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.

UNICEF is seeking a dynamic and committed professional to join its team as a Child Protection Officer, supporting the delivery of high-impact programmes that safeguard children's rights and well-being. You will play a critical part in providing technical assistance, supporting programme design and implementation, monitoring progress, and strengthening child protection systems, contributing to reaching the most vulnerable children with critical services. You will work closely with government counterparts, civil society, and development partners to support systems strengthening, evidence-based approaches, and scalable solutions.

As a Child Protection Officer, you will be responsible for the provision of technical assistance, and supporting the effective design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of child protection programmes. Working under the Chief Child Protection, you will contribute to strengthening legal frameworks and policies as well as systems that protect children from violence, exploitation, abuse, and harmful practices, with a strong emphasis on equity and reaching the most vulnerable. Your role engages internal and external partners, including government counterparts, development partners and civil society, to facilitate and coordinate programming, and to mobilize and leverage resources. In this role, you will also support evidence generation that will contribute to advocacy and addressing harmful social norms, innovation for programme delivery, knowledge management and capacity building. Through proactive coordination and a strong drive for results, you will help strengthen programme quality and reach, while at the same time maximizing effectiveness and efficiency.

Minimum Requirements

Education: Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Law, International Development, Psychology, Sociology, international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, social science and any other related fields.

Work Experience: At least 2 years of relevant work experience in child protection, program management, monitoring and evaluation, partnership management, capacity building, advocacy, knowledge management, resource mobilization, humanitarian response, policy development, and any other related fields.

Skills: Protection programmes, justice access, stakeholder engagement, social development, analytical thinking, advocacy

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset
• Inter-agency coordination, government counterparts; programme development, legal reform, EU grants, UN system
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts

UNICEF Core Values (CRITAS)

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

UNICEF Competencies Required

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

Important Note

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children's data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

Application Link: jobs.unicef.org

Advertised: 02 Jul 2026 South Africa Standard Time

Deadline: 13 Jul 2026 South Africa Standard Time