Programme Specialist (Risk & Safeguarding), P-3, Fixed Term Position, Islamabad, Pakistan, #00136528

Organizational Context

UNICEF works in over 190 countries to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The Risk and Safeguarding Unit (RSU) drives integrated risk management, encompassing ERM, SES, PSEA, and Programme Implementation Risk Management. This enhances programme quality and effectiveness, ensuring UNICEF and its partners realize the rights and improve the lives of every child.

Job Purpose

The Programme Specialist (Risk & Safeguarding) provides technical support to programme and operations teams in implementing Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) and broader safeguarding functions, including Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), partner safeguarding assessments, and risk mitigation measures. This role, under the Risk Manager (Safeguarding), supports an integrated risk management approach aligned with global policy, consolidating SES, safeguarding, and PSEA within a unified risk portfolio. The position contributes to strengthened coordination, enhanced accountability, and improved compliance across programmes and operations, ensuring effective safeguarding standards and risk-informed decision-decision-making. It helps drive an integrated approach to risk management in programming and safeguarding, enhancing the quality of UNICEF’s programmes and operations. This includes supporting the development and rollout of relevant corporate regulatory framework instruments across pillars like ERM, SES/PSEA, Programme Implementation Risk Management (PRM/HACT), and operational continuity.

Responsibilities

The Programme Specialist is responsible for providing technical support to programme and operations teams in implementing Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) and broader safeguarding functions. This includes conducting partner safeguarding assessments, developing and monitoring risk mitigation measures, and ensuring robust Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) protocols are in place. The role supports an integrated risk management approach, aligning with global policy frameworks that consolidate SES, safeguarding, and PSEA within a unified portfolio. Key duties involve contributing to strengthened coordination, enhanced accountability, and improved compliance across all programmes and operations, thereby ensuring effective safeguarding standards and risk-informed decision-making. Furthermore, the specialist assists in the continuous development, improvement, and rollout of relevant corporate regulatory framework instruments. This encompasses supporting Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Programme Implementation Risk Management (PRM), including the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT), and managing operational risks and business continuity. The position also involves engagement with Complaints and Feedback Management (CFM) processes to enhance overall programme quality and effectiveness.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in programme management is required. This experience should include working with the UN and/or INGOs, with a specific focus on coordination, programme management, risk management, and community engagement in developing countries.

Skills

Analytics, Capacity building, Networking facilitation, Stakeholder communication, Workshop facilitation, Programming tools and processes (UNICEF preferred), Safeguarding and PSEA expertise, UN harmonized approach (PSEA module, requirements), Application of PSEA framework/tools, Risk-informed approaches, Experience in humanitarian settings, Country-level development/fragile contexts experience

Explore related opportunities