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.

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For every child, the right to Access

In Cameroon, UNICEF supports the Government in strengthening equitable access to quality education and protective learning environments for children and adolescents, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalized populations affected by poverty, displacement, emergencies, exclusion, and protection risks.

The Maroua Field Office operates in the Cameroon’s Far North region in this fragile and volatile context exacerbated by climate shocks. In the region, UNICEF has the comparative advantage of co-leading the Education Cluster in the region in a humanitarian transition context. As such the Education section supports central and decentralized systems of education to improve the quality of learning and climate resilient learning environment, particularly girls and boys in hard-to-reach zones affected by poverty, exclusion, and emergencies.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Chief Field Office, you will provide professional technical, operational, and administrative assistance throughout the education programming cycle. You will ensure that education interventions are integrated with WASH, child protection, social protection, and other programmes within the field office portfolio; are adaptive to emergencies and climate risks; and are inclusive, prioritizing girls, displaced children, and children living with disabilities. You will also support data analysis, progress reporting, and ensure that education interventions are aligned with programme goals and objectives.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Support education programme planning, situation analysis, and results-based design using relevant data and evidence.
• Contribute to programme implementation, monitoring, reporting, and follow-up to ensure timely delivery of results.
• Coordinate with UNICEF colleagues, government counterparts, implementing partners, UN agencies, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Monitor the use of programme resources and support compliance with UNICEF procedures, donor commitments, and accountability standards.
• Identify implementation challenges, propose solutions, and document lessons learned for improved programme performance.
• Provide technical and operational guidance to partners on UNICEF education policies, strategies, standards, and best practices.
• Support field visits, programme reviews, reporting, and evidence-based decision-making, including in hard-to-reach areas.
• Strengthen partnerships, advocacy, and resource mobilization for inclusive, climate-resilient, and emergency-responsive education.
• Promote innovation, knowledge management, capacity building, and sustainable learning outcomes for children and adolescents.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Cameroon TA ToR Form Education Officer Maroua.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or another relevant technical field. 
• Work Experience: At least 2 years of relevant work experience in Monitoring and Evaluation, Education, quality education, inclusive education, education in emergencies, climate-resilient learning environments and any other related fields.
• Skills: Programme Planning, Data Analysis, Results Monitoring, Partner Coordination, Technical Guidance, Donor Reporting.
• Language Requirements: Knowledge French language at a Proficient/Fluent level is required.

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (English, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
• Background/familiarity with emergency is considered as an asset.
• 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 are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to UNICEF personnel only).

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member's original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

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.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.