Programme Associate, Nutrition and Child Development

Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Duty Station: Brussels
Level: G-6
Location: Belgium
Categories: Programme Management

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*

Join UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) and help shape the future of child nutrition worldwide.

The Child Nutrition Fund is a UNICEF-led global financing and coordination mechanism designed to transform how undernutrition is addressed across countries. By mobilizing and strategically allocating resources, the CNF supports governments and partners to scale up high-impact policies, programmes, services and supplies that prevent, detect and treat malnutrition among children and women.

Based in Brussels within UNICEF’s Global Programme Division, the Programme Associate will be part of a dynamic international team working at the forefront of global nutrition initiatives. The role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative financing mechanisms, strengthen programme delivery across multiple countries, and collaborate with a wide range of internal and external partners dedicated to improving nutrition outcomes for the world’s most vulnerable children.

How Can You Make a Difference?

As a Programme Associate, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the effective implementation and monitoring of the Child Nutrition Fund’s global portfolio. Working closely with colleagues across UNICEF and external partners, you will help ensure that resources are managed efficiently, programme results are tracked effectively, and critical information is translated into actionable insights.

You will contribute to grant management, budget monitoring, data analysis, reporting, project coordination, stakeholder engagement, knowledge sharing, and operational support. Through your work, you will help strengthen programme performance, support evidence-based decision-making, and contribute to UNICEF’s mission of ensuring that every child has the opportunity to survive, thrive and reach their full potential.

This role is ideal for a motivated professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced international environment, has strong organizational and analytical skills, and is passionate about making a measurable impact on children’s lives globally.

Join UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) Management Unit in Brussels and contribute to one of UNICEF’s flagship global initiatives addressing child malnutrition. In this role, you will support the effective delivery of CNF-supported programmes by coordinating grant management processes, monitoring budgets and programme performance, analyzing data, and facilitating collaboration with internal and external partners. Working within a dynamic international team, you will help ensure that resources are used effectively to accelerate nutrition outcomes for children and women globally.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Grant Management, Budget Monitoring and Reporting
• Operational and Administrative Support
• Project Management and Implementing Partnership Coordination
• Data Management, Analysis and Reporting
• Communication, Knowledge Sharing and Stakeholder Engagement
• Capacity Building and Event Coordination
• Flexibility and Surge Support during Emergencies and Priority Initiatives

Through these responsibilities, you will contribute to evidence-based decision-making, effective programme implementation, and the successful achievement of UNICEF’s global child nutrition goals.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Job Description - Programme Associate GS6-clear.docx

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

1. Education: Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical, vocational, or university-level studies in a field relevant to the work of the organization or other related disciplines.
2. Work Experience: A minimum of six years of progressively responsible administrative or clerical work experience is required. Relevant experience may include administration, grant management, budget management, financial reporting, project coordination, data analysis, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder engagement, partnership management, knowledge management, administrative support, or other related fields.
3. Skills:
4. Project Management

Create project plans, objectives and deliverables. Track and organize resources like time, budget, and team efforts. Identify and report potential risks for further guidance

1. Collaboration

Navigate organizational dynamics and adapt behavior to respond to different situations.Choose appropriate words, tone and tailors’ messages respectfully and persuasively to suit different audiences.Write clear, concise and well-structured reports and documents using appropriate language.Pay close attention to what others are saying, asking questions for clarification.Present ideas and information clearly in front of groups.

1. Problem Solving

Analyze data, identify trends, patterns and anomalies.Evaluate information, analyze problems, identify underlying causes and risks.Summarize and communicate findings, focusing on actionable insights to support decision-making.Make decisions in time-sensitive situations, even with incomplete information.Assess the potential impact of solutions (costs, benefits and risks).

1. Digital Dexterity

Utilize AI-powered tools and platforms to automate data analysis.Apply prompts to improve the quality of reports and data, ensuring alignment with internal regulations and policies. Use specialist technology business systems and software.Analyze and summarize data from various business systems to generate reports and insights.

1. Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
2. Experience in international organizations is an asset.
3. SAP, SharePoint, data privacy, AI tools
4. Prior experience in programme support functions is an asset.
5. Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
6. 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 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.

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.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization 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.

Deadline: 02 Sep 2026 Romance Daylight Time