UNICEF Core Values
UNICEF's core values are our guide for our behaviors in our daily interactions with each other.
Delivering Results While Living our Core Values
What it means to you and to UNICEF
At the heart of working for UNICEF is our passion and commitment to our mission – realizing the rights of every child. How we work together to deliver results for children cannot be separated from the results themselves. As an organization that champions the rights of children globally, we as UNICEF colleagues must also champion the same standards for ourselves.
We must work to ensure an inclusive workplace where we respect, enable and empower each other to do our best for the world’s children. This vision applies to all our teams and offices around the world, including those in virtual and hybrid working environments. The UNICEF core values of care, respect, integrity, trust, accountability and sustainability, together with the competency framework, provide a guide for our behaviors in our daily interactions with each other and ensures that we abide by the United Nations (UN)/International Civil Service Standards of Conduct and the UN Oath of Office.
We encourage all individuals interested in applying for a position at UNICEF to study and embrace our values.
Care - We are mindful of each other’s well-being, professional growth, and development. We recognize that our staff are often working in stressful environments where insecurity and risk are a daily fact of life.
What UNICEF expects to see from you as a staff member
I support my colleagues in achieving their goals.
I make myself available to help my colleagues.
I am sensitive to the well-being of my colleagues and offer support as appropriate.
I voice my opinions in a truthful and respectful manner.
As a manager,
I support career development opportunities for colleagues, devoting time to coach, mentor, and build confidence to achieve personal and career goals.
I dedicate time and energy to the well-being of those I supervise and to my other colleagues.
I maintain team effectiveness and morale when dealing with changing priorities or ambiguous situations.
What staff members can expect from UNICEF
We create an environment where team managers promote and are held accountable for employee well-being and self-care.
We provide stability in the face of conflicting external pressures and tensions from stakeholders.
We promote and maintain a positive work atmosphere, enabling teams to remain engaged and to achieve results, despite operating in a complex environment.
We communicate openly and honestly about challenges and the actions required to address them.
Respect - We treat each other with the same level of thoughtfulness we want for ourselves, and we promote diversity, inclusion and a sense of belonging for all.
What UNICEF expects to see from you as a staff member:
I encourage others to contribute ideas and listen without interruption.
I acknowledge the different points of view expressed by my colleagues, even if I do not agree with them.
I adjust my language and tone to ensure it is not demeaning or aggressive. I speak in a calm voice and do not shout at others.
I am sensitive to cross-cultural differences and how my actions/behaviors may be perceived by colleagues from different backgrounds, including how my own cultural background can influence my perceptions.
As a manager:
I ensure the voices of diverse groups are heard and facilitate constructive discussions.
I involve my team members in decisions affecting them.
I create inclusive teams reflective of the diverse nature of the UNICEF workforce.
What staff members can expect from UNICEF
We promote a culture that values diverse opinions with input from all colleagues, regardless of hierarchy.
We promote empowering working environments, ensuring fairness, transparency, dignity and respect for all colleagues.
We create and promote an inclusive culture that enforces zero tolerance for discriminatory language and behaviors, bullying, harassment, exploitation and the abuse of authority.
Integrity - We act ethically, with honesty and transparency, setting the highest standards for ourselves as we work together and with partners, donors and the global community.
What UNICEF expects to see from you as a staff member:
I demonstrate appropriate ethical behaviours. I do not participate in malicious or discriminatory actions or harassment.
I challenge and/or report unethical and unprofessional behaviours when I see them.
I am transparent in admitting mistakes and taking corrective action.
As a manager,
I am open to constructive feedback without being defensive or taking actions which could be considered punitive or an abuse of authority.
I apply organizational policies, procedures and practices fairly and transparently.
I delegate responsibility and authority while fairly and transparently allocating tasks.
What staff members can expect from UNICEF
We act as role models and lead by example in the demonstration of ethical behaviours.
We take decisive action and respond appropriately to ethical issues and complaints of abuse of authority, discrimination, exploitation, bullying and harassment.
We actively promote a safe environment in which colleagues can voice their concerns, speak up, and act without fear.
Trust - We depend on and believe in each other to act in line with the core values and mission of UNICEF and in the best interests of children.
What UNICEF expects to see from you as a staff member
I openly share information and seek input from colleagues.
I am open to receiving constructive feedback and I seek to provide the same.
I sensitively address issues, conflicts and misunderstandings between myself and others.
As a manager,
I stand by my team members in difficult situations so they know they can rely on my support.
I keep the team informed about decisions and explain the rationale behind these, as appropriate.
I recognize individual contributions and acknowledge individual and team successes.
What staff members can expect from UNICEF
We hold team managers accountable for resolving conflict and misunderstanding in their teams.
We promote a culture where we can learn from conflict and disagreement.
We promote a collaborative working environment to eliminate silos and create a culture of knowledge-sharing.
We encourage open, proactive dialogue and enable the sharing of successes and failures.
Accountability - We hold ourselves and each other responsible for our behaviours; this means being answerable for our actions.
What UNICEF expects to see from you as a staff member
I plan and take ownership for delivering tasks with minimal supervision and do not create unnecessary work for others.
I take responsibility for my decisions and the consequences of my mistakes, without passing blame to others.
I respond with flexibility to changing circumstances, priorities and deadlines.
As a manager,
I provide vision and direction to guide my team to achieve the desired impact.
I clearly communicate my expectations, standards and results with my team.
I regularly discuss performance with my team, giving timely, honest and constructive feedback. I provide support to address issues and I ask for feedback in return.
What staff members can expect from UNICEF
We promote and nurture an environment that drives creativity, innovation, flexibility and responsiveness.
We create and promote a performance culture where colleagues have a strong sense of purpose, accountability and fulfilment.
We promote a culture of providing honest, continuous feedback about performance and of ensuring relevant support.
We promote a focus on the rights of children and the needs of our key stakeholders in the delivery of results.
Sustainability - We apply environmental sustainability in our personal life and at work, including in the design and implementation of UNICEF activities, so that our work protects the planet and its resources for the children we serve, now and in the future.
What UNICEF expects to see from you as a staff member
I minimize my waste and consumption of natural resources including energy and water. If waste is unavoidable, I dispose of it in an environmentally responsible way.
I uphold environmental standards when set by the office and actively participate in office greening activities.
I advocate for environmental sustainability and uphold locally relevant standards within my family and community.
I seek to learn more and be conscious about my impact on the environment.
As a manager,
I strive to lead by example in my team by practicing environmentally sustainable behaviors.
I actively encourage my supervisees to learn about and take action to reduce their impact on the environment.
I ensure that my team considers environmental sustainability in all our work areas to the extent possible.
What staff members can expect from UNICEF
We allocate funds and resources to ensure environmental sustainability across our programming, supply chains, partnerships and operations.
We recognize environmentally responsible behaviour and regularly communicate its importance to employees across the organization.
We constantly assess our own impact on the environment and how we can do better to reduce it.
