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.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism.

Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH) are unacceptable breaches of fundamental human rights and a deep betrayal of UNICEF’s core values.  The sexual exploitation and abuse of those who depend on UNICEF for assistance runs counter to all our personal and organizational values. It is unconscionable, it is intolerable, and it is often criminal. Equally intolerable is the sexual harassment of our fellow aid workers.

Working closely with partners and communities, UNICEF has significantly stepped up its fight against SEA and SH. This work is informed by, and taking place in tandem with, the work of related actors including the broader UN system, donors, and civil society organizations.

The core UN principles on SEA have been incorporated into a zero tolerance policy, as outlined in the Secretary-General’s Bulletin (On 9 October 2003 on Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse SGB/2003/13 - ST/SGB/2003/13). The Secretary-General’s Bulletin serves as a Code of Conduct on SEA for UN staff and related personnel. It prohibits the exchange of money, employment, assistance, goods or services for sex, including sexual favors or other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitive conduct. The policy further prohibits sexual activities with persons under the age of 18 regardless of the age of majority or consent locally.

UNICEF Bangladesh remains committed to supporting institutionalizing SEA prevention and response in its work in Bangladesh.    In this regard, under the direct supervision of P5 Chief of Field Office (Cox Bazar), this position will be responsible for supporting the BCO efforts in ensuring the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA).

How can you make a difference?

The incumbent shall conduct Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) related assignments in accordance with the UNICEF Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH). The Programme Specialist (PSEA) work is crucial to strengthening BCO’s efforts to ensure UNICEF’s PSEA Vision is achieved – and this is “realizing the right of individuals and communities that UNICEF and its partners serve to access the protection and assistance they need without fear of sexual exploitation and abuse; the right of UNICEF staff members and related personnel to feel supported, respected and empowered to deliver assistance in an environment free from sexual harassment; and the right of survivors of SEA and SH to access timely and confidential investigation and effective and safe assistance and support”.

Major duties and responsibilities: 

Lead the strengthening of Response Systems:

1. Ensure adherence to global prescribed procedures for PSEA cooperation and reporting of SEA incidents and promote understanding among UNICEF Staff and all stakeholders such as humanitarian agency and IP/contractor staff of the applicable internal PSEA policies and reporting procedures.
2. Following the Global prescribed guidelines, provide technical leadership to BCO Senior Management, and quality assurance to country offices for receiving, handling, and referring SEA allegations committed by humanitarian staff, IPs and personnel of other entities (such as sub-contractors), including when the institutional affiliation of the alleged perpetrator(s) is unknown or uncertain and not excluding SEA by UNICEF staff.
3. Lead initiatives for country offices to build capacity of partners for investigations and support senior management in the fact finding and documentation of reported SEA allegations and taking appropriate measures to ensure safety and confidentiality of complaints / allegations.  This entails ensuring that all materials pertaining to complaints are handled strictly in line with prescribed SOPs and referring the   complaints / allegations for the attention of Senior Management for immediate action.
4. Develop and provide technical support to country offices for implementation of survivor assistance, including establishment of SOPs on prevention and response to ensure survivors have access to appropriate services i.e., medical, psychosocial, legal and material support, in accordance with the UN Victim Assistance protocol.
5. Lead development and implementation of a regional strategy for building capacity of all UNICEF staff and implementing Partners staff on PSEA and Abuse of Authority including conducting training as necessary.

Operationalization of the UNICEF Procedure for Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Assessments of CSO Implementing Partnerships:

1. Support the PSEA Specialist and HACT Specialist to monitor quality standards of PSEA Assessments of IPs and conducted by other Agencies and provide technical support to the development of IP Action Plans as needed.
2. Strengthen capacity for country offices to conduct partner assessments, including transitioning to the UN common system for assessments, strengthen field monitoring and partner capacity for both CSOs and government, building CO capacity through PSEA Toolkit and Action Plan. 

Lead PSEA mainstreaming during planning, policy development and programming:

1. Lead establishment of inter-agency community-based complaint mechanisms, solicit participation from a broad range of humanitarian assistance agencies, including liaising with the IASC and to ensure standard for beneficiary engagement are promoted.
2. Co-ordinate with Sector Leads, Section Chiefs and other groups in the office (Cox Bazar and Dhaka) to ensure synergy, collaboration and complementary efforts.  This will include co-facilitating PSEA training modules for UNICEF and IPs staff as appropriate on appropriate conduct for aid workers, international standards on PSEA, roles & responsibilities, and how to submit and receive complaints and strengthening GBV services for survivor assistance.
3. Support the PSEA Focal Points (FPs) by organizing regular meetings, provide training, enhancing communication and information sharing among FPs.

Engagement with and support of affected populations:

1. Lead development of a creative communication strategy together with the SBC team and others to facilitate awareness-raising in communities on their rights, the fact that humanitarian assistance is never conditioned on sexual favours, and how to submit complaints.
2. Provide technical leadership to strengthen community consultation mechanisms, identify culturally and contextually appropriate entry points for submitting complaints, including SEA allegations, and coordinate with other Agencies to develop innovative reporting mechanisms.
3. Provide technical leadership to incorporate community feedback into programme adjustment to ensure that the mechanisms remain appropriate to community needs.

For detailed job responsibilities, please see the attached TOR:  Temporary Appointment ToR Template_PSEA Manager NOD TA CXB[36][85].pdf

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

• Education:  Advanced University Degree in social work, social sciences, political science, law, human rights law or another relevant field. Or Bachelor University Degree in social work, social sciences, political science, law, human rights law or another relevant field combined with minimum 10 years of work experience.
• Work Experience:  Minimum 8 years of work experience from a humanitarian setting with relevant professional experience in the field of sexual exploitation and abuse, protection, gender-based violence, staff misconduct and discipline, gender mainstreaming and/or humanitarian affairs.

Knowledge of current developments and activities in the inter-agency setting of the UN System and its partner organizations on PSEA.

Experience working on PSEA at country level

Experience of working in developing countries and international development is highly desirable.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language is considered as an asset.

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 (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role. 

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, breastfeeding breaks, 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:

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. The genuine and complete vacancy announcements are published on UNICEF Careers website at https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/listing/ 

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

Internal candidates may be given preference over external candidates. The term "Internal" refers to all staff members with fixed term, continuing or permanent appointments. Internal candidates who are legally permitted to work for UNICEF in Bangladesh, independently of UNICEF appointment, will also be considered. 

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.

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. 

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.

Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their candidate profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in the Applicant system in order to be considered.  The information submitted will be used for administrative purposes, salary/step determination and conditions of employment. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be accepted for applications that have already been submitted for this position.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.