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, SAFETY
Ethiopia is situated in the Horn of Africa and is the second most populous country on the continent with an estimated population of 115 million. It borders six African countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, and covers 1,104,300 square kilometers. Approximately 85 percent of the population lives in rural areas. Ethiopia represents a melting pot of ancient cultures with Middle Eastern and African cultures evident in the religious, ethnic, and language composition of its people.
Over the past couple of years, children and their families across Ethiopia faced multiple and complex emergencies, such as the conflict in the northern Ethiopia and the drought, which resulted in millions of people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. UNICEF has programmes in Child Protection, WASH, Health, Nutrition, Social Policy, and Education and serves over 15 million children in Ethiopia. Join UNICEF Ethiopia to contribute to improving the lives of children and women.
How can you make a difference?
Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks
1. Safe and Reliable Driving Services
- Drive UNICEF staff, visitors, consultants, or goods to/ from official locations, including remote field sites.
- Always comply with local traffic laws and UNICEF safety standards.
- Maintain professional demeanor and discretion, when driving staff and external guests.
- Meets and assist Staff, officials and visitors at airports, including minor protocol support, and may assist with basic visa and customs formalities and arrangements when required.
2. Routine Vehicle Care, Maintenance and Readiness
- Conduct daily vehicle checks e.g. fuel, oil, lights, battery, brakes and tires.
- Arrange timely service and repairs in coordination with the supervisor.
- Keep the vehicle clean, secure and fully equipped with necessary supplies, e.g., first aid kit,
- fire extinguisher, tools and logbook, insurance, etc.
- Assist in preparing the vehicle for field missions or long-distance travel.
3. Use of Digital Tools and Tracking Systems
- Operate the vehicle tracking system (VTS) installed in the vehicle to log trip data and support safe driving behavior (when VTS has been installed otherwise manual log books recordings s.
- Update and validate bookings using the UN mobility Tool, supporting smooth ground travel operations.
- Use mobile devices, tablets, or apps as instructed to manage routing and trip status.
- Learn and comply with digital fleet procedures and reporting requirements.
4. Trip Documentation and Reporting
- Maintain accurate manual and digital trip logs, including milage, fuel usage, trip details and service history.
- Update and validate bookings using the UN Mobility Tool, supporting smooth ground travel operations.
- Use mobile devices, tablets or apps as instructed to manage routing and trip status.
- Learn and comply with digital fleet procedures and reporting requirements.
5. Communication and Emergency Readiness
- Use VHF/HF radios and mobile phones to maintain communication during field
- movements or emergencies.
- Be familiar with emergency response protocols and incident reporting.
- Operate basic vehicle recovery tools, including winches or jacks, where applicable.
- Cooperate with UNDSS and field teams for secure routing in high-risk areas.
6. Support Office Operations During Idle Periods
- Complete learning modules in AGORA, especially those related to road safety, ethics and digital tools.
- Support light administrative work e.g., mail delivery, office errands, or basic document handling,
- Participate in team meetings, safety briefings or planning sessions.
- Assist in organizing or cleaning fleet- related materials and supplies.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: [attach JD/TOR here]
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education:
- A secondary education is required, along with a valid driver`s license and knowledge of local driving rules and regulations.
Work Experience:
- A minimum two years of work experience as a driver in an international organization, embassy or UN system with a safe driving record is required.
- Previous UNICEF experience is desirable.
Language Requirements :
- Fluency of the local language of the duty station as well as proficiency in English is required.
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… Builds and maintains partnerships (1)
- Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)
- Drive to achieve results for impact (1)
- Innovates and embraces change (1)
- Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)
- Thinks and acts strategically (1)
- 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 candidates and persons 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.
[Applicable to TA recruitments, remove the below if it's an FT position]
UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).
The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.
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.
