Internal Batch Recruitment: (2 positions): Climate, Environment & DRR Specialist, NOC, FT, #138598 Belize, #138563 Suriname, Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean

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.

UNICEF’s Caribbean Multi-Country Office (MCO) serves twelve English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. As part of UNICEF's Future Focus Initiative, the Caribbean MCO brings together policy influence, technical expertise and strategic partnerships to advance results for children across the region through one integrated programme, one management structure and a shared pool of resources. The Multi-Country Programme 2027-2031 focuses on three shared outcomes: equitable access to primary health care, learning and skills; protection of children from all forms of violence; and child poverty reduction and resilience strengthening.

Under the overall guidance of the Assistant Representative and Team Lead for Child Poverty Reduction and Climate Resilience Strengthening, P4, located in Bridgetown, Barbados, the Programme Specialist - Climate, Environment & DRR Specialist will provide specialised technical expertise in climate change adaptation, environmental risk, and disaster risk reduction, supporting UNICEF Caribbean's engagement with climate-related threats to children's rights across all 12 MCO countries. At NOC level, the role contributes substantive depth in child-sensitive DRR frameworks, climate vulnerability analysis, and the integration of environmental risk into programme design and resilience planning. This is a technical position supporting UNICEF's disaster risk reduction, resilience and climate change agenda across the 12 countries under the MCO.

1. Programme development, management, monitoring and delivery of results.
2. Provide technical support to sections regarding climate, energy and environment, DRR (CEED) and resilience
3. Generate evidence, policy advocacy and positioning of UNICEF in climate change and children
4. Management of climate finance, partnerships and resource mobilization initiatives and provide linkages to regional and global efforts
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

This position belongs to the Child Poverty Reduction and Resilience Strengthening working group. If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  NOC CE DRR Specialist 2 positions Belize and Suriname.pdf

• Education: An advanced university degree, progressively responsible, job-related experience in in environment, climate change, environmental management, disaster risk reduction or related area social and economic development or related area.
• Work Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in programme/project development, focused on developing countries in areas related to development cooperation in climate change adaptation and mitigation, environment and socio-economic development.
  • Practical experience in supporting national policies and strategies on DRR, climate change and energy transition.
  • Specific expertise in developing climate rationale, programme/project formulation, implementation and monitoring related to climate change adaptation is required.
  • Knowledge on climate change impacts, climate risk assessments, and adaptation solutions required.
  • Strong familiarity with climate financing and donor landscape and priorities, particularly in the Caribbean.
  • Proven ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders.
  • Familiar with children's rights and gender in the context of climate change adaptation and mitigation.
  • Excellent analytical and writing skills, advocacy and presentational skills.
  • Experience and knowledge in climate financing instruments and ability to design and develop climate adaption projects is highly desirable.
  • Specialized training/experience in emergency response management highly desirable.
  • Experience in a UN organization is an asset.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

Candidates applying for NO positions must hold the nationality of the duty station country where the position is located, except for UNICEF internal candidates, holding a fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointment and are legally authorized to work in that country, independently of UNICEF appointment, and as per the Staff Selection Procedure. Candidates must hold and upload a valid CARICOM Skills Certificate when applying to positions located in a CARICOM Member State outside of their country of nationality, and are accountable for taking the respective steps for the verification of the certificate in the Duty Station, immediately upon arrival to the new Duty Station if selected for the position, in accordance with applicable immigration and employment requirements of the respective Country.

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

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

(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

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, candidates that meet all the requirements and are legally allowed to work in the respective DS 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.

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.

UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of visa or work authorizations for candidates under consideration for positions at the National Officer and General Service category.

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.

Advertised: 18 Sep 2026 Central America Standard Time
Applications close: 04 Oct 2026 Central America Standard Time

Back to search results Apply now Refer a friend