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.

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, Safety

Ethiopia is situated in the Horn of Africa and is the second most populous country on the continent with an estimated population of 115 million. It borders six African countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, and covers 1,104,300 square kilometers. Approximately 85 percent of the population lives in rural areas. Ethiopia represents a melting pot of ancient cultures with Middle Eastern and African cultures evident in the religious, ethnic, and language composition of its people.

Over the past two years, children and their families across Ethiopia faced multiple and complex emergencies, such as the conflict in the northern Ethiopia and the drought, which resulted in millions of people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. UNICEF has programmes in Child Protection, WASH, Health, Nutrition, Social Policy, and Education and serves over 15 million children in Ethiopia. Join UNICEF Ethiopia to contribute to improving the lives of children and women.

How can you make a difference?

Roles and responsibilities: 

Participate in PSEA Network coordination meetings and documentation.

Participate in the PSEA Network coordination meetings and events in Addis Ababa, as well as working with the PSEA Network in taking forward actions including:

• Development of information sharing and messaging strategies on SEA across the PSEA Network members;
• Strengthening the setting up of Community Based Complaints Mechanism for an increased reporting of SEA;
• Pursuing the development of outreach and sensitization on SEA in the communities; training PSEA Focal Points and staff from humanitarian organizations;
• Responding to complaints that arise, and developing interagency responses to problems that become evident;
• Supporting the UN wide knowledge management on PSEA policy and guidance.

Support Appropriate Reporting and response SEA allegations

• Support and advise the Country Representative on the reporting of SEA allegations through the internal Notification Alert;
• Receive complaints and reports about alleged SEA (from staff, partners, community members and others);

Once a complaint is received:

• Ensure that all information pertaining to complaints is handled and referred strictly in line with agreed protocols: the internal UNICEF Notification Alert and inter-agency information sharing procedure agreed with the PSEA Task Force;
• Ensure whistle-blowers and alleged victims are interviewed in line with the interviewing protocols
• Immediately refer victims to appropriate service providers so that they receive the medical, psychosocial, legal and material support they may need;
• In coordination with the Chief of Child Protection in Ethiopia Country Office, ensure that child survivors of PSEA access assistance;
• In coordination with the Chief of Child Protection in Ethiopia Country Office, monitor the quality of assistance and follow up provided to survivors of SEA by UNICEF partners;
•  Work with the Child Protection team to define the modality for monitoring the assistance provided to child SEA survivors by service providers (other than UNICEF implementing partners).

Capacity building and system strengthening

Supporting the UNICEF teams in field offices to institutionalize PSEA efforts within their programmes and operations, monitoring and facilities (e.g. HACT, Supply section, programme component teams, etc.) including support to operationalize reporting mechanisms and on adaptation of tools; and as needed:

• Review the existing internal reporting mechanisms to support ECO in strengthening its PSEA risk mitigation and complaints handling mechanism in line with UNICEF and international best practice standards;
• To fulfill this commitment, the PSEA Specialist will develop, implement, monitor and report UNICEF Ethiopia Office’s Action Plan on PSEA which focuses on enhancing UNICEF and partners’ capacity to prevent and respond to SEA in line with organizational processes and procedures; supporting the country office in managing and coordinating SEA concerns and allegations, supporting partners to implement internal complaints and investigation procedures; support the implementation of community based complaints mechanism (CBCM); representing UNICEF in PSEA coordination forums including the Ethiopia PSEA Network; together with C4D, and in liaison with the PSEA Network, develop awareness raising materials for UNICEF office and partners:
• Ensure that the annual UNICEF Country Office PSEA workplan is operationalized at all levels and with all sectors, develop and disseminate IEC materials in all UNICEF-supported sites;
• Provide technical review of Programme Documents and other programme and operational documentation to ensure inclusion and adherence to PSEA requirements in all such documents;
• Lead the roll out of partner trainings on PSEA and Child Safeguarding and support the development of internal capacity for further training within the partner organizations;
• Manage partners and UNICEF vendors to have PSEA policies and structures in place, aligned with international standards and UNICEF systems; consult and follow up with partners on codes of conduct and safeguarding policies (including beyond PSEA) and risk mitigation plans including technical review and support as required by partners;
• Provide technical guidance concerning appropriate prevention and risk mitigation strategies to advance survivor-centered, child-friendly complaint mechanism;
• In consultation with the Donor Relations Specialist and Unit, lead office fundraising for PSEA and systematic inclusion of PSEA resourcing within fundraising proposals;
• Lead knowledge management for UNICEF Ethiopia on PSEA including developing and updating the sharepoint drive for office staff to access PSEA policy and guidance materials.

The strategic and effective advocacy, planning and formulation of child safeguarding, protection programmes/projects and the achievement of sustainable results, contributes to the achievement of goals and objectives to create a protective environment for children against harm, all forms of violence and ensures their survival, development and wellbeing in society. Achievements in UNICEF-supported programmes and projects in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide programme services for mothers and children that promotes greater social equality in the country.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.
• A minimum of eight [8] years of relevant professional experience in design, implementation and management of protection or GBV programming and PSEA actions, preferably with the UN and/or international NGO.
• Experience working in humanitarian contexts.
• Familiarity with the latest developments in PSEA, inter-agency PSEA responses and humanitarian cluster systems.
• Excellent communication skills. Proven ability to work independently under stressful conditions and with good coordination with all partners.
• Excellent facilitation, training, networking and advocacy skills. Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.
• 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, 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…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

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, 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 female candidates and persons with disability 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.

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.