UNICEF – Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme – Institutional Support 2022-2025

This grant represents Canada's support to the Junior Professional Officers (JPO) Programme of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). It is part of a larger contribution to the UN JPO Programme which supports staffing of up to 15 JPO positions with young Canadian professionals in seven United Nations organizations (UNDP UNFPA WHO UN Women UNICEF WFP and UNHCR). UNICEF uses these funds to recruit and assign up to two young Canadians to JPO positions allowing them to gain field-based professional experience in international development and help support the organization's mandate towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child UNICEF advocates for protecting children's rights to help meet their basic needs and expand their opportunities to reach their full potential including in emergency situations. UNICEF also works to ensure the protection of children from violence and abuse.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) increased engagement of young Canadians through international work opportunities in the United Nations’ system; and (2) increased access to a pool of highly qualified Canadian professionals interested in pursuing international careers in Canada and abroad.