Join UNICEF in strengthening safeguarding across Eastern and Southern Africa. We are looking for an experienced and passionate Safeguarding and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Programme Specialist to provide strategic leadership and technical support across four Country Offices. Reporting to the Deputy Regional Director, with matrix management arrangements involving the Representatives of participating Country Offices, the incumbent will work closely with country teams, to drive the implementation of UNICEF’s Safeguarding Policy, strengthen PSEA systems and capacities, and provide expert guidance on prevention, reporting and response to SEA. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to safer, more accountable programmes and help ensure that children, communities and partners remain protected from harm.
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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
The UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR) continues to face significant risks related to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). Over the past three years, the region has recorded a high number of SEA allegations, each requiring timely and coordinated follow-up to ensure survivor-centred support, appropriate risk management, and sustained organizational accountability. Ten countries in ESAR are currently reflected in the global SEA Risk Index, which assesses country-level SEA risks, particularly in humanitarian and emergency contexts.
Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) remains a non-negotiable organizational commitment for UNICEF. Recent reporting to the Executive Board has highlighted important progress while underscoring the need to sustain and consolidate these gains. Similarly, the UNICEF PSEA Audit examined the effectiveness of governance, risk management and control mechanisms across UNICEF’s global operations, with key recommendations emphasizing sustainable financing, stronger cross-divisional collaboration, and expanded engagement with government partners.
At the same time, increasing expectations from donors and partners reinforce the importance of sustained investment in safeguarding and PSEA systems to ensure that UNICEF programmes and operations remain safe, accountable and responsive to potential risks of harm. In ESAR, growing engagement with the World Bank has further emphasized the importance of robust PSEA systems as an integral component of programme implementation and partnership arrangements.
As PSEA arrangements evolve across Country Offices, continued regional technical support and capacity strengthening will be important to sustain effective safeguarding systems.
Under the supervision of the Deputy Regional Director, the Multi-Country Safeguarding and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Programme Specialist will provide strategic leadership, technical guidance and operational support to strengthen safeguarding and PSEA systems across ESAR. The incumbent will support Country Offices in meeting UNICEF’s institutional and programmatic commitments, strengthening prevention and response mechanisms, building sustainable national and partner capacity, and ensuring that safeguarding and PSEA considerations are systematically integrated across programmes and operations.
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For every child, hope.
For more information about our programme, please visit our website:www.unicef.org/esaro/
How can you make a difference??
1. Support the rollout of the Safeguarding Policy (including PSEA) at Country Office level
- Coordinate with HQ Divisions to provide technical support for policy rollout and implementation guidance.
- Support Country Office Risk Management, Planning, and Safeguarding/PSEA Focal Points through regular meetings, training, and improved communication.
- Strengthen safeguarding and PSEA integration in Program, Operations and People and Culture work.
- Promote adherence to global safeguarding and PSEA policies and procedures among UNICEF staff and partners with training, awareness and monitoring.
- Assist in reporting, managing, and responding to safeguarding and SEA concerns/incidents in coordination with OIAI and relevant divisions.
- Track progress at country level through tools such as pulse surveys or targeted assessments.
2. Provide ongoing technical support on the PSEA Portfolio
- Implement global and regional guidance and strategies to address SEA, including survivor assistance, SEA risk assessments, and engagement with governments and partners.
- Ensure survivors have access to appropriate services (medical, psychosocial, legal, material) in line with the UN Victim Assistance Protocol.
- Collaborate with Risk Management teams to operationalize PSEA assessments for CSO implementing partners and related risk management procedures.
- Strengthen inter-agency PSEA initiatives, including establishing in-country PSEA Networks.
- Represent UNICEF in regional inter-agency PSEA working groups and HQ coordination groups; maintain close relationships with focal points in other regions.
- Support capacity building efforts, including co-facilitating PSEA training for UNICEF and implementing partner staff on international standards, roles, complaint mechanisms, and GBV services.
- Provide technical support to Country Offices, identify trends, challenges, and good practices, and escalate findings to HQ for continuous improvement.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education
Advanced university degree in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or a related social science field.
Work Experience
- Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in programme design, planning, implementation, and management related to safeguarding, child protection, GBV, PSEA, or similar fields—preferably within the UN.
- Experience in humanitarian and/or development contexts implementing safeguarding, PSEA, or protection programming.
- Familiarity with safeguarding and PSEA developments, inter-agency responses, humanitarian cluster systems, and intersections with GBV, Child Protection.
- Experience in training and capacity building in safeguarding or PSEA.
- Strong communication, facilitation, training, networking, and advocacy skills.
- Proven ability to work independently under challenging conditions and exercise sound judgment in high-pressure situations.
- Demonstrated ability to work in multicultural environments and build effective working relationships internally and externally.
Language Requirements
- Fluency in English and French is required.
- Knowledge of Portuguese is an asset.
Additional Desirable Qualifications
- Experience working in ESAR developing countries and/or emergency contexts 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 is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.
According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. AtIn UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.
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 Men candidates from High Income Region 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.
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.