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, education…

UNGEI is a global partnership for gender equality in and through education. Our mandate is to catalyze and galvanize action locally, nationally, regionally and global for girls’ education and gender equality in education. We bring together diverse partners to support Ministries of Education and other national actors to develop and implement bold commitments to gender equality in education. We convene regional global conversations and action for girls’ education and gender equality in education, including through the leadership of young feminist activists around the world. UNGEI partners include multilaterals, regional umbrella and intergovernmental organizations, national and global civil society organizations and young feminist leaders.

The UNGEI Secretariat is governed by UNICEF policies of employment. We strive to uphold feminist and anti-racist principles in how we work and offer flexible work arrangements.

The Gender at the Centre Initiative (GCI) is a multi-stakeholder initiative to promote gender equality in and through education in Africa. It is jointly coordinated by UNGEI and IIEP-UNESCO. GCI works with Ministries of Education in partner countries, a CSO Consortium, technical partners and donors to collectively take action for gender equality in education.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision and guidance of the GCI Lead, and in close collaboration with the GCI Project Manager and the UNGEI Programme Associate, the Programme Associate will support the GCI team with administrative and operational services. The Programme Associate will be responsible for the administrative management of institutional contracts, PCAs and contracts with consultants, fund transfers to CSOs and UNICEF country offices, logistical support of in-country activities, manage travel for GCI staff, and other related tasks. She/he/they will be responsible for executing a broad variety of routine tasks and some specialized for GCI.

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

Fund Monitoring

• Monitors financial expenditures of the GCI team, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations, keeping supervisor informed and advised on actions for decision/follow up.
• In close collaboration with the GCI Project Manager, provides support on budget revision/preparation, implementation status, determination position of funding utilization, operational, and financial closure.
• Prepares and maintains records, documents and control plans for the budget monitoring of project/programme implementation.
• Carries out transactions in VISION pertaining to grants for his/her section such as registering grant allotments and tracking expiring programme grants.

Grant Management

• Facilitates establishing and processing contracts with donors.
• Complies with UNICEF procedures to meet internal donor deadlines for interim and final narrative donor reports.
• Works with Public Partnerships Division for amending grant agreements and extending grants in UNICEF’s system via no cost extensions and extensions with additional funding.

Procurement

• Guides managers in the process of PCA/SSAs in line with the policies and guidance issued by FRG, supply division and DHR.
• Provide technical support to CSO as needed on UNICEF processes and forms.
• Facilitates the processing of contracts for consultants and external partners that provide a service to GCI. This includes preparing and completing necessary forms and templates, and making necessary logistical arrangements.
• Manages fund transfers to GCI civil society partners and UNICEF country offices.
• Maintains up-to-date vendor lists, partners, and consultant rosters.
• Uploads electronic files and verifies results to destination system.
• Responds to client transaction status and other inquiries

Communications & Workflow

• Facilitates the communications and workflow of the GCI team to enhance the efficiency and timeliness of operations and outputs.
• Communicates routine and some non-routine information pertaining to the work of the team.
• Liaises with translators and interpreters for the translation of GCI documents and interpretation during GCI meetings.
• Establishes and maintains the office digital filing and reference systems on SharePoint.

Calendar/Meetings/Correspondence Management

• Maintains office calendar and arranges meetings.

Events/Logistics

• Supports capacity development activities and events by making the logistical arrangements, through engaging with participants, facilitators, caterers and hosts.
• Liaises with budget focal points over costs and needs.
• Prepares background materials for participants.
• Prepares and maintains agendas on meetings and events related to the work group commitments.

Travel

• Provides travel assistance to GCI staff members for travel arrangements and entitlements based on the organization’s rules and policies. Liaises with relevant travel focal points to ensure that the organization obtains the best service and price for all travel.
• Briefs/de-briefs staff members on issues relating to related administrative matters such as visas, security clearance, and documentation procedures.
• Extracts, inputs, maintains and verifies the correctness of travel records in the organization’s travel system to ensure accurate transactions related to travel costs and staff travel.
• Assists in the preparation of budgets for travel costs and maintains travel plans and budgetary control records.

The following minimum requirements:

• Completion of secondary education in public administration, finance, international relations, political science, or another relevant technical field is required.
• For this position, a bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a relevant field may replace three years of related work experience.
  * A master’s degree may replace additional two years.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 6 years of relevant administrative services, budget management, coordination or clerical work experience is required.
• General Service Staff are recruited locally therefore candidates MUST be US permanent resident/citizen.

Desirables/Assets:

• Experience with UNICEF/UN is a strong asset.
• Training and experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other UNICEF software such as SAP/VISION, SharePoint; knowledge of integrated management information systems required.
• Knowledge of UNICEF administrative policies and procedures is an asset.
• Very strong organizational, planning and prioritizing skills and abilities.
• Well-developed sense of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to work proactively and independently under time pressure.
• Ability to deal patiently and tactfully with external partners.
• High sense of confidentiality, initiative and good judgment.
• Strong commitment to advancing gender equality.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural background.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or 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…

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• 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.

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.

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.