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, hope

The Humanitarian Policy Section (HPS) provides policy advice, guidance and support to UNICEF headquarter divisions, and regional and country offices to ensure that key humanitarian policy issues are reflected in programme implementation, as well as in UNICEF advocacy, inter-governmental and inter-agency engagement.

The Protection Policy and Advocacy team assists in the development of policy and guidance and engages in advocacy related to emerging international humanitarian law and human rights issues affecting children or UNICEF’s humanitarian operations. The team provides support to UNICEF headquarter divisions and regional and country offices in several areas such as the children and armed conflict (CAAC) agenda, which includes guidance and strategic engagement related to the monitoring and reporting mechanism, the Secretary-General's Annual Report on CAAC, the Security Council Working Group (SCWG) on CAAC, and on issues related to children associated with groups designated as terrorist. The team also provides policy guidance and support on the centrality of protection, human rights in crisis, protection of civilians (PoC) issues and works to influence mandate renewals of UN Missions and other processes of concern to UNICEF, including UNGA, ECOSOC, Human Rights Council, and Security Council resolutions. The team coordinates UNICEF’s coverage of the Security Council, including through supporting the Executive Director’s briefings of the Council.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance and supervision of Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy Specialist in the Humanitarian Policy Section:

Lead on development and follow up of Humanitarian Section’s humanitarian policies and support advocacy on Protection of Civilians (40%)

• Assist EMOPS and the Humanitarian Policy Section in the conceptualization and implementation of in-depth analysis, policy, and guidance processes – including both internal to UNICEF and based on institutional partnerships – touching upon the various workstreams relevant to Protection of Civilians.
• Take stock of existing policies, guidelines, and guidance that need to be updated or developed for the fulfilment of the Protection agenda in coordination with relevant UNICEF staff.
• Develop elements of guidance, positions, webinars on key humanitarian policies related to the fulfilment of the Protection of Civilians priorities, in collaboration with internal and external experts, as needed and based on needs assessments with HQ divisions, Regional and Country offices.
• Assist in planning, implementing and monitoring progress in the rollout of UNICEF humanitarian advocacy strategy.
• Develop, lead, and deliver in-person and virtual training modules on protection and related humanitarian policy issues relevant to humanitarian crises’ settings, with a view to disseminating UNICEF and inter-agency policy and guidance and enabling UNICEF staff and partners to apply and put these in practice on the ground, observing humanitarian principles, institutional decision-making processes, and the overall humanitarian normative framework.
• Support, substantively and practically, the Protection component of the Humanitarian Policy Section’s contribution to EMOPS ongoing and planned initiatives to strengthen humanitarian leadership of UNICEF staff, in particular in complex and high threat environments.

Field support on humanitarian policies related to protection of civilians, IHL/IHRL, children and armed conflict: (20 %)

• Lead to develop humanitarian positions, policies, operational guidance related to key issues (protection of civilians, IHL/IHRL, key support for (CAAC)) for UNICEF regional/country offices.
• Develop elements of guidance, positions, webinars on key humanitarian policies for field practitioners, in collaboration with internal and external experts, as needed and based on needs assessments, and in line with the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action.

Lead for Interagency and intergovernmental engagement and processes (20 %)

• Lead UNICEF monitoring and reporting of the Security Council, including coverage of Security Council briefings and consultations, UN Missions’ mandate renewals, Protection of Civilians working Group. Support advocacy with Security Council members. Support engagement with ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment protection-related issues, General Assembly emergency sessions.
• Support for UNICEF contributions to IASC Task Force on Protection and Operational Policy and Advocacy Group, as needed, in collaboration with internal UNICEF experts and leads.
• Lead in monitoring and reporting humanitarian issues and other relevant developments in the Security Council, UN General Assembly, ECOSOC and the Human Rights Council
• Support for engagement in Education Under Attack agenda, including engagement with the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack.
• Lead to ensure adequate engagement in other inter-agency initiatives as required.

Support on children and armed conflict policy and advocacy (20%)

• Assist EMOPS and the Humanitarian Policy Section in the review process of the Secretary-General report on Childran and Armed Conflict.
• Assist in engagement with the Security Council Working Group on CAAC, including review of Security Council Working Group conclusions.
• Assist in developing and providing strategic policy guidance and support to UNICEF COs, ROs, and other HQ teams on children and armed conflict issues.

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

• An advanced university degree in social sciences, public administration, international law, international relations, or other related disciplines
• At least five years of progressively responsible relevant professional work experience in humanitarian action at the field and international levels. Previous experience with providing support to the field is required. Prior experience with UNICEF is an asset.
• Demonstrated and progressive knowledge and understanding of UNICEF humanitarian policy, advocacy and operations is required.
• Prior experience and demonstrated in-depth knowledge on humanitarian normative framework, policy, advocacy, and operational issues specific to protection of civilians, application of humanitarian principles, international humanitarian law, children rights, including children and armed conflict, is required.
• Strong understanding and experience with inter-governmental and inter-agency humanitarian processes is highly desirable.
• 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

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.

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

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 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 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.

Remarks:

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. 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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.