Careers at UNICEF

 TERMS OF REFERENCE

• UNICEF is seeking a consultant to develop a Strategic Roadmap that strengthens its global knowledge, learning, and thought leadership on social and behaviour change (SBC) for preventing harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage. Building on UNICEF’s extensive investments in evidence, tools, partnerships, and innovative approaches, the roadmap will identify opportunities to enhance collaboration, knowledge sharing, innovation, and the use of evidence across global and country programmes.
• The consultancy will support UNICEF’s efforts to accelerate the elimination of harmful practices by 2030, strengthen its role as a global leader and convener in SBC, and provide practical recommendations for advancing learning, partnerships, visibility, and technical excellence in this field.
• If you would like to know more about this consultancy on the detailed deliverables and expected outcomes, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:

Minimum requirements:

Include the minimum requirements as per the approved TOR. Ensure that the vacancy criteria are fully aligned with the qualification for the assignment.

• Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s) in Social and Behaviour Change, Social Sciences, Public Health, International Development, Sociology, Anthropology, Communications or a related field.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in social and behaviour change (SBC), social norms or knowledge management.
• Demonstrated experience developing strategic frameworks, learning agendas or knowledge management initiatives.
• Experience conducting landscape analyses and stakeholder consultations.
• Excellent analytical and strategic writing skills.
• Experience developing high-quality knowledge products for international organizations.
• Skills: Strong understanding of SBC approaches related to harmful practices, gender equality and child protection.
• Ability to synthesize large amounts of information into practical recommendations. 
• Language Requirements: Excellent written and spoken English.

Desirables:

• Experience working with UNICEF, UN agencies, governments or international development organizations is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of learning, knowledge management and community-of-practice models is desirable.
• Fluency in French is an advantage.

Deadline: 08th August 2026 

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How can you make a difference?

Under the close supervision and guidance of the Programme Specialist (Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation), as the Programme Assistant you will provide administrative, procedural, and operational support to the Polio Eradication Programme at Headquarters. As part of a pooled Programme Assistant function, the incumbent supports multiple workstreams and teams across the programme, including colleagues based in Nairobi and New York. The Programme Assistant carries out a range of administrative and operational tasks as follows:

• Administrative and office support: Assist with correspondence, presentations, research, meeting scheduling, calendar management, minute taking, records management, office supplies and equipment, and general office administration.
• Travel and event coordination: Coordinate travel arrangements, including travel authorizations, itineraries, visas, security and medical clearances, accommodation and transportation, and provide logistical support for meetings, conferences, capacity development activities and official visits.
• Consultancy and contract administration: Facilitate consultant, vendor and partner contracting processes, prepare and process documentation, upload TORs in VISION, and support consultancy assessments in coordination with operations colleagues.
• Financial and budget support: Process invoices, maintain financial records, monitor commitments and expenditures, and support Annual Work Plan (AWP) budget preparation and monitoring.
• Programme support: Maintain programme records and monitoring documents, process programme transactions in VISION, ensure programme coding aligns with AWPs, support programme implementation and financial monitoring, and maintain records for the Polio Eradication Programme workstreams.
• Cross-functional support: Provide administrative and operational support across programme workstreams and undertake additional tasks to ensure efficient team operations.

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Completion of secondary education is required. 
• Work Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible administrative or clerical work experience is required.

Skills:

• Demonstrated skills in project management, collaboration, problem solving, and digital dexterity.
• Good knowledge of IT tools including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, ERP (VISION) and SharePoint is required.
• Language Requirements: Knowledge of English language at a Proficient/Fluent level is required.

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language.
• Supplemental technical or university courses related to the work of the organization are an asset.
• Experience in facilitating the processing of contracts for consultants, vendors and external partners that support delivery programme is desirable.
• Experience in arranging travel using online booking tools to set up itineraries, request visas, security and medical clearances, hotel bookings and ground transportation as an asset.
• Excellent understanding of contractual regulations and processes in UNICEF or the UN system desirable.
• Experience providing administrative and operational support in a fast-paced, multi-team or programme environment is an asset desirable.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

Deadline: 06th August 2026 

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Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

Undertaking preliminary assessments and planning investigations:

• As delegated, conduct informal discussions with victims, perform preliminary assessments and/or formulate investigation plans to ensure that all appropriate lines of inquiry are identified and that investigation resources are used effectively and efficiently in undertaking the investigation.
• Identify appropriate investigative strategies, methodologies, confidentiality requirements and resource needs at the outset of each matter.
• Where relevant, coordinate investigative inputs from staff, consultants or specialist personnel working under matrix management arrangements, ensuring clear roles, responsibilities, reporting lines and quality standards.

Leading investigations:

• Plan and direct investigations in accordance with established standards, policies and procedures, including by coordinating investigative tasks carried out by staff or consultants, as required.
• Personally conduct investigations. Ensure that investigations are timely and of required quality, in compliance with established OIAI procedures.

Managing the Sexual Misconduct Portfolio:

• Manage, guide and provide technical oversight to investigators attached to the Sexual Misconduct Portfolio responsible for initial handling of all complaints of a sexual nature received by OIAI, including allegations of sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, and other sexual misconduct. Ensure that such complaints are assessed, prioritized, assigned, investigated, reported and closed in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, OIAI procedures, due process requirements, confidentiality obligations, and a victim-centred and trauma-informed approach.
• Provide day-to-day supervision, performance feedback, mentoring and quality assurance to team members, including personnel operating under matrix management arrangements, coordinate case allocation, monitor caseloads and timelines, and ensure consistency, sensitivity and quality in investigative practice.
• Escalate complex, high-risk or sensitive matters to the Chief of Investigations and/or Head of Investigations, as appropriate.
• Liaise with relevant internal stakeholders, including the Administrative Law Unit, Ethics Office, Division of People and Culture, Child Safeguarding, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse focal points, and other offices as required, while preserving OIAI’s independence and confidentiality; contribute to policy, procedural and methodological development relating to sexual misconduct matters.

Reporting investigation findings:

• Prepare reports detailing investigation findings that are submitted to the Chief of Investigations and the Quality Assurance Team for final review before submission to the Head of Investigations of OIAI for approval. Prepare closure memos or appropriate closure documents for cases that do not meet the threshold for full investigation, for approval by the Chief of Investigations, Quality Assurance Team (when required) and Head of Investigations of OIAI. 

Management of data on reported allegations:

• Ensure information from cases is input to the investigations database accurately and on a timely basis for all cases assigned.

Training, awareness-raising and client services:

• As allocated, prepare information and training materials for investigators, auditors and UNICEF staff on the prevention, detection and reporting of fraud, misconduct and sexual misconduct. Make awareness-raising presentations to staff in UNICEF offices. Liaise with the Legal Office, the Ethics Office, and other relevant offices.

Other tasks:

• Undertake any other tasks as assigned by the Chief of Investigations, including in support of policy development or advice to other UNICEF offices. 

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

Minimum requirements

• Education: An advanced university degree in Law, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics and any other related fields is required.
• A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Work Experience: A minimum of eight years (at least three of which are at the international level) of progressively responsible professional work experience in planning, leading and undertaking complex and sensitive investigations in government, non-profit organizations, and/or the private sector is required.
• Experience applying victim-centred, trauma-informed and confidentiality-sensitive approaches in the assessment and investigation of such matters is essential.
• Experience in modern investigation techniques, including use of automated tools and technology-enabled investigative methods is required.
• Experience in handling allegations of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, or other complaints of a sexual nature is required.
• Demonstrated experience in managing or supervising investigators, multidisciplinary teams, or specialist investigative functions is required, including experience providing technical guidance, quality assurance and performance feedback.
• Skills: Strong analytical judgment; planning and managing complex investigations; victim-centred and trauma-informed investigative practice; quality assurance oversight; investigation report writing; confidentiality-sensitive case handling; use of modern investigative tools and technology-enabled methods; and ability to work collaboratively across functions while preserving investigative independence.
• Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirables

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish), but particularly French or Arabic is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
• Experience of working in developing countries and in international development is highly desirable.
• Experience conducting administrative investigations within an institutional, employment or workplace accountability framework is highly desirable, including investigations into staff misconduct, failure to comply with organizational rules and regulations, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, retaliation, fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest and other breaches of standards of conduct.

Deadline: 29th July 2026