UNICEF Is Hiring a Remote Programme Manager Consultant for 2026 (12-Month Contract)

UNICEF is hiring a Remote Programme Manager Consultant (Remote, 12 months) with the Office of Innovation. Global role focused on gender equality, innovation, and youth empowerment. Apply by 17 February 2026.

Overview

UNICEF is recruiting a Programme Manager Consultant for a 12-month, full-time remote consultancy within its Office of Innovation, based in Stockholm, Sweden.

This global consultancy will support the Game Changers Coalition, a flagship UNICEF innovation programme designed to close gender digital skills gaps and expand opportunities for adolescent girls in the gaming and technology industries.

The role is ideal for experienced programme managers with strong backgrounds in gender equality, innovation, youth empowerment, and multi-country coordination.

Key Job Details

Job Title: Programme Manager Consultant
Job Number: 590786
Contract Type: Consultancy
Duration: 12 months (full-time)
Duty Station: Stockholm, Sweden (Remote)
Division: UNICEF Office of Innovation
Functional Areas: Innovation, Programme Management, Gender Equality
Application Deadline: 17 February 2026

About UNICEF’s Office of Innovation

UNICEF’s Office of Innovation sits at the intersection of global development and emerging technology. It works with governments, startups, academia, and the private sector to identify, prototype, and scale solutions that improve outcomes for children and young people.

The Office focuses on:

Emerging technologies (2–5 year horizon)
Early-stage innovation and venture funding
Scaling proven solutions across countries
Youth participation and gender-transformative innovation

Programme Context: Game Changers Coalition

The Game Changers Coalition (GCC) is a first-of-its-kind global collaboration between UNICEF and the video game industry. It builds on UNICEF’s Skills4Girls (S4G) portfolio and aims to:

Equip adolescent girls with coding, design, and leadership skills
Increase female representation in the gaming workforce
Promote safe, inclusive, and representative gaming content
Bridge the gap between STEM education and future digital careers

The programme works with:

UNICEF Gender and Programme Groups
20+ UNICEF Country Offices
Global gaming publishers, studios, and communities

Role Purpose

The Programme Manager Consultant will act as the central coordination and delivery lead for the Game Changers Coalition within the Office of Innovation.

The consultant will ensure timely, cost-effective, and technically strong implementation across multiple countries and partners, while aligning GCC with other innovation initiatives such as RITEC and Fundoo.

Main Responsibilities for UNICEF Is Hiring a Remote Programme Manager Consultant for 2026 (12-Month Contract)

Serve as project manager for the Game Changers Coalition
Coordinate multi-country and multi-stakeholder programme delivery
Ensure alignment between:
- Office of Innovation initiatives
- UNICEF Gender Programme Group
- Country Offices and external partners
Provide technical assistance on:
- Gender equality
- Youth empowerment
- Digital and innovation programming
Maintain oversight of multiple workstreams, budgets, and timelines
Support reporting, documentation, and strategic communication
Strengthen partnerships with industry, UN teams, and country offices

Minimum Requirements

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in:
- International Development
- International Relations
- Gender Studies
A first university degree with 2 additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree

Professional Experience

Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience
Proven experience managing multi-country, multi-stakeholder programmes
Strong background in gender equality and girls-centred programming
Excellent technical writing, research, and communication skills
Experience or familiarity with the gaming or digital industries (preferred)
Fluency in English (required)

Desirable Assets

Experience working at country level, including fragile or humanitarian contexts
Previous experience within the UN system
Knowledge of another UN official language (Arabic, French, Spanish, Chinese, or Russian)

Travel Requirements

The consultancy includes limited international travel, approximately:

5 days – Germany (Cologne)
5 days – One GCC country (e.g. Bolivia, Bangladesh, or Indonesia)
3 days – Stockholm, Sweden

Payment & Contract Terms

Payment is based on agreed deliverables
Applicants must submit a financial proposal (all-inclusive fee)
Financial proposal must include:
- Travel costs (economy class)
- Daily subsistence allowance
- Visa and insurance costs, if applicable
Applications without a financial proposal will not be considered

How to Apply

Interested candidates must submit:

Online application via UNICEF Careers
Financial proposal using the official UNICEF template

📅 Deadline: 17 February 2026

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Why This Role Matters

This consultancy offers a rare opportunity to:

Work 100% remotely with a global UNICEF innovation team
Shape one of UNICEF’s most visible gender and technology initiatives
Collaborate with the global gaming industry to influence inclusion
Deliver measurable impact for millions of adolescent girls worldwide

Summary Table

Item	Details
Organization	UNICEF
Position	Programme Manager Consultant
Contract	12-month consultancy
Location	Remote
Focus Areas	Innovation, Gender Equality, Youth
Deadline	17 February 2026

SEO Keywords

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