For every child, the right to a Future
UNICEF Pacific works across 14 Pacific Island countries and territories: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Together, these countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and young people, dispersed across more than 660 islands and atolls spanning 17.2 million square kilometres of ocean. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, FSM, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States under World Bank/OECD criteria.
As UNICEF’s oldest and largest Multi-Country Office (MCO), the Pacific MCO serves as a model for newer MCOs globally. While all 14 countries have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, only one-third are meeting their reporting obligations. UNICEF supports governments to advance children's rights through integrated programmes in health, nutrition, education, child protection, climate resilience, and social policy, addressing challenges such as climate vulnerability, geographic isolation, and limited service delivery capacity.
Adolescent suicide rates in countries such as Kiribati, FSM, and Vanuatu are well above the global average, while access to mental health services remains limited. Shortages of trained professionals, weak implementation of care standards, and limited evidence on child and adolescent mental health continue to constrain effective responses. To address these challenges, UNICEF Pacific works with governments, NGOs, civil society, and faith-based organisations to strengthen child protection and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services. Between 2023 and 2025, UNICEF and partners implemented a range of multi-sectoral initiatives aimed at preventing abuse, reducing risks, and closing critical service gaps.
Living in Fiji
Working and living in Fiji offers a rewarding experience in one of the Pacific’s most vibrant and culturally rich settings. Based in Suva, the country’s administrative and commercial hub, staff benefit from a welcoming community, diverse cultural traditions, and access to a range of amenities including quality housing, healthcare, education, banking, and reliable communications. Fiji’s tropical maritime climate brings warm temperatures year-round, with a wet and cyclone season that requires preparedness and flexibility. While the cost of imported goods can be relatively high and occasional service interruptions may occur during severe weather, Suva provides a generally comfortable and supportive living environment. With its strong sense of community, emphasis on respect and cultural awareness, and opportunities to travel across the Pacific, the duty station offers a unique balance of professional fulfillment and personal enrichment, ideal for those ready to adapt and make a meaningful impact for children and communities.
How can you make a difference?
The Partnerships Officer support Partnership Specialists and senior management in deepening collaboration with key stakeholders and helping to provide an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization, and policy influence within the scope of assignment. The key result is to ensure greater visibility for UNICEF and influence in support of its mission.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities
Under the general guidance of the Partnerships Specialist, the Partnerships Officer will undertake the following functions:
Minimum requirements
Desirables
- Relevant Experience in partnership development, donor engagement, resource mobilization, public affairs, programme management, or external relations. Stakeholder Collaboration- Supporting collaboration with governments, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society organizations and development partners. Research Capability- Conducting research and analysis on partnership trends, development assistance policies and stakeholder landscapes. UN Exposure- Exposure to international development, humanitarian or multilateral environments, or within the UN system, Pacific Experience- Working in Pacific Island Countries, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), or other multicultural and geographically dispersed contexts is desirable.
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
- Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(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
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 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 promoting 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 candidate’s 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 female candidates, candidates from the East Asia and Pacific region and people with disability 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.
The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
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.
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.