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 ... innovate

The Office of Innovation (OoI) works to catalyze UNICEF and partners’ expertise and resources to solve key challenges facing children and young people, with a view to sourcing, accelerating and scaling the most effective solutions to accelerate progress towards achieving the SDGs. To achieve this the Office of Innovation uses an innovation portfolio management approach and leverages support from a range of stakeholders including from intergovernmental, multilateral, private sector, young people and non-governmental fora (think tank, academia).

Youth & ADAP, Gender Equality and Emerging Area Portfolio

The Youth & ADAP, Gender Equality and Emerging Area Portfolio is leading on cross-cutting issues to support and empower youth all over the world with innovative solutions to solve very specific problem statements as follows. On the Gender Equality lens, UNICEF’s Office of Innovation and Gender Programme Group have identified key solutions connecting gender and technology for every girl to thrive, and benefit from skills, tools, policies, programmes, opportunities and access to innovation and technology in order for them to become the architects of tomorrow’s digital world. This particular TA post will be situated under the Gender Equality lens of the portfolio and specifically under pillar 2 of Game Changers Coalition working on integrating the UNICEF Responsible Innovation in Technology (RITEC) learnings into the Coalition’s work while amplifying its reach, its engagement and its advocacy footprint.

Game Changers Coalition

The Game Changers Coalition convenes strategic stakeholders with a shared passion to close the gender gap in the tech and gaming industries and in girls’ Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) skills. Through the Coalition, UNICEF is teaming up with private companies, civil society organizations, governments and young leaders to equip and empower the largest generation of 600 million adolescent girls with the 21st century skills they want and need to become the future leaders, coders, and designers of a more inclusive, diverse, and secure digital future for all of us. The Coalition operates on three pillars:

• Pillar 1: Build her Foundation 
• Pillar 2: Build the Game
• Pillar 3: Build the Global Network

How can you make a difference?? 

This role will support the Pillar 2 of the Game Changers Coalition under the supervision of the Innovation Manager (GE, Adolescents & Youth Portfolio). The curriculum design, delivery and overall experimentation and pilot phase of the Game Changers Coalition, under Pillar 1, is already completed, and the GCC is now entering its scaling phase where Pillars 2 and 3 are going to be at the forefront and pillar 1 will develop an online version of the curriculum. The successful candidate will act as the focal point for the RITEC design work and will ensure timely and quality delivery of the initiative to prepare the draft of a new proposal to the Lego Foundation after the six-month period of the TA will run out (for example with recommendations, principles design development/ adaptation/ enhancement/ upgrade, training material and monitoring and evaluation tools and initial draft of content).

If you love designing, playing, learning but also planning long term change and creating engaging and meaningful industry transformations, this TA is for you. We expect that you will ensure the latest design techniques and technologies are incorporated into the work of Game Changers Coalition Pillar 2 and are adapted to adolescent girls' needs in particular but also to diversity and inclusion for all youth of all gender all across the world.

The post will be an integral function to the conception and delivery of innovative and fast-moving initiatives in the realm of responsible technology for children, involving collaboration with a broad variety of stakeholders and partners. Under the supervision of Innovation Manager (GE, Adolescents & Youth Portfolio), the Programme Specialist will play a pivotal role in Building Pillar 2 of Game Changers Coalition to become an undeniable part of UNICEF’s global influencing and advocacy efforts on children’s well-being and digital play, furthering UNICEF-led research findings under the Responsible Innovation in Technology (RITEC) project. The Programme Specialist will also have to complete additional duties in relation to supporting existing workstreams on promoting child rights and well-being in online video games.

The Programme Specialist will have the duty to amplify Game Changers Coalition industry tools and resources, primarily the RITEC Design Toolkit, knowledge management activities and trainings, including internal communication, and grant reporting on the achievement of concrete and sustainable contributions to national and international efforts to create a digital environment that both respects children’s rights and supports their well-being.

SCOPE OF WORK

The UNICEF’s Office of Innovation is welcoming the RITEC research under Game Changers Coalition Pillar 2 and the scope of work of this TA will be to connect and amplify RITEC work as part of the broader Game Changers Coalition agenda. New research from UNICEF Innocenti and produced in partnership with the University of Sheffield, New York University, City University New York and the Queensland University of Technology explores the question: can video games contribute to the well-being of children and, if so, how? This research looked to the voices of the young, based on the scientific study of hundreds of children in six countries over many months. The research found something remarkable: digital games can indeed contribute to the well-being of children. They can allow children to experience a sense of control, to have freedom of choice, to experience mastery and feelings of achievement. Digital games can support children in experiencing and regulating emotions and help them feel connected to others and manage social connections. Children can imagine different possibilities, act on original ideas, make things, and explore, construct and express facets of themselves and others with the help of digital games. But in order to support children and contribute to their well-being, games must be designed with their well-being in mind.

 This research was produced as part of the Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) project. This project was co-founded with the LEGO Group and funded by the LEGO Foundation and aims to create practical tools for businesses and governments that will empower them to put the well-being of children at the center of digital design. The research forms the basis of RITEC’s second report. The first report, released in 2022, revealed a newly developed well-being framework for children. Made up of eight child-centric well-being outcomes, the framework is a first step towards helping tech developers and policymakers develop a common understanding of how digital experiences can positively influence aspects of child well-being. Given these results, the TA will work on integrating the research outcomes into an implementation plan for a new proposal to the Lego Foundation and into concrete recommendation for next steps with the existing partnership of Game Changers Coalition with the Global Video Games Coalition GVGC.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. RITEC Design Toolkit amplification and engagement
2. Capacity building and knowledge exchange for Game Changers Coalition Pillar 2, including RITEC
3. Awareness raising and advocacy

UNICEF is dedicated to providing flexible, and family-friendly work environment that enables staff to effectively balance their personal and professional lives. For this specific role, while the duty station is Stockholm, Sweden, flexibility for teleworking or remote work arrangements may be considered, as applicable.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  Terms of Reference - Programme Specialist, P-3.docx

 

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

• A master’s level university degree in one of the following fields is required: business, international development, human rights, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.
• Minimum 5 years of work experience in one of the following is required: designing digital products or services for children or children’s rights in the digital environment.
• Experience working in an international environment on topics related to responsible technology, children’s rights and well-being in the digital environment, or experience within the technology sector will be highly valued.
• Strong research background and writing skills are required.  
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. 
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 

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 (1)

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact (1)

(4) Innovates and embraces change (1)

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

(6) Thinks and acts strategically (1)

(7) Works collaboratively with others (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. 

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.

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.

In case of any question, please contact us at swe-ooi-recruitment@unicef.org