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 voice. 

In the Pacific, 40% of the population are under 18 years of age. The right for all children to participate and be heard in matters which affect them is indicated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (article 12-17). The CRC also includes an article regarding the right of children with disabilities to participate. However, the vulnerabilities and needs of adolescents are distinctly different from those of children and therefore often remain unaddressed. Strengthening participation and civic engagement of children and adolescents is key to UNICEF’s work and is enshrined in the 2022-2025 Strategic plan Goal Area 2 and the UNICEF Pacific Gender and Adolescent Strategy. These goals simultaneously contribute to inclusive, peaceful and environmentally sustainable communities.

In 2025 UNICEF has established a dedicated Pacific Adolescent Boys Advisory Group “Young Pasifika Wayfinders” which will be an essential platform for engaging adolescent boys in building meaningful participation in the region. UNICEF takes a life-course approach to adolescent development and participation and engages a diverse group of adolescent members through an advisory role. The Group involves adolescent boys in UNICEF’s programme design, planning and implementation. Specifically, to engage them on topics and issues which affect them (adolescent mental health, gender equality and positive masculinities, help seeking behaviors, bullying, online safety, climate change, bullying prevention, healthy relationships).

A key purpose of the Young Pasifika Wayfinders is to improve child-centered and child-led programming in the Pacific through co-design and consultation with adolescents. The group informs UNICEF’s prospective programme design and implementation to address and counteract the harmful gender norms socialized during adolescence. In line with the UNICEF mandate, Gender Action plan and Pacific Gender & Adolescent strategy, UNICEF co-designs evidence-based initiatives which promote positive masculinities amongst children and adolescents. The members engage with UNICEF to co-create innovative new ideas that connect with Pacific adolescents through online platforms and social media spaces. The group members receive mentorship and training through a series of workshops to critically reflect and explore several key themes: gender socialization, harmful norms, deconstructing masculinities, online safety and social media, healthy relationships, and mental wellbeing. They are also engaged in youth advocacy efforts around these topics.

 

How can you make a difference? 

The consultant will play a key role in coordinating the YPW group. This includes:

• Having monthly update meetings with the UNICEF Child Protection & GBV Specialist to provide updates on progress, challenges, and opportunities.
• The facilitation of online monthly meetings, bi-annual in-person workshops & providing consistent communication to members and partners.
• Ensuring the advisory group operates in accordance with its Terms of Reference and with UNICEF’s Safeguarding Policy and procedures.
• Supporting the co-facilitation and development of participatory workshop modalities and participatory group work for adolescent members, which includes critical reflection on gender socialization, masculinities, and adolescent mental health.
• Development of creative workshop formats which provide skills training to adolescent members on advocacy, civic participation, public speaking and youth leadership.
• Providing technical support to the YPW members on the development of Pacific positive masculinity frameworks and culturally appropriate positive masculinity initiatives and advocacy content in consultation and collaboration with adolescent boys.
• Supporting the development of monitoring and evaluation processes for the Pacific Adolescent Boys Advisory group, in line with the UNICEF Gender and Adolescent Action Plan and UNICEF Pacific Gender & Adolescent Strategy. You should have strong organizational experience in managing events, regional workshops, including liaison and communication with venues, travel companies and partners.
• Supporting YPW members to co-design adolescent advocacy initiatives and ‘call to actions such as social media campaigns (in line with the YPW annual Advocacy action plan). As well as supporting the review and adaptation of UNICEF IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) materials for adolescents. You should have experience in facilitating adolescent participation and a strong understanding of Pacific youth and gender identities, masculinities and gender socialization. You should also have in-depth experience in child safeguarding, informed consent processes, child participation, child-led codesign practices and adolescent participatory approaches.
• Ensuring YPW members are linked to UNICEF programmatic section initiatives across the WASH, Education, Health, Social Policy, Child Protection and Social Behaviour Change sections. You will also work closely with the UNICEF communications team to ensure YPW advocacy efforts and social media content are created and aligned with UNICEF’s approach and communications strategy. u
• Building and supporting partnerships with other Pacific adolescent/youth participation organizations and ensure continued collaboration with SPC’s Pacific Girl Reference Group.

Please refer to the  TOR - National Consultant_ Young Pasifika Wayfinders Coordinator.pdf for further information on the deliverables and the timelines. 

 

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

Education: 

• Bachelors degree in Social Work, Education, Gender, Psychology, social sciences, community development or relevant degree.

Work Experience: 

• At least 5 years of professional experience in Gender, Social Work, Community development, Child Protection, Adolescent development, gender equality and gender socialization.
• Understanding of adolescent and youth issues across Pacific Island country contexts.
• Experience in group work facilitation with adolescent participants including leading interactive, engaging and creative group work.
• Experience in working with adolescent boys, youth males, on topics related to gender identity, gender socialization, masculinities, mental wellbeing and self-esteem.
• Experience designing and facilitating youth participatory frameworks, participatory youth action methodologies.
• Lived experience in working within the Pacific region and cultural context.
• Knowledge of gender and development, human rights and children’s issues across the Pacific.
• Knowledge and understanding of GBV primary prevention interventions related to gender/social norms change
• Experience with safeguarding risk assessments, child participation standards and child protection protocols.

Skills:

• Analytical skills
• Facilitation/training
• Ability to persuade, influence, negotiate, advocate
• Inter-personal skills, relating with people, team work, networking
• Adaptability, flexibility, cultural sensitivity, tact, diplomacy, patience, respectful attitude
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly and in jargon-free language. Skilled in presenting information in a structured, logical, and persuasive manner tailored to diverse audiences. Strong analytical, writing, and editorial capabilities
• Deep understanding of Pacific social and cultural contexts. Applicants from Pacific Island Countries are highly encouraged to apply
• Strong communication skills are highly desirable (social media management, creating photo and video content, and drafting press releases etc.)

Language:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of 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.

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 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.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates 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.

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.