UNICEF is seeking an Emergency Specialist – Cash Based Assistance Beneficiary Data (P‑3) to support regional and country offices in managing payment recipients' personal data for cash-based assistance in humanitarian contexts. Based within the Global Risk Management Cash Assistance Hub, the role supports the rollout of digital tools, including the HOPE system, strengthens data management practices, and provides technical assistance for cash programmes and frontline worker incentives. The position contributes to data protection, system development, and data analysis to support effective and accountable cash assistance programmes.

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 Future

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF’s fundamental mission is to uphold the rights of every child, everywhere – across programmes, advocacy, partnerships and operations. Guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF places equity at the heart of its work, recognizing that the most disadvantaged and excluded children must be prioritized to achieve sustainable development for all. 

The Global Programme Division (GPD) provides global strategic leadership and policy direction, develops and monitors frameworks and standards, and ensures coherence and alignment across sectors, regions and partners. GPD strengthens country-level implementation through integrated technical support, linking global policy with on-the-ground action to deliver results for children at scale. 

UNICEF has established Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Nairobi, Panama, Amman and Bangkok to provide high-quality, demand-driven technical assistance to Country and Regional Offices and their partners, including support on policy reform, programme design, public finance, institutional strengthening and humanitarian response.

The position is part of the Global Risk Management Cash Assistance Hub based in Nairobi, which supports UNICEF’s work on child poverty, social protection, and cash-based assistance, including the rollout of digital solutions used by country offices scaling up cash assistance in emergencies.

Under the supervision of the Emergency Specialist – Beneficiary Data, this position will support regional offices and country offices on payment recipients' personal data management function to reach people affected by humanitarian crisis with cash assistance. 

The position will also be responsible for supporting personal data management tools to reach Front Line Workers with cash incentives and provide remote support as needed, in close collaboration with HQ and regional teams.

The position will also contribute to raise the organization profile on payment recipients' personal data management (data protection, collection, processing, storing and exchange) and contribute to maintain UNICEF corporate Management Information System (HOPE) fit for purpose and aligned with country office needs. 

Key accountabilities include:

  • Payees Data System Design, Deployment and Support
  • Support HOPE Operational Framework
  • Data Analysis 

The post requires frequent extended travel to conflict and natural disaster affected countries and extended working hours.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File Classified Job Descriptions - Emergency Specialist_00118752.pdf

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

  • Minimum requirements:
        1. Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Economics, Social Science, Data analytics, Database Management or other related fields.
        2. Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Information Technology, Cash assistance, Data management, Humanitarian Response, Beneficiary data management, Management of information Systems.
        3. Skills: Data analytics, database management, mobile data collection, cash-based assistance, beneficiary data management, information management systems.
        4. Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.
  • Desirables:
      1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
      2. Experience in implementing cash-based assistance programmes in fragile and humanitarian contexts is desirable.
      3. Experience in Beneficiary Data system for cash-based assistance programmes in fragile and humanitarian contexts at field level is desirable.
      4. Experience in business operation environments with a proven track record of interfacing with multiple stakeholders (internal and external).
      5. Experience in working with UN agencies (UNICEF experience preferred) at interagency level.
      6. Experience in using mobile data collection applications (e.g.: ODK and Kobo).
      7. Experience in using GIS software and data sources.
      8. Detailed knowledge of Structured Query Language (SQL), alternatively solid command of STATA or other statistical software is accepted.
      9. Experience in programming languages (Python, Visual Basic, Java) is an asset.
      10. 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.

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.

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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.