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,

At UNICEF COLOMBIA we work to generate positive changes in the lives of children and adolescents. Our current work plan runs from 2025 to the end of 2028 and aims to ensure that children and adolescents enjoy their rights through equitable access to social services, improve their learning and live protected from all types of violence.

We work throughout Colombia, with special focus on the departments where children have fewer opportunities: Chocó, Cauca, Nariño, Vichada, Guainia, La Guajira, Arauca and Norte de Santander.

For more information visit the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc3OopCmEpM

How can you make a difference?

The CEED officer provides professional technical assistance and support for programme design, planning and implementation, management and evaluation of programme/project activities, data analysis and progress reporting, in support of programme goals and objectives.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

1. Knowledge Management for Programmes

• Contribute to country programmes by supporting knowledge management through providing professional assistance in data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting as well as participation in the Programme Knowledge Network system of  "lessons learned" and other corporate-level databases.
• Participate in information exchange with partners as well as in the development of training and orientation material by providing professional technical assistance.

2. Programme Development and Management

• Provide professional technical assistance in the preparation of the Situation Analysis for programme development and management by collecting and analyzing data and monitoring implementation progress.
• Contribute to the identification of critical intervention points and measures by administering a consistent and transparent monitoring system; analyse country level socio-political-economic trends and their implications for ongoing programmes and projects. Draft or prepare programme work plans as required. Propose adjustments/changes in work plans. Propose programme recommendations for inclusion in formal programme documentation, and new approaches, methods and practices for supervisor.

3. Optimum Use of Program Funds

• Monitors programme implementation progress and compliance.  Monitors the allocation and disbursement of programme funds, making sure that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated. Takes appropriate recommendations or actions to optimize use of programme funds.

4. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations

• Undertakes field visits to monitor and assess programme implementation and decides on required corrective action.
• Collaborate with partners to carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation and participate in the major programme evaluation exercises in consultation with the Representative, the Operations Officer, the Evaluation Officer and others to improve efficiency and quality of programme delivery. Participate in annual sector review meetings with government counterparts.  Collaborate and prepare annual program status reports in a timely manner, as required.

5.  Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach

• Support a rights-based programmes approach in the formulation of programme goals and objectives and development of strategies and implementation frameworks. Collaborate with partners and assist in the strengthening of quality child rights-based programmes through consistent and effective planning, design, implementation, monitoring and/or evaluation of programmes and projects. Contribute to coherence, synergy and added value to the programming planning and design processes using a results-based management approach to programme planning and design.
• Provide professional technical assistance in preparing viable recommendations on project implementation, alternative approaches, new initiatives and optimal utilization of resources that contribute effectively to the fulfilment of the rights of children and women.

6.  National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability

• Provide government authorities with technical assistance and support in planning and organizing training programmes for the purpose of capacity building and programme sustainability.
• Promote and maintain the building and reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners by identifying these partners and partnerships and providing continuous support, coordination and collaboration for sustainability.

7. Rights Perspective and Advocacy at the National, Community and Family Levels

• Analyze programme related issues and policies from a children's and women's rights perspective and advocacy at the community and family levels for elevating credibility in national policy debates. Promote the organization goals of UNICEF through active advocacy and communication.

8.  Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration.

• Facilitate partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development data and information, exchange information on programme/project status and implementation and movement/distribution of supplies. Establish and maintain linkage to the Regional Programme Knowledge Network to ensure the availability of current and accurate programme data.
• Collaborate with the Operations Section to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of programming endeavours and to coordinate financial and supply management requirements and accountability.  Approve allocation and disbursement of funds ensuring they are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated in accordance with the programme budget allotments (PBA).

FIND THE COMPLETE JOB DESCRIPTION HERE:

 Programme Officer Level 1.pdf

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

The following minimum requirements:

• University degree in Professional in Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Administration, Public Policy, Social Development, and Community Development. Relevant fields.
• Minimum of one (1) year of professional work experience at the national and international level in the design, implementation, and monitoring of programs and projects in developing countries, focused on climate change adaptation and mitigation, environmental management, sustainable energy transition, and disaster risk reduction (DRR).
  • Work in developing countries
  • Familiarity with emergency contexts
  • Proven experience in providing technical and strategic support to governments in the formulation and strengthening of public policies, national plans, and strategies related to climate change, energy transition, environmental management, and DRR, promoting multisectoral and sustainable approaches.
  • Direct experience in the development of climate rationales, technical and strategic planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects related to climate change, renewable energy, environmental degradation prevention, and disaster risk management.
  • Significant experience in promoting child rights and gender equity-sensitive approaches in climate adaptation and mitigation actions, including the development of tools and methodologies for mainstreaming these perspectives into policies and projects.
  • Leadership in processes that ensure meaningful participation of children and adolescents in environmental and climate governance spaces, promoting their role as agents of change in climate action and intergenerational justice.
• Proven ability to structure and formulate climate change adaptation projects with a focus on children and community resilience.
• Demonstrated capacity to coordinate technical and political processes involving multiple stakeholders, including government entities, cooperation partners, the private sector, civil society, and community organizations.
• Familiarity with key international frameworks and conventions, including the UNFCCC, the Sendai Framework, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and other multilateral instruments related to climate action, biodiversity, and resilience.
• Strong analytical, advocacy, and strategic communication skills, with the ability to present technical results to diverse audiences, influence decision-makers, and position programmatic priorities at national and international levels.
• Specialized knowledge of climate finance mechanisms (such as the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, GEF, among others).
• Extensive knowledge of the climate finance landscape and donor priorities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LACRO), as well as opportunities for resource mobilization for initiatives focused on children's rights.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships (II)
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (II)
• Drive to achieve results for impact (II)
• Innovates and embraces change (II)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (II)
• Thinks and acts strategically (II)
• Works collaboratively with others (II)
• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (I)

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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

At UNICEF Colombia, we value diversity and inclusion in our team. As part of the selection process, we would like to ensure that all candidates have equal opportunities. Please take a moment to let us know if you have a disability and what supports you require for your participation. This allows us to know what reasonable accommodations you require to ensure that you are able to participate fully and equally.

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.

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

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.