Shape global solutions for children affected by forced displacement. UNICEF is seeking a Child Protection Specialist (Migration, Displacement & Learning) to lead learning, evidence generation and knowledge exchange across its flagship PROSPECTS Partnership and global migration and displacement programming. Based in Nairobi within UNICEF’s Global Programme Division, this role offers a unique opportunity to influence policy dialogue, strengthen partnerships, and scale child‑centred solutions across regions. Join a dynamic, multi‑agency environment and help transform learning into action for children on the move.
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 a Chance
How can you make a difference?
UNICEF’s Global Programme Division (GPD) provides global leadership to drive programme excellence, policy coherence, and innovation across the organization. Through its Centres of Excellence, GPD links global policy ambition with country‑level implementation, offering specialized technical expertise to governments, UNICEF offices and partners to deliver results for children at scale.
This position is based in Nairobi, one of UNICEF’s global Centres of Excellence, and sits within the Child Protection & Migration Practice of the Global Programme Division. The role contributes to UNICEF’s leadership on migration and displacement, supporting countries to design inclusive, sustainable systems that protect children on the move and strengthen social cohesion with host communities.
A core focus of the role is UNICEF’s engagement in the PROSPECTS Partnership, a flagship, multi‑year collaboration financed by the Government of the Netherlands and implemented together with IFC, ILO, UNHCR and the World Bank across Eastern and Southern Africa and the Middle East and North Africa. PROSPECTS aims to transform responses to forced displacement by bridging humanitarian and development approaches and promoting self‑reliance, learning and protection for displaced populations and host communities.
The Child Protection Specialist (Migration, Displacement & Learning) plays a strategic role in capturing evidence, generating learning and shaping global policy dialogue. By strengthening learning systems, amplifying successful models and supporting scale‑up, the position directly contributes to UNICEF’s Strategic Plan (2026–2029) and the Global Programme Framework for Children on the Move.
Join UNICEF’s Global Programme Division and play a strategic role in shaping how the world responds to forced displacement for children. As Child Protection Specialist (Migration, Displacement & Learning), you will lead UNICEF’s learning and knowledge management agenda within the PROSPECTS Partnership and across global migration and displacement work, ensuring evidence, innovation and lived experience drive policy influence, programme quality and scale.
In this role, you will design and operationalize learning and knowledge management systems, generate and synthesize evidence to inform global dialogue and flagship publications, and elevate learning through strategic dissemination, events and digital platforms. You will strengthen inclusive, participatory learning processes, amplify youth and community voices, and support replication and scale‑up of successful models. Serving as a focal point for selected country offices, you will facilitate knowledge exchange, anticipate technical assistance needs, and help translate global learning into practical, country‑level impact—directly contributing to UNICEF’s Strategic Plan and the Global Programme Framework for Children on the Move.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
Classified Job Descriptions - Child Protection Specialist-Migration, Displacement & Learning (P4.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements
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- Education: An Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Policy, International Development, International Law, Social Sciences, Economics, Education, or a related field is required.
- Work Experience: At least 8 years of progressively responsible professional work experience in international development. Designing, managing, and coordinating multi-sectoral programmes (e.g., protection, education, adolescent development, social protection). Managing complex multi-stakeholder partnerships, with proven ability to coordinate with multiple UN agencies, international organizations, and government counterparts.
- Skills: strong expertise in knowledge management and learning systems, as well as the ability to capture, synthesize, and share evidence to inform policy and programming. The profile emphasizes experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder partnerships and working across UN agencies, governments, and partners.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.
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Desirables
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- Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
- Direct experience with the PROSPECTS Partnership is a strong asset.
- Managing and oversight of large, multi-country donor funds, results-based reporting, and ensuring donor compliance is an asset.
- Experience in developing country and humanitarian contexts is highly desirable.
- Working on issues related to migration, displacement, peacebuilding, and/or social cohesion is considered an advantage.
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.
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 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.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
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.