International Consultant for an After-Action Review of the UNICEF Cambodia 2025-2026 Border Response, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

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 opportunity. 

UNICEF started operation in Cambodia in 1952 and opened first country office in 1973 in Phnom Penh. More information on what we do in Cambodia is available at https://www.unicef.org/cambodia/.

How can you make a difference? 

The primary purpose of this After-Action Review (AAR) is to generate evidence for learning on key elements of UNICEF’s response to, and preparation for, the 2025-2026 Cambodia border crisis. The AAR findings, conclusions and recommendations will provide insights and lessons to inform the transition to recovery and future emergency preparedness and response. The exercise is internal in nature, intended to inform UNICEF preparedness for future emergencies and/or flare-ups of the current conflict.

The specific objectives of the AAR are to:

• Review the adequacy of preparedness and the effectiveness of UNICEF’s response, with a focus on core humanitarian benchmarks (including timeliness, coverage of vulnerable groups, quality, accountability to affected populations, coordination, linkage to recovery), the use of relevant procedures, and strengthening of national systems.
• Unpack in more detail those areas of preparedness and response that continue to be weak.
• Distill good practices observed that could be built upon or mainstreamed within the office for the transition to recovery or to inform future emergency response, including inclusive practices that supported equitable access for women, children, and persons with disabilities.
• Make recommendations on addressing the identified gaps/weaknesses.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TOR Cambodia AAR 2026 tms.docx

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

Minimum requirements:

• Holding an advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in international development, public policy, evaluation or a similar research field
• At least 8 years of experience in research, monitoring, evaluation and learning processes. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in conducting assessments, reviews and evaluations for emergencies, humanitarian response, early recovery, disaster risk reduction and preparedness.
• Demonstrable experience working with international organisations (e.g., the United Nations) in conducting assessments, reviews, and evaluations of humanitarian programmes, disaster risk reduction, and emergency response. Experience of leading or working on an assessment, review and/or evaluation of a recent major humanitarian disaster is an added advantage.
• Good knowledge of strategic and operational management of humanitarian operations and an ability to provide strategic recommendations to key stakeholders.
• Experience in organizing workshops and facilitating consultation to bring consensus to discussions.
• Competencies: Proven skills in research, evaluation, and use of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques. Strong analytical skills and ability to clearly and succinctly synthesise information, draw practical conclusions, make recommendations and to prepare well-written reports in a timely manner.
• Language: Excellent command in written and spoken English language.
• Prior work experience in Cambodia and proficiency in the local language would be an asset.

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

The 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 

[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

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 may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

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 [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] 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.

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.