United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Entry Programmes
The UNICEF JPO Programme gives donor-sponsored young professionals hands-on development experience with UNICEF. UNICEF also lists 1 other entry routes on this page.
Last reviewed: 15 July 2026
Entry programmes
Junior Professional Officer Programme
The UNICEF JPO Programme gives donor-sponsored young professionals hands-on development experience with UNICEF. UNICEF lists donor-country nationality and an advanced degree. It also lists fluency in English and at least two years of relevant experience. Source
- Track: Junior Professional Officer (JPO)
- Eligibility: UNICEF maintains its own donor-government selection criteria, so sponsor countries follow UNICEF's list rather than the broader UN DESA or UNDP JPOSC lists.
- Minimum degree: Master's
- Typical max age: 32
- Typical window: Posted throughout the year
- Cycle: Rolling recruitment
- Vacancies are published on UNICEF Jobs and donor-government sites.
- 21 donor sponsor countries. Confirm on the official source.
- Programme page
UNICEF Internship Programme
UNICEF internships give students and recent graduates practical experience in UNICEF offices worldwide. UNICEF internships normally run six to 26 weeks. UNICEF provides a monthly stipend and may contribute to travel or visa costs when funding is available. Source
- Track: Traineeship
- Minimum degree: Bachelor's
- Typical window: Posted throughout the year
- Cycle: Rolling recruitment
How to read timing
Dates here describe typical or recent patterns from official sources, not live application deadlines. Confirm the current call on the programme or careers page before you apply.
Where to look next
Browse related open roles below, then read eligibility and deadlines on the official UNICEF careers site. For staff pay by grade, see the UNICEF salary guide.
Relevant open roles
Search all jobsLast checked 17 July 2026 · 5 roles
- Public Finance for Children Consultant (LTA)UNICEF
Santiago, CLCloses 27 JulUNICEF Chile is establishing a Long-Term Agreement (LTA) for specialized consultants to support the Public Finance for Children (PF4C) agenda. Selected experts will provide technical assistance in fiscal policy, budget analysis, and social protection to ensure effective and equitable resource allocation for children and adolescents.
- Clean Air ConsultantUNICEF
Bangkok, THCloses 24 JulThis consultancy provides technical leadership and programme guidance to operationalize the Clean Air for Healthy Children agenda. The role involves delivering air quality monitoring expertise, health impact assessments, and direct technical support to UNICEF Country Offices from the Bangkok Centre of Excellence.
- Programme Officer (Budget)UNICEF
Cox's Bazaar, BDCloses 19 JulThis role supports strategic programme financial management and grant oversight for the Rohingya Refugee Response in Cox's Bazar. The officer ensures efficient resource utilization across a diverse portfolio of grants while providing financial analysis to support senior management decision-making in a complex humanitarian setting.
- Chief of HealthUNICEF
Kabul, AFCloses 26 JulThe Chief of Health provides strategic and managerial leadership to UNICEF's health programme in Afghanistan, overseeing a large portfolio that includes maternal and child health, immunization, and health systems strengthening. Operating in a complex humanitarian and development environment, the role focuses on balancing immediate emergency responses with long-term systems development. The position requires an experienced leader capable of engaging effectively with partners and de facto authorities to improve health outcomes for women and children.
- People and Culture ManagerUNICEF
Beirut, LBCloses 17 JulThe People and Culture Manager serves as a strategic HR partner for UNICEF Lebanon, aligning human resources management with organizational objectives in a complex humanitarian context. The role provides leadership on workforce planning, talent management, and organizational change to ensure a resilient and inclusive workplace culture.