Humanitarian Policy Specialist – P3

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to 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, the right to a Future

How can you make a difference?

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. 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.

Job organizational context: The Humanitarian Access Specialist will report to the Humanitarian Policy for Complex and High Threat Environments team lead, as part of Humanitarian Policy Section (HPS) in UNICEF’s Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS).

Purpose for the job: The Humanitarian Access Specialist will form part of the Complex and High Threat Environments (CHTE) team and provide technical support on UNICEF’s humanitarian access workstream to relevant Country, Regional, and Headquarters Offices.

The Humanitarian Access Specialist (TA, P3, 4 months) will work closely with the CHTE team members (Humanitarian Affairs Officer, Access ERT) and the broader Humanitarian Policy Section, as well as with peers from the Office of Security Coordination (OSC), the Risk, Analysis, and Preparedness Section (RAPS), and the Department of People and Culture (DPC).

The incumbent will provide humanitarian access expertise in the areas of policy and guidance development, development and delivery of specialized training for UNICEF staff and partners, inter-agency representation and influencing, and technical support to the field – in line with the existing vision, work plan, and planned activities to institutionalize and mainstream humanitarian access across UNICEF operations and programs, focusing on reaching children in hard-to-reach areas in situations considered complex and high threat environments.

This temporary assignment is in support of a parental leave cover.

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

1. Develop and deliver training modules on humanitarian access and related humanitarian policy topics for UNICEF staff and partners; and engage with DPC on the integration of access contents in overall organizational humanitarian learning initiatives. (25%)

2. Support the drafting, consultation, finalization, and dissemination of institutional policy and guidance products on humanitarian access and related humanitarian policy issues, with a focus on operational and applied policy briefs. (25%)

3. Represent, in close collaboration with other team members, UNICEF in relevant technical-level inter-agency coordination platforms (humanitarian access, civil-military coordination, program criticality) and ensure UNICEF consultations, inputs, and dissemination. (25%)

4. Provide technical support on humanitarian access and related humanitarian policy issues to UNICEF Field, Country, and Regional Offices – as requested – both remotely and in-person, as need arise. (25%)

5. Support the team and section on any other humanitarian policy support requests, including team coverage as needed.

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

Minimum requirements

• • 1. 1. Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Law – International, International Public Policy, Political Science , Humanitarian Assistance, International Relations, Humanitarian Law, Conflict Analysis, Risk Management, Intelligence Analysis, Diplomatic Studies and/or Political Science. and any other related fields.
       2. Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Humanitarian Assistance, International Development ,International Governmental Organization ,International Non-Governmental Organizational, Humanitarian Assistance, Social Policy, Humanitarian affairs, International humanitarian law, Humanitarian principles, Child rights, UN Security Management System, Humanitarian system and operations .
       3. Skills: Strategic thinking, Partnership building, Change management, Risk management, Policy development. Conflict analysis, Negotiation skills
       4. Language Requirements : Fluency in English is required.

Desirables

1. 1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language
   2. Additional UN language, Policy development experience, Training delivery experience,Inter agency representation, Field office support
   3. 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

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

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 tendersglobal.net 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 promoting 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 male candidates from programme countries 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 staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to internal staff only).

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

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.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

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