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. 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, A Future 

To support education and employment of Ukrainian adolescents and youth (aged 10 to 24) inside and outside Ukraine, UNICEF developed a regional initiative – PATHWAYS – that aims to provide them with opportunities for continued education, skills building and a successful transition to employment. The three pathways are:

1. Access to and completion of formal secondary education and/or TVET: Support students to enroll and remain in secondary education or TVET, gaining critical knowledge and skills for their well-being and future employment.

2. First job opportunities: Partnering with private and public sectors to provide (paid) internships or apprenticeships for secondary school/TVET students in industries (including green jobs) that are aligned with adolescents’ professional aspirations to prepare them for their future transition to the labour market.

3. Flexible learning and upskilling: For youth currently in employment, create opportunities for additional skilling and/or continuation of their regular schooling while working

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision of the Regional Education Adviser and with dotted line to Regional ADAP Adviser, the Programme Specialist will be accountable to support the effective implementation and expansion of the Pathways Initiative in refugee hosting countries as well as Ukraine.

Specifically, the Programme Coordinator (Pathways):

• Provides technical support and assistance in the implementation of the Pathways Initiative to ensure its system strengthening orientation and sustainability.
• Coordinates implementation of the initiative across countries, including monitoring and reporting.
• Ensures seamless cross boarder engagement with Ukraine education and ADAP programmes.
• Supports partnership development and coordination with PFP. 
• Serves as RO focal point in the engagement with Skills Alliance, led by BMZ and Ukraine Ministry of Economy.

The Specialist contributes to the achievement of concrete and sustainable results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

1.           Management and advisory support

• Provide advice in establishing the annual work plan for Pathways Initiative, including developing strategies, determining priorities, and performance measurements.
• Coordinate work progress monitoring and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards, and report critical issues for timely action.
• Provide technical assistance and advice to colleagues on all aspects of programming and implementation to enable them to achieve performance objectives

2.           Programme development and planning

• Advise on the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the education and ADAP programmes to ensure that current and comprehensive data on education and adolescents issues is available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy, advocacy, intervention, and development efforts on the Pathways initiative.
• Advise in setting priorities, strategies, design, and implementation plans. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency, and delivery.
• Participate in strategic programme discussion on the planning of education and adapt programmes. Formulate, design, and prepare programme proposals for the initiative, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and Country Programme and coherence/integration with regional strategies and national priorities, plans, and competencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans for the sector using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with internal colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national priorities to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and to ensure integration, coherence, and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.

3.           Programme management, monitoring, and quality control of results

• Plan and collaborate with internal colleagues and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence, and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector on education programmes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths, and weaknesses in programme management.
• Identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits and surveys, and exchange information with stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems, and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Manage the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative, and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity, ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme reports for management, donors, and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

4.           Advisory services and technical support

• Provide technical advice to country offices on policies, strategies, best practices and approaches on education in emergencies and refugee response, with focus on inclusive education and multiple pathways to learning to support programme development planning, implementation and delivery of results.
• Coordinate and ensure the availability of technical experts (with Regional Office/HQ) to ensure timely support throughout all stages of programming.
• Participate in strategic discussions to influence policy and agenda setting for provision of education for refugee children, education in emergencies, post conflict reconstruction, etc.
• Prepare policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information, and consideration.
• Participate in country discussions on education emergency preparedness, programming, and contingency planning to ensure proactive and appropriate responses are in place to meet the onset of emergencies nationally or other designated locations.

5.           Advocacy, networking, and partnership building

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through networking and advocacy with UN system agency partners, donors, internationally recognized institutions, NGOs, funding organizations, research institutes and private sector to reinforce cooperation and/or pursue opportunities to promote goals and achieve sustainable and broad results on education.
• Prepare communication strategies and implementation plans and activities for maximum communication impact and outreach to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances for sustainable results and support fund raising for UNICEF emergency interventions.

6.           Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches, and good practices for sustainable education programme initiatives through advocacy and technical advisory services.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, introduce and implement best and cutting-edge practices on education management and information systems. Institutionalize and disseminate best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development of policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.
• Organize, plan, and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote sustainable results on education related programme s/projects.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, International Finance, Public Relations, Media, Communication, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or another relevant technical field

* A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

• Work Experience: At least 8 (eight) years of professional work experience. Proven experience in large scale programme coordination.
• Skills: Developing country work experience.
  Field experience /familiarity with Emergency desirable.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is 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

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 is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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.

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.

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.