UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, health. The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations. UNICEF became operational in Greece in early 2016 as an outposted team from the Regional Office of Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) to respond to the significant influx of refugee and migrant children and their families at that time. Following several years of engagement with national stakeholders, UNICEF and the Government of Greece made a decision in January 2020 to formalize the agency’s presence in the country under the form of a Greece Country Office. This office falls under the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia located in Geneva, which supports the work of 21 Country Offices within its geographical scope, reporting in turn to global headquarters in New York. Within the framework of an expanded mandate for all children in Greece, UNICEF and Greece moved towards an even greater collaboration and partnership in order to address the needs of all vulnerable, marginalized and left-behind children in the country.
In the context of the Country programme for Greece (2022-2026) approved by the UNICEF Executive Board in March 2022, UNICEF and the Government of Greece have agreed on national targets for children, concerning health, education, social protection, child protection, justice and youth employability. Regarding the Health and Nutrition agenda, and within the context of the National Action Plan on Public Health (2021-2025) and the National Prevention Programme ‘’Spyros Doxiades’’. UNICEF is scaling up programming to address the high prevalence of childhood obesity in the country through the following pillars:
i. advancement of an enabling environment including strengthening regulations, policies, and strategies to promote healthy diets, practices, and services for the prevention of childhood obesity,
ii. programmes that strengthen the primary prevention of childhood obesity, including actions to improve nutrition in infancy and early childhood, prevention intervention programs at the school and community/municipal level, as well as developing awareness raising campaigns for social and behavioral change,
iii. interventions to enhance secondary and tertiary prevention and response programmes,
iv. establishment of a European Regional Initiative on Childhood Obesity as a platform to enable exchange of lessons learned, good practices, and proven effective approaches to address childhood obesity among and within EU member states,
v. development of strategies and programmes focusing on achieving social and behavioral change so that children and their caregivers across Greece make more informed lifestyle choices.
As regards the promotion of family health, UNICEF has agreed with the Ministry of health on the following priorities: system and policy strengthening on public health, reinforcement of the health service provision for families, the promotion of effective programmes promoting family health in the national context.
In view of the above, in the context of the National Action Plan on Public Health (2021-2025) and the National Prevention Programme “Spyros Doxiades” UNICEF is scaling up programming to promote child and family health through paediatric primary care. The aim of the programme will be to capacitate paediatricians in screening and identifying behavioural disorders, ensuring at the same time a robust referral system and availability of free of charge mental health services to support children and their families in need of support.
How can you make a difference?
The Programme Officers will support the implementation of programmes( childhood obesity and child and family health) in the context of the Greece Country Programme 2022-2026 already agreed with the Government, and in partnership with all relevant stakeholders and partners. In addition, the Programme Officers will ensure adequate linkages with other areas of UNICEF GCO’s overall thematic work, in order to deliver integrated services for children and their families.
The Programme Officers will be responsible for providing professional technical assistance and support for programme design, planning and implementation, management and evaluation of programme activities, and progress reporting, in support of programme goals and objectives.
3.Partnership and capacity building
Facilitate partnership, collaboration and coordination with internal and external counterparts, including Ministries and other stakeholders, and exchange information on programme status. Provide operational support and technical advice to implementing partners and ensure visibility of the childhood obesity programme goals. Provide government authorities and implementing partners with technical assistance and support in planning and organizing training for the purpose of capacity building and programme sustainability. Promote and maintain the building and reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of national and local partners in the context of the UNICEF Greece Country Office efforts by providing continuous support, coordination and collaboration for sustainability.To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Development, Community Development, Public Health, or another relevant technical field. A minimum of one year of relevant professional work experience in programme/project design, implementation and/or monitoring is required. Experience in child health/nutrition programme family or child health programme/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset. Fluency in Greek and English is required.For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability (CRITAS)
Core Values
• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability
Core Competencies ▪ Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1) ▪ Works Collaboratively with others (1) ▪ Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1) ▪ Innovates and Embraces Change (1) ▪ Thinks and Acts Strategically (1) ▪ Drive to achieve impactful results (1) ▪ Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)
View our competency framework at
https://www.unicef.org/careers/get-prepared#Competencies
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. 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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.
Remarks:
This is a Generic Vacancy Announcement (GVA) for Programme Officers NO1 posts in UNICEF Greece. Successful and recommended candidates of this talent group would be assigned/offered placement to positions subject to necessary approvals and funding availability.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
This vacancy is archived.