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, a hero

Violence against children is one of the most persistent forms of human rights violations. Due to their conditions, all children need special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection. In Mexico, the National Health and Nutrition Survey from INEGI reported that 58.91% of children under the age of 5 in Mexico have been subjected to physical or psychological punishment by a member of their household. 70.1% of women aged 15 and over have suffered at least one incident of emotional, economic, physical, sexual violence or discrimination throughout their lives.

On the 2020-2025 Country Programme, UNICEF Mexico included an output aimed to improve protection mechanisms and multi-sector services including legal, psychosocial and welfare, that prevent, detect, refer, and respond to violence against children and exploitation, including in emergency situations.

The Child Protection Officer will contribute through the Protection Programme to scale-up the efforts in the response to violence against children, with an emphasis on response services.

For more information related to the work of our office in Mexico, please visit our website: UNICEF Mexico, the video of our amazing results in 2023: A good six-year term for children: Un buen sexenio para la niñez or read our Annual Report 2023: Informe Anual 2023 UNICEF México.

How can you make a difference?

The Child Protection Officer (Response to Violence Against Children) (NO-1) provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the child protection programmes/projects through the application of theoretical and technical skills in researching, collecting, analyzing, and presenting technical programme information while learning organizational rules, regulations and procedures to support the development and formulation of the Child Protection Programme within the Country Programme.

If you are selected, you will be responsible, in particular, for strengthening response services to child and women survivors of violence, exploitation, neglect and abuse, strengthen the national framework to respond to child online violence and technical support for the development of child safeguarding policies, and will be accountable for the following responsibilities:

1. Support to programme development and planning in regard to the work output on violence against children.
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results in regard to the work output on violence against children.
3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation in regard to the work output on violence against children.
4. Networking and partnership building.
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: ToRs_Child Protection Officer, (NO-1) VAC – TA.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education

• A Bachelor’s Degree, preferably, in one of the following fields: international development, human rights, sociology, law, psychology or another relevant social science field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of one (1) year of professional experience in child protection programmes and/or projects.
• Experience working in the fields of Violence Against Children (VAC) or Violence Against Women (VAW). Please include as your cover letter a brief summary of your most relevant experience in addressing VAC or VAW, describe the main challenges you see in these fields and propose potential solutions (maximum 1 page).

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Spanish
• Proficient level of English (advanced, not fluent, although the selected candidate will have to work on improving their English skills after joining, if not fluent at the time of hire)

Desirables:

• Experience working in the co-occurrence and intersections between VAC and VAW.
• Experience providing technical support to government institutions to strengthen child protection response services (police, justice sector, health and others).
• Experience working for the UN system and government institutions on Child Protection and VAC.
• Previous experience working in strengthening capacities of public servants on VAC and VAW.
• Experience on the design of specialized protocols on VAC for different services sectors.
• Proven knowledge of the National Protocol for Interinstitutional Coordination and Protection of Children Victims of Violence, National Protocol to Attend VAC from the National Emergency Helpline (911), and Standard of Competence 1483 on police first responders to VAC.

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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. Specially, for this position, eligible and suitable people with disabilities 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.

Please note that this is a temporary position expected to last for 364 days. 

THIS IS A NATIONAL POSITION. PLEASE NOTE THAT only CANDIDATES WITH A MEXICAN NATIONALITY MAY BE CONSIDERED AS ELIGIBLE FOR THE POST.