Stretch Assignment: EMOPS (Remote)
Title: Humanitarian Policy Specialist
Level: P3/P4 – we encourage staff from all levels with the relevant experience to apply
Reports to: Advocacy and Policy Specialist P4
Duration: 4 months
Section: Humanitarian Policy Section, (HPS),
Location: New York, UNITED STATES
Dates/Duration: Stretch assignment from June until September 2025.
Eligibility: All Fixed-Term, Permanent or continuing appointment UNICEF staff members currently working in UNICEF worldwide.
Background
The Humanitarian Policy Section (HPS) provides policy advice, guidance and support to UNICEF headquarter divisions and regional and country offices to ensure that key humanitarian policy issues are reflected in programme implementation, advocacy and in inter-governmental and UN inter-agency engagement.
The Protection/ Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC)/Humanitarian Advocacy team within HPS assists in the development of policy and guidance and engages in advocacy related to emerging international humanitarian law and human rights issues affecting children or UNICEF’s humanitarian operations. The team provides guidance and support to UNICEF headquarter divisions, regional and country offices on the CAAC agenda, including strategic engagement related to the monitoring and reporting mechanism (MRM), the Secretary-General's Annual Report on CAAC and the Security Council Working Group (SCWG) on CAAC. The team also provides policy guidance on Protection of Civilians (PoC) issues, is currently developing a policy on the Centrality of Protection (CoP) and works to influence mandate renewals of UN Missions and other processes of concern to UNICEF, including UNGA, ECOSOC, Human Rights Council, and Security Council resolutions. The team contributes to humanitarian advocacy on key situations, including engagement with UN Member States and coordination of UNICEF’s coverage of the Security Council, including briefings by the UNICEF Executive Director’s to the Council.
Purpose of the Position
Lead the process of developing a UNICEF-wide policy on the Centrality of Protection (CoP). Prioritize technical support for the development of the CoP policy, manage the policy consultation process and engage with relevant internal and external actors for its finalization. In addition, the position will entail supporting the HPS team on adjacent workstreams, as needed, including CAAC, Protection of Civilians (PoC) and country-specific advocacy initiatives.
Duration
This stretch assignment will be for a period of four (4) months.
Key expected results
• Advance the process of developing a UNICEF-wide policy on the CoP, including by organizing and participating in internal and external consultations, providing technical inputs on CoP, integrating and negotiating views and perspectives from key stakeholders (HQ, regional, country-office), managing the policy process, carrying out and consolidating inputs from country-level consultations and navigating and abiding to UNICEF’s Regulatory Framework.
• Closely engage and seek the buy-in of key CoP stakeholders, including at headquarters, regional and country-office levels and ensure a well-documented, transparent and inclusive process.
• Represent UNICEF in relevant fora during which CoP is discussed, as needed.
• Prepare briefing notes, background documents and inputs on CoP for internal and external engagements by UNICEF seniors.
• In support of other team members, provide technical support and guidance on adjacent HPS workstreams, including CAAC, PoC and country-specific advocacy initiatives, as needed.
Minimum Qualifications and Competencies
Education: Advanced university degree in social sciences, international development, international law, emergency management or related technical field relevant to UNICEF programs.
Work experience:
• At least five years of progressively responsible relevant professional work experience in humanitarian action, protection of civilians or humanitarian policy at the field and/or international levels, with UNICEF or in other I/NGOs is required.
• Prior experience and demonstrated in-depth knowledge and practice on the protection of civilians, the application of humanitarian principles, international humanitarian law or children rights, including children and armed conflict, is required.
• Prior experience with managing policy processes and/or complex organization-wide consultations is desirable, including engagement with external and internal stakeholders.
We are looking for candidates who possess strong analytical and technical skills within the field of protection of civilians/children, the ability to work with multiple stakeholders and the capacity to project manage complex processes. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential for this role. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of policy or consultation processes.
Language Proficiency: Fluency in English is required and at least one other UN Language is an asset.
Funding arrangement
This is a temporary development opportunity and there will be no changes to the staff member’s status (position number, level, etc.).
Interested UNICEF staff should discuss this opportunity with their supervisor and seek the approval of their management before applying.
Candidates considered potentially well-matched for the stretch assignment will be contacted for an informal interview. Supervisors may also be contacted for references.
Application Process:
To be eligible to apply, you should have:
• An existing Fixed-Term, Permanent, or Continuing appointment with UNICEF that runs through the duration of the assignment.
• An approval from your supervisor.
• Two most recent PERs with a minimum of solid achievements.
Upon receipt of your supervisor’s agreement, please apply on the TMS,, attaching the approval by COB 8 May 2025:
• Cover letter outlining your motivation to apply for the stretch with the starting date between June and September 2025;
• Current CV;
• Your last two PERs;
• A signed approval letter from your supervisor.
