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, results

UNICEF became operational in Greece in early 2016 as an outposted team from the Regional Office of Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) to respond to the significant influx of refugee and migrant children and their families at that time. Following several years of engagement with national stakeholders, UNICEF and the Government of Greece made a decision in January 2020 to formalize the agency’s presence in the country under the form of a Greece Country Office. This office falls under the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia located in Geneva, which supports the work of 21 Country Offices within its geographical scope, reporting in turn to global headquarters in New York. Within the framework of an expanded mandate for all children in Greece, UNICEF and Greece moved towards an even greater collaboration and partnership in order to address the needs of all vulnerable, marginalized and left-behind children in the country.

In the context of the Country programme for Greece (2022-2026) approved by the UNICEF Executive Board in March 2022, UNICEF and the Government of Greece have agreed on national targets for children, concerning health, education, social protection, child protection, justice and youth employability. Regarding the Health and Nutrition agenda, and within the context of the National Action Plan on Public Health (2021-2025) and the National Prevention Programme ‘’Spyros Doxiades’’. UNICEF is scaling up programming to address the high prevalence of childhood obesity in the country through the following pillars:

i. advancement of an enabling environment including strengthening regulations, policies, and strategies to promote healthy diets, practices, and services for the prevention of childhood obesity,

ii. programmes that strengthen the primary prevention of childhood obesity, including actions to improve nutrition in infancy and early childhood, prevention intervention programs at the school and community/municipal level, as well as developing awareness raising campaigns for social and behavioral change,

iii. interventions to enhance secondary and tertiary prevention and response programmes,

iv. establishment of a European Regional Initiative on Childhood Obesity as a platform to enable exchange of lessons learned, good practices, and proven effective approaches to address childhood obesity among and within EU member states,

v. development of strategies and programmes focusing on achieving social and behavioral change so that children and their caregivers across Greece make more informed lifestyle choices.

As regards the promotion of family health, UNICEF has agreed with the Ministry of health on the following priorities: system and policy strengthening on public health, reinforcement of the health service provision for families, the promotion of effective programmes promoting family health in the national context.

In view of the above, in the context of the National Action Plan on Public Health (2021-2025) and the National Prevention Programme “Spyros Doxiades” UNICEF is scaling up programming to promote child  and family health through pediatric primary care. The aim of the programme will be to capacitate pediatricians in screening and identifying behavioural disorders, ensuring at the same time a robust referral system and availability of free of charge mental health services to support children and their families in need of support

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Child Protection Specialist the Programme Officer will support the implementation of programmes in the context of the Greece Country Programme 2022-2026 already agreed with the Government, and  in partnership with all relevant stakeholders and partners. In addition, the Programme Officer will ensure adequate linkages with other areas of UNICEF GCO’s overall thematic work, in order to deliver integrated services for children and their families.

The Programme Officer will be responsible for providing professional technical assistance and support for programme design, planning and implementation, management and evaluation of programme activities, and progress reporting, in support of programme goals and objectives.

1. Programme Development and Planning

• Support the establishment of specific goals, objectives, strategies and implementation plans using a results-based management approach to programme planning and design.
• Draft or prepare programme work plans as required; and propose adjustments/changes in work plans.

2. Optimum Use Of Program Funds and Monitoring

• Collaborate with colleagues and partners to establish and monitor benchmarks and performance indicators under the childhood obesity programme.
• Actively monitor activities under the childhood obesity programme, including progress of implementing partners, conduct field visits, review reports and exchange information with stakeholders to assess impact, identify bottlenecks, and take timely decisions to resolve issues.
• Monitor the allocation and disbursement of project funds, making sure that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated.
• Identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Prepare regular project reports for management, counterparts and partners to keep them informed of project progress.

3.Partnership and capacity building

• Facilitate partnership, collaboration and coordination with internal and external counterparts, including Ministries and other stakeholders, and exchange information on programme status.
• Provide operational support and technical advice to implementing partners and ensure visibility of the childhood obesity programme  goals.
• Provide government authorities and implementing partners with technical assistance and support in planning and organizing training for the purpose of capacity building and programme sustainability.
• Promote and maintain the building and reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of national and local partners in the context of the UNICEF Greece Country Office efforts by providing continuous support, coordination and collaboration for sustainability.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education:A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Development, Community Development, Public Health, or another relevant technical field.
• Work Experience: At least 1 years of relevant work experience in relevant professional work experience in programme/project design, implementation and/or monitoring is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Greek is required.

Desirables:

• Experience in child health/nutrition programme family or child health programme/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

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…

(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

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable male candidates 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 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.

UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.]

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.