Programme Associate (G-6), FT, #00137969, Pretoria, South Africa

Job no: 594893

Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment

Duty Station: Pretoria

Level: G-6

Location: South Africa

Categories: Operations

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 Commitment.

The UNICEF country programme 2026-2030 supports the Government’s efforts to ensure that, by 2030, the most vulnerable children, adolescents and young people in South Africa will live in a safer and more equitable environment, get a fair chance in life and realize their rights to survive, thrive and reach their full capacity.

The theory of change states that children and adolescents will progressively realize their rights if they can more fully utilize social assistance and basic social services supported by: (i) Government implementation of legislation with greater accountability, more strategic use of evidence, better interdepartmental coordination and more effective public finance management; (ii) a “whole-of-society” approach to leveraging investments in children, mobilizing support from the public and private sectors, as well as civil society; (iii) parents, caregivers and front-line service providers that deliver integrated programmes to reduce harmful practices and promote optimal behaviours for children’s and adolescent’s development and well-being; and (iv) empowerment to participate in decisions that affect their lives and communities.

The country programme has four programme outcomes aligned with the national priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2026–2030. These outcomes focus on investing in children; child survival and adolescent well-being; education; and child protection. The programme will maximize opportunities to advance child rights, presented by the global stature of South Africa, rooted in the legacy of Nelson Mandela and its leadership in development and human rights. How can you make a difference?

The Programme Associate (PA) at the G-6 level will operate within a pooled function consisting of two PAs who report to the Quality Assurance Specialist. The role provides support across all Programme Sections, with responsibilities and workload distributed through matrix management accordingly.

The position serves as a key link in operational delivery, requiring regular coordination and collaboration with multiple units, including Programme, Operations, Finance, and Supply. It also involves engagement with external partners, particularly in relation to HACT support.

You will provide a broad range of programme, administrative, HACT and procedural support to facilitate the delivery of the programmes. Working as a hub of two Programme Assistants, you are expected to facilitate the implementation, monitoring, and delivery of programme results by ensuring the timely and effective execution of tasks aligned with UNICEF rules and regulations. The Programme Associate (PA) exercises judgment, anticipates needs, and recommends actions that contribute to programme planning, implementation, and reporting results.

You will be required to liaise regularly with multiple units within the office, including Programme sections, Operations, Finance, and Supply, as well as with external partners (government ministries, NGOs, donors). Given recent advances in the development and use of digital systems, including those based on AI, you will also be required to promote the use of such systems to create efficiencies and streamline repetitive tasks.

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

Minimum requirements

• Education: Completion of secondary education is required. Professional and/or university courses related to the field of work are highly desirable.
• Work Experience: A minimum of six (6) years of relevant administrative and/or clerical experience in areas such as administration, programme funding, monitoring and evaluation, development, operations, supply management, programme communications, contract management, donor reporting, data management and analysis, grant management, capacity building, event coordination, or related fields is required.
• Skills: To be considered for this position, you should have proficiency in SAP VISION, HACT, Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Power BI, and AI-enabled digital tools.
• 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.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, with the ability to analyze data, generate reports, and manage large datasets efficiently, are desirable.
• Previous experience within the United Nations system or other international organizations is desirable.
• 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