in IFMIS, reporting systems, and capacity development for MDAs and counties, while supporting Kenya's commitments under the Amman-Berlin Declaration, including enhanced disability financing and the "15 percent for the 15 percent" target. The overall aim is to improve the visibility, allocation, monitoring, and reporting of public expenditure for children and people with disabilities.
This is intended to strengthen programme-based budgeting (PBB) and support Government of Kenya commitments to children and disability-through automated costing model and integrating children and disability tagging into IFMIS.
Viet Nam Country Office is looking for a Programme Associate (Temporary Appointment), GS6 level. Under the supervision of the Programme Specialist, CCDRR-Emergency, the Programme Associate provides financial, budget, grant, partner-management and administrative support to UNICEF’s climate, disaster risk reduction, emergency, environmental health and WASH portfolio transitioning into Result Area 3.The incumbent supports programme planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting by ensuring accurate and timely processing and tracking of programme resources; monitoring budgets, grants and expenditures; supporting DCT and HACT processes; maintaining financial and programme records; preparing financial analyses and reports; and supporting implementing partners to comply with UNICEF financial requirements.
Working day-to-day within NCLE, under the technical guidance of the Director of NCLE (or the designated iSRS focal point) and the contract management of UNICEF, the Consultant provides dedicated technical coordination to set up and scale up the integrated specimen referral system. The Consultant helps NCLE finalize the iSRS framework and tools, deliver the national ToT and the provincial-to-district cascade in the 14 scale-up provinces, put the transport, packaging and data arrangements in place, and monitor and report on system performance against PSRF indicator 2.3.3. The goal is for the referral system to be functional and sustained in all 17 provinces.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is responding to its 17th Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, confirmed in May 2026 and affecting Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. The situation remains complex and evolving, with transmission occurring in both community and health-care settings. Response efforts are led by national authorities in a context shaped by health system limitations, logistical constraints, insecurity, displacement, and diverse community perceptions influencing health-seeking behaviors.UNICEF supports the Government through a multi-sectoral approach, focusing on community engagement, surveillance, infection prevention, and the continuity of essential services for vulnerable populations.This context requires strong coordination, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity to support effective and equitable response efforts, particularly for children and at-risk communities.
The Senior Business Analyst Associate provides advanced technical, functional, and process-related support across assigned systems and business processes. The role contributes to the efficient delivery of services, system stability, process improvement, and alignment with applicable policies, procedures, and operational standards.
Are you an experienced fundraising professional passionate about building lasting supporter relationships and exploring new ways to grow long-term value? Join UNICEF as a Fund Raising Specialist (IG Legacy Pathways), P-3, based in Rome, and bring your expertise in individual giving and/or legacy fundraising to help markets strengthen donor journeys, develop innovative propositions and unlock legacy opportunities that contribute to sustainable income for children.
The IG systems success specialist will support UNICEF Individual Giving markets in the Asia pacific (EAP) region through enabling users to extract maximum performance out the technology provided (Optimizely CMS, Salesforce sales cloud, Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Data platforms). They will provide guidance, training, and by working closely with IG team members such as the UNIQ product owner and Marketing cloud strategists, assistance in the development of new features and functionalities which enable donors to become more engaged with UNICEF’s mission and in doing so raises increasing funds for children worldwide.
L'accès à des services d'assainissement gérés en toute sécurité demeure un défi majeur au Togo, particulièrement dans les
zones rurales et périurbaines où une proportion importante des ménages ne dispose toujours pas de ce niveau de service.
Malgré les progrès enregistrés ces dernières années grâce aux investissements du Gouvernement togolais et de ses
partenaires techniques et financiers, les contraintes financières auxquelles font face les ménages, les petites entreprises
d'assainissement et les institutions financières continuent de limiter les investissements dans le secteur.
Afin de répondre à ces défis, le Gouvernement du Togo, avec l'appui de l'UNICEF et de plusieurs partenaires, a mis en œuvre
un mécanisme pilote de Crédit Latrines reposant sur un fonds renouvelable (Revolving Fund). Ce mécanisme a permis de
faciliter l'accès des ménages vulnérables au financement des ouvrages d'assainissement, tout en renforçant les capacités
des institutions de microfinance et des acteurs privés impliqués dans la chaîne de valeur de l'assainissement.
The Warehouse and Inventory Management Centre (WIMC) is responsible for receiving, storing, packing and dispatching supplies at UNICEF global hubs in support of programme operations and humanitarian action as well as for inventory forecasting and planning for standard and emergency stockpiles. WIMC manages inventory levels and sales orders for standard stock materials, packing, processing and facilitating the deliveries to countries. WIMC also provides oversight and management of the UNICEF Supply and Logistics Hubs in Copenhagen, as well as in Brindisi, Dubai, and other global hubs as needed. In collaboration with the Global Transport & Logistics Centre (GTLC), WIMC also provides oversight and normative support for the management of warehouse operations in Regional and Country Offices. The Replenishment and Order Fulfillment unit (ROFU) is responsible for the effective replenishment of standard stock materials in SD managed warehouses and hubs with optimal stock levels to meet kit production and country demand as well as for the order fulfillment and processing for SD warehouse deliveries. The Replenishment Planning team in the unit manages the materials planning, authorizes stock replenishment and schedules the kit production. The Customer Service team in the unit processes the country orders from the Copenhagen warehouse and global hubs, which has a direct impact on shipping, timely delivery and (emergency) programme implementation.
Short free text, that is visible in TMS without opening the actual VA on the job portal. It is not part of the branded VA, but it is needed in the VA front page. The Driver provides reliable and safe driving services while ensuring compliance with local traffic rules and UNICEF protocols. Drivers are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism, discretion, integrity, adaptability and protocol awareness. They are also expected to support administrative tasks and engage in self-directed learning during non-driving periods. The Driver demonstrates a client-oriented approach, courtesy, tact, a high sense of responsibility, and the ability to work effectively with people of diverse national and cultural backgrounds.
The Operations Associate provides operational management support services in a sub-country office under the direct supervision of the Operations Officer. The incumbent contributes to the delivery of efficient, effective, and cost-conscious operational support services, provides guidance to administrative staff, and assists personnel with office operations activities. The role helps ensure that office operations are conducted in full compliance with organizational policies, procedures, rules, and regulations, while supporting the smooth and effective functioning of the office.
UNICEF Pakistan has provided critical support to the Government of Sindh in rehabilitating schools, WASH facilities, and health infrastructure. Building on these efforts, UNICEF, with support from various donors, plans to further assist the government in the rehabilitation and construction of facilities across the education, health, and WASH sectors. Further, more specifically, greater support will be directed towards the education sector to strengthen school infrastructure, enhance learning conditions, and improve accessibility for students. Additionally, in Sindh, UNICEF serves as the grant agent for both the System Transformation Grant (STG) and the System Capacity Grant (SCG), funded by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). Under the STG, the Sindh Learning Programme (SLP) has been launched as a four-year initiative targeting four districts: Dadu, Tando Allahyar, Tharparkar, and Umerkot. Key interventions under SLP include 1) Upgrading 50 primary schools to middle schools using prefabricated structures, incorporating pre-primary classrooms, separate latrines, and handwashing facilities for boys and girls.2) minor repairs and maintenance of 150 schools to enhance infrastructure and accessibility, ensuring a safer and more inclusive learning environment.
The Field Engineer/Consultant will provide technical support for planning, monitoring, supervision, quality assurance and field-level oversight of construction, rehabilitation, solarization and other related engineering activities in Sindh, with particular focus on the GPE-supported Sindh Learning Programme (SLP), especially Component 1. The assignment also allows for technical support to other UNICEF sectors, including Education, WASH and Health, where such support is required.
Under the supervision of the Education Specialist, the consultant will provide overall programme management, coordination, and technical support for UNICEF's EdTech initiative aimed at improving foundational learning outcomes.
The consultant will support the planning, implementation, monitoring, and scale-up of technology-enabled learning interventions, ensuring alignment with national education priorities and evidence-based approaches to foundational literacy and numeracy.
The consultant will serve as the primary focal point for coordinating stakeholders, managing implementation timelines, ensuring quality delivery, supporting partners, monitoring programme performance, and identifying opportunities to strengthen the use of technology to improve teaching, learning, assessment, and teacher professional development.
The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support to strengthen child protection preparedness, response and
recovery for children and families living in disaster- and climate-vulnerable communities in Oudomxay, Savannakhet and
Saravan province. The consultancy will contribute to the Child Protection component of the UNICEF-supported “Disaster
Risk Reduction for the Most Vulnerable Children” initiative, which seeks to strengthen child-sensitive disaster risk reduction
and the capacity of social service workforce and communities to prepare for and respond to emergencies. This consultancy
will contribute to the UNICEF Lao PDR Country Programme Document (CPD) 2027–2031, outcome 4: “By 2031, more
children and families in climate- and disaster-vulnerable areas are protected by child-sensitive risk information and early
warning systems and use climate-resilient WASH, health and education services,” and outcome 3, which aims to ensure that
adolescents, particularly those who are vulnerable and marginalized, use inclusive child protection and social protection
services.
Under the overall guidance of Chief, People and Culture & direct supervision of the People &Culture Specialist (Supply Community Talent Management), the People & Culture Officer (TalentDevelopment) contributes toward and help coordinate the Supply talent & learning strategies,enabling staff members to grow the skillset and competencies necessary to lead and work in theSupply Function globally. The role also provides support in performance management, talentreviews, staff mobility and talent partnerships, in line with the objective of having current andfuture talent gaps addressed in alignment with People & Culture and business objectives.
UNICEF is committed to ensuring that children, adolescents, families and communities affected by humanitarian crises are placed at the centre of humanitarian decision-making and programming. This requires programmes to be designed, implemented, monitored and adapted based on the expressed needs, priorities, capacities and feedback of affected
populations. It further requires approaches that are inclusive of children and young people, persons with disabilities, women and girls, and local actors representing affected communities, while ensuring meaningful participation, accessibility, dignity, safety and protection from all forms of harm.
The purpose of this consultancy is to provide strategic and technical monitoring and evaluation (M&E) expertise for the development of the M&E components of South Africa's Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 (GC8) Request for Funding (RF). The consultant will ensure that all M&E, performance measurements, and reporting requirements are evidence-based, technically robust, and fully aligned with Global Fund guidance and requirements across all funding request modules.
The Office of Strategy and Evidence- Innocenti requires an events vendor to support the production of major conferences in Florence. It is crucial that the event be carried out in a highly professional and sophisticated way. This includes maximizing the experience of the participants before, during and after the event. To allow the guests to be fully focused on the content, logistics need to be run smoothly, be well-conceived and emotionally resonant.
Individual Consulting Services Expert Consultant, GSSC Finance section, Budapest, Hungary, 12 months, office-based, with travel. UNICEF’s Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) provides Individual Consultant Services (ICS) supporting the contracting and administration of individual consultants across UNICEF. As part of the continued evolution of ICS, UNICEF is seeking to strengthen the way individual consultant talent is identified, accessed, managed and evaluated. Current opportunities include greater use of Long-Term Agreements (LTAs), stronger consultant talent data, simplified access to exceptional expertise, improved rate transparency and stronger guidance for both UNICEF users and consultants