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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 Protection

Violence against children remains widespread in Madagascar, with social and cultural norms continuing to favour violence as a form of discipline and child-rearing. According to MICS 2025, 9 in 10 children aged 1–14 experience violent discipline, while 8 in 10 experience psychological violence. Other protection risks, including violence against adolescent girls, child marriage and child labour, remain significant, with important geographic and socio-economic disparities, particularly affecting children and families in rural, remote and underserved communities. Child marriage is particularly prevalent, with 42% of women aged 20–24 married before age 18, while 25% of children aged 5–17 are engaged in child labour. These challenges are compounded by limited awareness of rights and services and unequal access to protection and response mechanisms.

Madagascar’s child protection system remains fragile, fragmented and unevenly operational. While a policy and legal framework is in place, services remain limited, underfunded and concentrated in a small number of locations. Capacity for comprehensive case management, including assessment, referral, follow-up and sustained support, remains limited, with responsibilities often falling to community volunteers or civil society organizations in the absence of professional social work positions within government. Weak multisectoral coordination and limited integration with health, education and justice services further constrain system effectiveness. Since 2024, UNICEF has therefore supported the Government to shift towards a systems-strengthening approach at national and subnational levels.

Under the UNICEF Madagascar Country Programme 2024–2028, Child Protection focuses on strengthening a comprehensive, functional and resilient national and subnational child protection system. The programme encompasses: (1) strengthening the enabling environment; (2) preventing violence against children, including child marriage; and (3) strengthening quality response services, including social welfare, case management and justice services. UNICEF works closely with the Ministry of Population and Solidarities and other relevant government institutions, as well as international, national and local partners, to strengthen coordination, service delivery and monitoring of the child protection system.

Based in the Child Protection (CP) Section, the Monitoring Officer leads and coordinates the Section’s planning, monitoring and reporting requirements, ensuring that programme priorities, results and implementation progress are systematically tracked, analysed and documented. The position provides technical expertise on data collection, analysis, information management and reporting to support evidence-based programme planning, decision-making and implementation. The Monitoring Officer also contributes directly to programme implementation, with a particular focus on strengthening government and partner capacities in child protection data collection, analysis and information management systems, including systems for monitoring child protection risks, services and case management. The position supports the development and use of quality data and information at national and sub-national levels and works closely with government counterparts and partners to strengthen monitoring systems, data quality and the use of evidence to inform programme delivery and policy for child protection.

The position contributes to cross-sectoral learning, knowledge sharing and harmonization of monitoring practices through participation in office-wide monitoring and evidence-generation mechanisms, including the Inter-Sectoral Programme Monitoring and Evaluation Group (GISEP).

Summary of key functions/accountabilities: 

1. Setting Standards for Programme performance planning and monitoring
2. Support to implementation of evaluations
3. Networking and partnership building
4. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
5. Protection Sector Information Management Function
6. National Child Protection Information Management System Strengthening

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD Monitoring Officer_Child Protection_NOB FT.pdf

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

Minimum requirements

• Education: Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Economics, Statistics, Social Science, Economics (Soc.Sci), Development Studies, International Development, Sociology, Psychology, Education, Demography, Public Policy, Population Studies and any other related fields is required.
• Work Experience: At least 2 years of relevant work experience in Child Protection, Monitoring and Evaluation, Programme Management, Information Management, Data Analysis, Program Planning, Results Reporting, Capacity Building, Stakeholder Engagement, Sector Coordination, Information Systems Management and any other related fields is required.
• Skills: Proven experience in Child Protection programming, supported by strong skills in Development Analysis, Programme Planning and Implementation, Monitoring & Evaluation, and the effective management of administrative arrangements in complex and evolving environments are required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in French and Malagasy are required. Intermediate English language knowledge is required.

Desirables

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Experience in data analysis, systems monitoring, programme evaluation, and programme planning, complemented by international experience and a demonstrated ability to lead effective sector coordination initiatives are considered an asset.
• 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.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children's data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

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 female candidate 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.