Programme Specialist

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.

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For every child, HOPE

The work to strategically leverage the role of the business sector to achieve, accelerate and scale up results for children is a core strategy of UNICEF programming, advocacy, and private sector agenda.

The Business Engagement and Child Rights (BECR) Team in Programme Group (PG) oversees the following work:

Maximizes the role of business as a stakeholder, a consideration, and a strategy in programming, by leveraging of the multiple ways in which business can impact on, contribute to, and influence child rights outcomes. Engages with and on the world of business in a way that is driven by and aligned with the child rights agenda, programme priorities in support of delivering results for children.

Strategically the BECR Team’s work focuses on providing global leadership and coordination on the following:

Preventing, mitigating and transforming adverse business impact on child rights through policy work, evidence generation and by influencing the business environment (referred to as Child Rights and Business, or CRB) Leveraging programme-led technical collaborations and engagement with business through strategy development, engagement scoping and opportunity cultivation Integration of Business Engagement strategies through policy, guidance and technical tools and systems. Build institutional knowledge and capacity on the different UNICEF business engagement strategies and workstreams across UNICEF (HQ, RO and co), particularly among programme, planning and advocacy networks, and across National Committees.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Senior Adviser, Child Rights and Business, the Programme Specialist (Digital CRB) will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies, policies and programs that promote and protect the rights of children in the digital environment.

The position supports UNICEF National Committees, Regional, and Country Offices to engage industry, policy makers, and other stakeholders on the government duty to protect and business responsibility to respect children’s rights, specifically in the context the digital environment. The position works closely with relevant teams across UNICEF Divisions including PG/Child Protection, Office of Research, Office of Innovation and ICTD in developing evidence, policy guidance, technical support and capacity building as it relates to children’s rights in the digital environment.

The position will strengthen knowledge management and lead external stakeholder engagement, including for resource mobilization as relevant, including in support of CO programme implementation.

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Deliver on existing commitments relevant to the CRB/Digital work plan, internally and externally.

Including but not limited to managing the ongoing Child Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) and disclosures project on child rights in the digital environment, Responsible Digital Marketing Project, the Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) project as well as oversee and ensure strategic roll-out of the UNICEF Interdivisional COP Framework, the ITU/UNICEF Training modules, and the B-Tech Paper on Child Rights. This also involves the provision of strategic, logistical and programmatic support to senior management and other UNICEF colleagues in relation to engagement with the tech industry, regulators and relevant business stakeholders.

Further programme integration and provide wider organizational support

Provide technical support to HQ Divisions, ROs, COs, National Committees and other HQ teams to further drive momentum on digital CRB and programme integration. This requires liaising and working closely with programme teams in HQ, ROs and COs to embed CRB approached in programme strategies and including advocacy messaging on child rights in the digital environment. This includes existing priority areas (, digital CRB, CO model strategy on industry engagement) and advancing emerging themes ( Generative AI, etc.), as relevant.

Facilitate internal capacity building and knowledge exchange.

Duties include coordinating regular information exchange and experience sharing meetings (, CRB Digital Working Group); regularly liaising with ROs and relevant COs; responding to requests for technical support; and capturing case studies of impactful UNICEF programming, partnerships and advocacy work and initiatives at country-level.

Supports the positioning of UNICEF and child rights in relevant external agendas and events on business, human rights, and technology.

This involves engaging with relevant stakeholders including governments, regional bodies, decision makers, industry, foundations, civil society organisations in support of advancing child rights in the digital environment through research. publications, events, corporate benchmarks, reporting frameworks etc.

Support resource mobilization and strengthen UNICEF’s engagement with donors.

Drive content development, proposal writing and donor engagement (incl. follow-up) to support resource mobilization in support of digital CRB and programmatic work at CO-level. This requires working closely with relevant Natcom and HQ, ROs, and COs to develop tailored and targeted proposals, and engaging with relevant UNICEF colleagues before and during donor engagement.

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

The following minimum requirements:

Education: An advanced university degree (equivalent to a Master’s) from an accredited institution is required in social sciences, development, business, international law, human rights, child rights or another relevant technical field. Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in business and human rights, children’s rights and business, sustainability or related area including at the international level. Skills  (required) : A technical background in child rights or human rights approaches to business impact.Demonstrated experience of leading and coordinating advocacy efforts.Experience and demonstrable skills in producing, editing, and uploading online content.Ability to work independently and to meet tight deadlines.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

The following desirables:

Experience of UNICEF & UN. At least two years of experience with a focus on child rights or associated programming. Experience of advocating with industry platforms, investment institutions, governments and NGOs or within the corporate sector, including coordinating advocacy with others, would be additional assets. Experience of developing or implementing practical human rights reporting and due diligence mechanisms for children, especially for business. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language.

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 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.

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. 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. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates from all nationalities, religions, genders, and cultural backgrounds  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 (, 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.

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