Programme Specialist, NOC, Pacific Multi-Country Office, Nuku’alofa, Tonga # 127931, Temporary Appointment (364 days) *Open to Tongan nationals only*

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, education 

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria. 

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work here: UNICEF Pacific Islands. 

How can you make a difference? 

UNICEF Pacific is hiring a Programme Specialist on a temporary appointment for 364 days to be based in the Tonga Office in Nuku’alofa. Under the joint leadership and supervision of the Chief of Child Protection and Deputy Representative in Suva, Fiji, the Programme Specialist is accountable for the management and coordination of the UNICEF multi-sector programme in Tonga. 

The Programme Specialist will be accountable for professional leadership in and contribution to the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and administration of the Child protection programme. The Programme Specialist will also serve as UNICEF Pacific’s liaison officer in Tonga to manage the overall partnership UNICEF has with the government of Tonga and will have oversight responsibility for monitoring and reporting on UNICEF’s Rolling Workplans with the Government of Tonga. 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:  

1. Provide timely strategic and technical support and coordination to the development, planning and implementation of the UNICEF-Tonga workplan for Child Protection.
2. Programme Management, monitoring and delivery of results.
3. UNICEF and Government accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for the sector.
4. Improve partnerships and coordination of UNICEF interventions for advocacy, technical cooperation, programme coordination, information sharing and networking.
5. Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with effective coordination are provided.

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

Education 

• An advanced university degree in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, public health, child development, or another relevant social science field.

Work experience 

• A minimum of five years of relevant professional work experience at the national levels in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of child protection programmes, of which at least two years should be in managerial and/or advisory capacity.
• Professional work experience in a technical expert position related to child protection, gender and human rights, and education.
• At least one year of international experience in another developing country will be considered as an asset.
• Experience in managing multi-sectoral programmes is highly desirable.
• Background/familiarity with emergencies is considered an asset.

Languages 

Fluency in English is required while knowledge of a local language of the duty station is considered as an asset. 

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

The functional competencies required for this post are… 

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness
• Works Collaboratively with others
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships
• Innovates and Embraces Change
• Thinks and Acts Strategically
• Drive to achieve impactful results
• Manages ambiguity and complexity

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels. 

Remarks 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. 

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. 

With regard to higher educational qualifications, UNICEF only considers degrees obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/ 

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.  Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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. 

Internal and external candidates are welcome to apply. 

Only shortlisted candidates meeting the specific criteria will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. As this is a National Officer position, only Nationals of Tonga will be shortlisted for the role.