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, education.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, ineverything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equitystrategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates thiscommitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have anopportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias orfavoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens —addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

The Education Commission and the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment came together to create the Education Outcomes Fund (EOF), an initiative to improve the education of 10 million children and young people. EOF aims to pool $1 billion in aid and philanthropic funds, to support governments to pay for results in education and youth employment over the next decade. It will partner with governments around the world to strengthen education systems, harnessing the capacity and capability of partners to improve the effectiveness of expenditure and help deliver on the promise of quality education for all.

EOF is hosted by UNICEF. The Fund is administered under UNICEF’s financial, human resources and administrative rules and regulations, while operations are run by the Fund’s own independent governance structure that provides strategic guidance and oversight to its investments. EOF’s day-to-day activities are carried out by a Secretariat under the direction of the EOF Director, supported by the Leadership Team (LT.)

The Programme Specialist will play a leading role in EOF’s Program team to support the implementation of EOF’s strategic plan.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the leadership of the Programme Manager, the Programme Specialist is responsible for overseeing a portfolio of programs in EOF’s Program team. This may be a sectoral portfolio such as Early Childhood Care and Education, Basic Education, or Skills for Employment, or it may be a portfolio of programs at the same stage (for example, all programs in design, or all programs in implementation). Program design encompasses overseeing program scoping and program design, and implementation involves overseeing program implementation and yearly evaluations.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

1. Lead the design and implementation of EOF’s programs in the assigned portfolio

Duties:
• Oversee, within the assigned portfolio, the full program life cycle of EOF’s programs, including concept development, detailed design, contracting, contract management and evaluation.
• Oversee the work of programme staff and consultants to ensure high-quality program outputs such as program objectives, theory of change and finance mechanisms.
• Provide timely and effective expert advice, guidance and input into Outcomes Based Financing strategy, planning, implementation and evaluation.
• Responsible for certification of allocation and disbursement of funds, determining contracting and cash needs to ensure streamlined programme delivery.

2. Advocacy, networking and partnership building for the programs in their portfolio

Duties:
• Support the Programme Manager (P4) with EOF’s engagement with senior stakeholders across governments, donors, impact investors, implementors and others to develop EOF’s program pipeline and lead program design and implementation.
• Develop proposals for governments, donors and investors together with EOF’s partnerships team about EOF’s programs to discuss the potential benefits of a program with an innovative finance mechanism.
• Advocate externally for the EOF approach to innovative financing and influence discussions in the education sector through public speaking engagements and external writing such as blogs and op-eds.

3. Organizational development

Duties:
• As a senior member of EOF’s team, contribute to defining the vision and strategy for the organization and its annual goals and ensure accountability for the delivery of the annual goals.
• Support the Programme Manager (P4) to establish the section’s annual work plan. Set priorities and targets and monitor work progress to ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.

4. Management support

Duties:
• Supervise Consultants (and potentially Staff positions in future), by providing them with clear objectives and goals, direction and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
• Support the Programme Manager (P4) to develop a growth plan for EOF’s program team, how the team are allocated across programs, recruitment needs and plans for the professional development of team members.
• Support the Programme Manager (P4) to develop a positive working environment and high performance of the program team through direct supervision of team members, chairing program team meetings and retreats as needed.

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

Minimum requirements:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: economics, political science, finance, education, international development, international relations, or a related 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.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in project management, program design and implementation, education programming, international development or data analysis.
• Experience working in a developing country and with Governments is required.
• Experience with the design and implementation of Results-Based Financing programs is required.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) is an asset, and knowledge of Portuguese is also 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 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:

Please note that this position is temporarily based in Brussels, Belgium, with a future relocation anticipated. Until the new location is finalized, the selected candidate may be permitted to commence duties remotely as an interim arrangement, or work from Brussels. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply with the understanding that remote work is temporary, and relocation to the finalized location will be required. 

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. For this position, eligible and suitable male candidates from the following regions are encouraged to apply: Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, West and Central Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa, and Middle East and North Africa. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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.