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 climate education

Building on the successful experience of the 2025 UNICEF Summer School on Climate, UNICEF in Turkmenistan aims to continue strengthening youth engagement as a key pillar of climate action, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and emergency preparedness. The 2025 Summer School demonstrated the strong interest and potential of young people to become informed advocates and active contributors to climate resilience by equipping participants with essential knowledge on climate change, practical leadership skills, and opportunities to design and implement community-based initiatives. As climate change intensifies and climate-related crises become more frequent and complex, it is increasingly important to invest in educating and empowering the younger generation to understand emerging challenges, adapt to their impacts, and actively participate in shaping sustainable solutions.

How can you make a difference? 

Recognizing education and youth engagement as critical catalysts for addressing global climate challenges and supporting a just transition, UNICEF and Government partners are committed to expanding climate change learning opportunities within higher education institutions and further strengthening youth leadership in climate action. To build on the momentum and achievements of the 2025 programme, UNICEF in Turkmenistan is seeking to engage a consultant to support the conceptualization and delivery of the Youth Climate Summer School 2026, as well as the implementation of youth-led, community-oriented small-scale projects involving both current participants and alumni of the UNICEF Summer School. The consultancy is required for six months (June–November 2026) and will include a structured timeline covering training sessions, development of the youth statement for LCOY, coordination of youth-led initiatives, and facilitation of an alumni reunion.

Scope of Work includes:

• Design the overall concept, curriculum, and implementation plan for the UNICEF Youth Climate Summer School 2026, including learning modules, activities, and facilitation materials,
• Lead participant recruitment and selection process, including outreach, application review, interviews, and final selection,
• Facilitate key training sessions, workshops, simulations, and youth engagement activities throughout the programme,
• Support development of the National Youth Climate Statement for COP31,
• Provide mentoring and oversight for youth-led climate project development, implementation, and monitoring,
• Support the design and implementation of youth-led community projects by facilitating cooperation between young participants, alumni, and relevant NGOs, fostering partnerships that strengthen civic engagement, local climate action, and the sustainability of youth-driven initiatives.

 If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  ToR NC Climate Summer School.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: University Degree in Social Sciences, Education, Environment Studies, International Cooperation and Management.
• Work Experience: 
• Proven experience in conducting events related to climate change, environmental sustainability and youth engagement
• Past experience in conceptualizing and delivering climate/ environment focused summer school, eco-camps.
• List of record on implementing and coordinating youth-led community-oriented projects.
• Links to the portfolio of work/articles, any other materials developed in the area of climate change
• Language Requirements: Knowledge of Turkmen, Russian and English languages

Desirables:

• Familiarity with UNICEF mandate. Knowledge or exposure to UNICEF/UN work as young participant in activities, or in volunteer capacity will be an advantage
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

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 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.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] 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.