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 innovate
The long-term vision for climate change is to advance climate-related initiatives and efforts, strategizing future plans and ensuring the effective implementation of existing projects related to climate and environmental issues. This result will directly contribute to UNSDCF Priority Three.
To achieve this, UNICEF will support the Government and CSO partners to:
- Improve gender-sensitive inclusive WASH infrastructure and quality materials, optimize school safety, climate resilience and disaster risk management, especially for those most disadvantaged.
- Improve line ministries and multi-sectoral stakeholders’ inter-sectoral coordination and institutional capacities to promote policies, strategies and opportunities for participation and skills development for adolescent boys and girls aged 10-19 years, with a focus on the most disadvantaged.
How can you make a difference?
The NOB Climate Change officer is based in Bishkek and will lead the strategic development and coordination of the Climate, Energy, Environment, and Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED) initiatives with a primary focus on climate change. The Officer will be instrumental in integrating climate considerations into UNICEF's operational fabric and programming. This role includes championing the adoption of low carbon, renewable energy solutions and amplifying the organization's capability to tackle climate-induced challenges. Through these efforts, the Officer will ensure that environmental sustainability is at the core of our operational and programmatic initiatives.
The Officer provides strong management and leadership to the work on climate change to deliver timely and quality results against the annual workplan and in line with the CPD. S/he will also be responsible for effective budget management, as well as ensuring compliance with donor conditionalities and effective coordination with development partners in the areas of responsibility.
Key Results Expected:
- Build partnership with Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Emergency Situations and Ministry of Natural Resources to ensure effective roll out of climate change programmes including follow up of NDC3.0 commitments.
- Strong coordination and collaboration to ensure timely and efficient programme implementation of climate change programming across two offices and with other sections where relevant.
- Build and leverage partnerships with IFIs and other key global players in climate change programming in the country to influence strategic decisions.
- Effective budget management to ensure timely and quality delivery of results.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
ToR CEED Officer NOB TA.docx
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: A University Degree in environmental sciences, climatology, geology, earth sciences, climate change, social science, disaster risk reduction, social and economic development, international cooperation, or another relevant technical field is required.
- Work Experience: A minimum of two years of professional experience in areas related to development cooperation in climate change adaptation and mitigation, environment and socio-economic development.
- Skills:
- Familiarity with children's rights and gender in the context of climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction is required.
- Excellent analytical and writing skills, advocacy and presentational skills are required.
- Evidence of agility and strategic thinking to ensure timely and effective programme delivery.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Russian is required. Fluency in Kyrgyz is an asset.
Desirables:
- Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree are desirable.
- Proven experience in partnership building with government / IFIs / other UN agencies.
- Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered an asset.
- Developing country work experience is considered 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
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 male candidates 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.
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.
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.
