UNICEF's Global Programme Division (GPD) is seeking an experienced Programme Specialist (Cash Based Assistance), P-4 to support the Global Cash Hub based in Amman, Jordan. The incumbent will provide technical and operational support to UNICEF Country Offices, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa region, to design, implement and scale up cash-based assistance programmes in humanitarian and fragile settings. The role focuses on strengthening linkages with social protection systems, supporting risk management, building country office capacity, promoting partnerships, and contributing to global guidance and evidence generation on cash-based assistance programming. Extensive field mission support may be required to support country-level implementation and surge responses.

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 Champion

The position is based in Amman, Jordan, within UNICEF's Global Programme Division (GPD) and forms part of the Global Risk Management Cash Based Assistance Hub under the Poverty Centre of Excellence (CoE) Satellite Team. GPD provides global strategic leadership, policy direction, technical guidance and programme support to ensure programme excellence across UNICEF. Through its Centres of Excellence, UNICEF delivers specialized, demand-driven technical assistance to Country and Regional Offices and their partners. 

The Global Cash Hub provides timely and coordinated support to Country Offices to scale up cash assistance in fragile and humanitarian contexts and to implement direct payments to frontline workers. The Programme Specialist supports the design, implementation and monitoring of cash-based assistance programmes globally, with a particular focus on countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. The role contributes to strengthening linkages with social protection systems, building country office capacity, supporting risk management, fostering partnerships and promoting the effective use of cash-based assistance modalities in humanitarian and fragile settings. 

How can you make a difference?

As Programme Specialist (Cash-Based Assistance), you will play a key role in supporting UNICEF country offices to design, implement, and scale up cash-based assistance programmes in humanitarian and fragile settings, with a particular focus on the Middle East and North Africa region. Working closely with country, regional, and global partners, you will help strengthen risk-informed programming, enhance operational effectiveness, and promote sustainable linkages between humanitarian cash assistance and national systems.  

Key responsibilities include: 

  • Providing technical and operational support to country offices in the design, implementation, and expansion of cash-based assistance programmes, both remotely and through field missions.  

  • Supporting the delivery of direct cash assistance mechanisms and surge responses in humanitarian contexts, including extensive in-country mission support when required.  

  • Coordinating with beneficiary data management, financial management, and cash programming teams to ensure aligned and effective support to country offices.  

  • Building and maintaining partnerships with governments, UN agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders to strengthen cash transfer programming across the region.  

  • Supporting the development of risk management, monitoring, and verification systems that enhance accountability and programme quality.  

  • Reviewing programme strategies, plans, and key documentation to ensure the effective and consistent application of cash-based assistance modalities.  

  • Generating evidence and knowledge products through data analysis, documentation of lessons learned, and identification of best practices to inform global and regional advocacy efforts.  

  • Representing the Global Cash Hub in inter-agency coordination forums and supporting collaboration across humanitarian actors.  

  • Promoting the integration of cash-based assistance approaches across sectors, including Education, Health and Nutrition, Child Protection, WASH, and humanitarian response programmes.  

  • Supporting the rollout of capacity-building initiatives, global guidance, technical notes, and standard operating procedures to strengthen organizational and partner capabilities in cash-based assistance programming. 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File Classified Job Descriptions - Programme Specialist- Cash Assistance (P4.pdf

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements

  • Education: Advanced University degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, public administration, international law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines. Preferably a combination of management, administration, and relevant technical fields.
  • Work Experience: At least 8 years of relevant professional experience supporting humanitarian response at national and international levels, including a minimum of 6 years dedicated to cash-based assistance programming in humanitarian settings is required.
  • Skills: Strong expertise in designing, implementing, and monitoring cash-based assistance programmes. 
  • Ability to provide operational and technical support to country offices through both remote and in-country engagement 
  • Strong coordination and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively across technical, operational, and regional teams. 
  • Proven ability to develop and apply risk management, monitoring, and verification frameworks to strengthen programme quality and accountability. 
  • Strong analytical and evidence-generation skills, including data collection, analysis, reporting, and documentation of lessons learned and best practices. 
  • Experience designing and delivering capacity-building initiatives for staff, partners, and government counterparts. 
  • Language Requirements: Fluency in English and French is required.  

Desirables

  • Language: Knowledge of Arabic is highly desirable. Another official UN language (Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.  
  • Regional knowledge on Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. 
  • Experience providing technical support on cash-based assistance to governments, UN agencies, NGOs, or other partners. 
  • Programme planning, implementing, reporting, monitoring on the use of cash-based assistance modalities in humanitarian
    contexts.
  • Experience with beneficiary data management systems.
  • Experience developing and implementing risk management frameworks for cash-based assistance programmes.  
  • Experience working across multidisciplinary teams and functions. 
  • Previous experience with UNICEF. 
  • Strong communication, presentation, and influencing skills. 
  • 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
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

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.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

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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