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 strength!
UNICEF has been working in Cameroon since 1975 to allow women and children to fully realize their rights to development without restriction, as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF provides financial and technical support to Cameroon across seven areas to fully realize the rights of women and children. These areas include Health, HIV/AIDS, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, nutrition, education, child protection, and social inclusion. UNICEF focuses mainly on children and the most vulnerable and excluded families. The population is young and generates strong socioeconomic demand. In rural areas, limited access to basic social services and the effects of climate change led to household impoverishment and severe child deprivation. The task is immense but not insurmountable; it requires the energy of all stakeholders in Cameroon and beyond. Everyone is invited to participate in the struggle to meet the challenges ahead. Together, we will act for Cameroon, a country that summarizes the challenges and hopes of Africa.
To learn more about UNICEF Cameroon, use the link below link
https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/CMR/SitePages/AboutUs.aspx
How can you make a difference?
You will contribute to the promotion of children’s rights in Cameroon providing technical and strategic guidance in the use of applied behavioral science, gender and social norms diagnostics, and evidence-driven innovation. You will also contribute to stronger understanding of behavioral determinants, community dynamics, and participatory approaches to shift entrenched practices, especially those affecting adolescents and marginalized groups. As well as further ensures the meaningful integration of behavioral data and social intelligence into decision-making and supports national academic systems in institutionalizing child rights, SBC training, and long-term knowledge generation
1. Technical guidance and support by applying advanced behavioral methodologies (e.g., segmentation, conjoint analysis, HCD) to uncover behavioral barriers and design targeted solutions.
2. Capacity building by conducting capacity assessments and design training programs to strengthen SBC knowledge and behavioral science application among staff and partners.
3. Partnership in leading strategic partnerships and systems strengthening to institutionalize SBC through evidence, innovation, and multi-sectoral collaboration
4. Coordination with Lead cross-sectoral efforts to embed social and behavioral evidence into strategic planning, budgeting, and implementation frameworks.
5. Monitoring, evaluation, and learning to strengthen evidence-based SBC systems and institutional partnerships in Cameroon
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description 
SBC Specialist Applied Social and Behavioral Sciences and Data.docx
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in Social and Behavior Change (SBC), Communication for Development, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Public Health, Applied Anthropology, or a related discipline. Additional training in behavioral science, social norms theory, innovation in development, or academic research methods are an asset.
- Work Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the design, implementation, and evaluation of SBC or community-centered programs at national and international levels, with a strong focus on applied behavioral science, social norms change, or academic partnerships.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of a local language spoken in Cameroon is considered an asset
Desirables:
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.
• Proven experience in conducting and translating operational and behavioral research into program design, including the use of mixed methods with an emphasis on qualitative inquiry, social norms diagnostics, and participatory approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-sectoral coordination, engage with academic institutions, and design capacity-strengthening initiatives related to SBC, behavioral insight generation, or social data systems.
• Experience working with digital tools, innovation platforms, and behavioral intelligence mechanisms (e.g., U-Report, social listening) to inform and adapt programming.
• Strong track record in facilitating strategic partnerships with universities, civil society, and government to institutionalize SBC or child rights content in curricula, research agendas, and community engagement frameworks.
• Experience with UNICEF, UN agencies, international NGOs, or development partners in both development and humanitarian contexts is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication skills, verbal, written, and visual, with demonstrated ability to convey complex concepts to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences, including influencing senior-level stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal, coordination, and negotiation skills, with a proven ability to lead and collaborate across diverse teams, sectors, and institutions
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 (1)
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(1)
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact (1)
(4) Innovates and embraces change (1)
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)
(6) Thinks and acts strategically (1)
(7) Works collaboratively with others (1)
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 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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable Female and candidates 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.
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.
Cameroon CO specific: 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.
NB: This VA is open to all internal staff and other UNICEF personnel (including consultants, UNVs, TAs etc.).
