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

How can you make a difference?

As a Planning Officer, you will play a key role in strengthening decentralized planning, budgeting, and monitoring systems to improve outcomes for children across Nepal. One position will be based in Janakpur Field Office (covering Madhesh and Lumbini Provinces), and one position will be based in Surkhet Field Office (covering Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces). You will work closely with provincial and local governments, development partners, and UNICEF programme teams to support evidence-based planning, effective resource allocation, and results-focused programme implementation. Your contribution will help ensure that national priorities and UNICEF's Country Programme are translated into impactful actions that deliver lasting results for children and communities.

Under the supervision of the Chief of Field Office, with technical oversight from the Chief, Planning and Monitoring, the Planning Officer provides technical support to strengthen results-based planning, monitoring, and review processes at provincial and municipal levels. The role contributes to institutionalizing planning and monitoring systems within government structures, supports cross-sectoral convergence at subnational level, and reinforces UNICEF's subnational engagement agenda, while progressively reducing reliance on continuous external technical support. 

The key responsibilities and tasks include:

1. Decentralized planning and results‑based management

2.  Subnational monitoring, review, and follow‑through

3. Subnational planning–budget coherence and affordability support

4. Evidence use and analytical support for subnational decision‑making

5. Multi-sector coordination and support to Field Office and subnational engagement

6. Capacity strengthening, learning, and knowledge management

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Specific JD FINAL -Planning Officer NOB- Janakpur #NEP26015.doc

To qualify as a champion for every child, you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A bachelor’s degree or equivalent first-level university degree in social science, development studies, economics, public administration, statistics, public policy, planning, or a related field is required.
• Work Experience: A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in programme planning, monitoring, or results-based management is required, including in contexts involving decentralized or subnational government systems.
• Skills: Decentralized planning, monitoring, review, multisectoral coordination, evidence use, and capacity strengthening.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in both English and Nepali is required.

Desirables:

• Training or coursework in results‑based management, planning, monitoring and evaluation, public finance, or decentralized governance is an asset.
• Experience supporting provincial or municipal government planning, monitoring, or review processes; linking plans with budget allocations or execution; and/or applying monitoring data or local evidence to inform programme decisions is highly desirable.
• Experience working with government counterparts at subnational level, and familiarity with decentralized governance, planning, and budget processes, is an asset.
• Prior experience within the UN system or an international development organization is desirable.
• Experience supporting provincial and/or municipal government planning or budgeting processes in Nepal's federal context.
• Practical experience applying RBM principles to planning, monitoring, and review processes.
• Experience using evidence, monitoring data, or administrative data to inform planning decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder planning or coordination processes involving government counterparts.
• Familiarity with decentralized governance, local government systems, and intergovernmental planning mechanisms.
• Experience working across sectors or disciplines to support integrated planning and programme convergence.
• Knowledge of other local languages of the hub coverage area will be an asset.

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergencies will be an asset.

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

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.

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 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 are conditional on the selected candidate’s willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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, candidates from under-represented ethnic groups, 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.

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.

Visa residence requirements: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa or work authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service categories.

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.