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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Future

The Public Partnerships & Resource Mobilization Division (PPR) leads UNICEF to secure quality public sector income for all children, promotes international development and humanitarian resources for child focused outcomes, and facilitates UNICEF’s intergovernmental and interagency engagement to champion child rights. The Division does this through its core functions of income, influence, insights and stewardship by: maintaining and expanding flexible resources for children from a diverse range of key international development and humanitarian partners; leading UNICEF’s engagement with public sector partners globally; providing strategic insights and analytics on public partnerships; undertaking evidence-based influence & engagement with public sector partners to raise income and to champion child rights; providing global strategic direction, guidance and oversight of the public partnerships function.

UNICEF PPR European Partnerships Office manages UNICEF’s relationship with the European Institutions and its Member States. The European Partnerships Section in Brussels manages the relationship with the EU Institutions, namely the European Commission (DG INTPA, DG ECHO, DG MENA, ), the Council of Europe, the European External Action Service, the European Parliament) in order to ensure that children are a priority for the EU in terms of their policies and financial allocations. The section is responsible for analyzing the EU funding environment, and various financial instruments with a view to identifying and mobilizing quality resources in support of UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. The office strives to profile UNICEF as a strategic partner and a broker of knowledge for children and women issues towards the EU Institutions with a clear positioning for an upstream policy role and a result-driven approach. The section also works to enhance COs/ROs/GPG/EMOPs/SD understanding of UNICEF’s partnership with the European Institutions while supporting their strategic interactions with respective EU Delegations and ECHO offices at the country level. The office also closely coordinates with other UN agencies with a presence in Brussels.

Under the supervision and guidance of the supervisor, the Senior Programme Associate manages and/or contributes to the total commitment and management of EU funds distributed for Humanitarian and/or Development aid to UNICEF Country and Regional Offices worldwide. Proposal or Programme Associate is responsible for the coordination, monitoring and quality during the project proposal preparation, design, planning and management with strategic focus on the achievement of UNICEF’s Organizational priorities and the legal requirements of the EU and UNICEF. The Senior Programme Associate will provide technical assistance to all UNICEF COs and ROs regarding their project activities, implementation of projects, requests for amendments, progress reporting, data analysis, final reporting and evaluations in support of achievement of programme/ project goals and objectives.

1. Knowledge Management of Programmes/ Projects

• Provide information – funding, thematic, analysis UNICEF Country Offices (COs), Regional Offices (ROs) and EU counterparts.
• Maintain regular dialogue with EU geographical/thematic desks to identify potential avenues of collaboration with UNICEF COs and/or ROs.
• Provide guidance and support to ROs/COs on current/ upcoming EU funding availability.
• Participate in relevant Brussels led UN coordination groups for sharing information, positioning on policies and contribution to joint UN responses on evolving policies/guidelines/KPIs.

1. Programme/ Project Development and Contribution Management

• Support the review of proposals, budgets and modification requests submitted by UNICEF Country Offices/ Regional Offices to ensure quality standards are met.
• Contribute to the exchange of information between relevant EU desks, EU Field offices and COs/ROs during the project cycle.
• Support the monitoring of the status of project proposals during the submission and review process.
• Provide advice to ROs/COs on relevant programme/project recommendations, new approaches, and/or methods and practices based on trends with the EU to be included in programme/ projects documentation prior to submission.
• Process legal agreements/amendments and ensure that they are compliant with UNICEF policies and legal frameworks.
• Inputs into UNISON grants and grant amendments and any other necessary updates and keeps COs and ROs and HQ and/or SD informed about any change/update.
• Supports the COs/ROs for EU verifications performed by the EU or its counterparts with legal advice and guidance.
• Provide data analysis and comparative funding analysis on regular basis

1. Optimum Use of Programme/ Project funds

• Supports the monitoring of programme implementation progress and compliance, in addition in VISION at interim and final reporting stages. Provides support to CO/RO to ensure that eligible expenditure and liquidation of the contributions are within the approved time frame.
• In case of non-compliance with EU rules for disbursement and expenditures, assist the CO/RO/SD to manage negotiation with the EU to reach an agreement with the support of DFAM in order to ensure minimal non eligibility of funds and fluent and transparent exchange of information. Coordinates with the CO/RO, DFAM and/or Supply Division to address and resolve any non-eligible expenditures.

1. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations

• Following requests from CO, undertakes field visits to support the project/programme and monitor implementation and advise on corrective actions that may be required.
• Ensure regular contact with the regional and country office Partnership officer focal points and other relevant thematic staff to identify any issues that occur during implementation and propose solutions.
• Support the update of the offices’ internal pipeline, monitoring tables, in order to engage in strategic planning, the review and process of data and identification of necessary future actions.
• Summarizes/analyses information and EU funding trends reflecting current obligations and future programme/project and/or budgetary implications, required to carry out specific operational/control tasks for programme/project implementation (e.g. preparation of audit trails, notes for the record, reminder notices, draft inputs for policy briefing notes, etc.).

1. Results-Based Programme/ Project Management Approach, according to the EU’s specific requirements

• Collaborates with the COs/ROs/GPG/EMOPs/SD in the formulation of project proposals and their specific objectives, ensures results-based approach and assists in strengthening the quality of the project to be consistent with the legal and operational requirements of the EU.
• Contributes to the coherence of proposals to the EU by providing guidance on results, indicators, activities and budget allocation as per EU guidance notes and technical overviews.

1. Capacity Building of COs/ROs

• Support the strengthening of the capacity of COs/ROs/GPG/EMOPs/SD partnership team to work with EU Funding through the provision of training on the use and understanding of EU/ECHO’s legal requirements according to their most updated legal status, keeping into consideration FAFA, IMDA, PAGODA and the General Conditions.
• Liaise with the EU/ECHO officers based in both country and field during field visits, to ensure they are aware of the trainings, and if possible, participate in such trainings.

1. Partnership, Coordination, Collaboration and RISK Management

• Supports the identification of eventual exchange rate loss, 100% funding, matching funds for Multi Donor Actions and ensure that the COs/ROs/GPG/EMOPs/SD are fully aware about all specific restrictions and limitations which ECHO/EU might be imposing on them and about their responsibilities on the contribution management of the EU/ECHO funded action.
• Coordinate with internal and external counterparts including COs/ROs/GPG/EMOPs/SD, DFAM, as well as with ECHO and other UN agencies and partners in Brussels and in the field, in order to improve UNICEF’s ability to collect, disseminate and exchange information relevant to humanitarian aid, and programme/project status and implementation.

1. Any other business

• The incumbent should substitute for other general service colleagues in their absence.
• Performs other duties as required.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Classified Job Descriptions – Senior Programme Associate.pdf

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

Minimum requirements

• Education: Secondary Education in any related fields.
• Work Experience: At least 7 years of relevant work experience in Financial Management, Project management, grant management, budgeting, humanitarian programming, development programming, monitoring and evaluation, compliance management, program coordination, capacity building. and any other related fields.
• Skills: Project Management, Project Implementation, Budget Management, Data Analysis, Partnership Management, .
• Language Requirements: Proficiency in English and French is required,

Desirables

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
• Experience with DG ECHO, experience with DG INTPA, knowledge of FAFA IMDA PAGODA, experience with European Commission funding, results based management expertise, EU legal compliance expertise.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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 are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel.

Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable 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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. 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.