Representative, D-2, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, dedication.

The Representative serves as the accredited representative of the UNICEF Executive Director in the Country and reports to the Regional Director for general direction. The Representative is responsible for establishing dialogue with the government to develop the framework of cooperation in the country and for working closely and collaboratively with government and national institutions, stakeholders and partners, to develop the UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation in support of UNICEF’s and national and international development efforts to advance children’s rights as established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, international treaties/framework and UN intergovernmental bodies.

How can you make a difference?

As head of one of UNICEF’s largest Country Offices, the Representative is responsible for directing and guiding senior managers of large and complex programmes/projects and operations supporting the CO programmes in a decentralized setting and high risk environment and; providing leadership and vision to the UNICEF country programme team in managing and leveraging resources for the achievement of results and fulfilment of the rights of children. The Representative directs and oversees the various programme sectors and operational service teams ensuring delivery of quality results in accordance with UNICEF Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework, ethics, and integrity.

Brief country context:

Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa (about 110 million, of whom 41.3 million are children under 18 years of age) with exceptionally diverse cultural, demographic and development profiles. The country combines both development and emergency contexts. Economically, the country is characterized by a difficult macroeconomic situation, slow economic growth, high inflation, high unemployment, and low foreign currency reserves.

Ethiopia is facing a major humanitarian crisis with about 5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), of whom about 40% are children and an active conflict situation in the north. There are 808,000 refugees from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, the Sudan and of other origins across the country. In addition, Ethiopia is dealing with multiple health epidemics including cholera, measles, yellow fever, as well as drought in several parts of the country.

In such a diverse and complex environment, UNICEF cooperation in Ethiopia focuses on policy and technical advice, systems strengthening, capacity development, service delivery, humanitarian action, and partnership engagement to support the advancement and fulfillment of child rights. The overall programme environment is characterized by strong national counterparts. The UNICEF programme is delivered through an expanded network of government and non-government implementing partners.

Within its capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia hosts the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union (AU).  The UNICEF liaison office to the AU is also based in Addis Ababa.

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

• An advanced university degree in social sciences, international relations, government and public relations, public or social policy, sociology, social or community development, or other related fields, is required.
• A minimum of 15 years of professional development experience that combines intellectual and managerial leadership in development cooperation at the international level, served in developing countries, is required. Relevant professional experience in any UN system or organization is an asset.
• Oral and written proficiency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.
• Experience working in emergency duty stations is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Delivers results
• Engages and nurtures
• Demonstrates self-awareness
• Manages complexity and change
• Creates and maintains impact and partnership
• Innovates and takes risks

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.