Youth Engagement Officer

Job Title: Youth Engagement Officer

Organization: United Nations Volunteers (UNV)

Host entity: UNICEF

Assignment country: Iraq

Expected start date: 01/09/2023

Sustainable Development Goal: 8. Decent work and economic growth

Volunteer category: National UN Youth Volunteer

Type: Onsite

Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Basrah

Details

Mission and objectives

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations. UNICEF reaffirms its commitment to leaving no one behind and promoting gender equality in all its programmes. UNICEF’s work on gender equality is guided by the Gender Action Plan 2018-2022, which advances Youth Participation and engagement, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in key areas of UNICEF's work.

Context

• As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Basra CFO as a primary supervisor and NOB ADAP officer at ICO as secondary technical supervisor • Support the National Officer and Gender Specialist by overseeing Gender Equality (GE) components and strategies outlined under the Canada project, focus on ensuring socially excluded girls’ right to skills development and learning, including tailored transitions to entrepreneurship, work are supported and monitored closely with frequent travel to Baghdad and Anbar. • Support the provision of hands-on technical quality assurance ensuring that ADAP programming are strongly implemented in all stages of programme management, including programme planning/design, implementation and monitoring/evaluation and reporting based on RBM principles in the southern area of Iraq. • Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to collect/analyze/share information on implementation issues with linkages to gender equality, suggest solutions on routine programme implementation and submit report to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decision. • Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned. • Support the strengthening of national and local capacities for GE concepts and approaches in close coordination with UNICEF Gender Specialist; identify and lead new initiatives to strengthen national and local capacities for gender equality. This includes guidance on region-specific strategic direction, ensuring technical excellence and overseeing the quality of programmatic work on gender equality. • Provide advice technical support and monitoring to the Government and CSO stakeholders to help integrate youth engagement into programmes interventions, expand networks and partnerships with appropriate government counterparts, civil society, youth groups and other stakeholders for GE and girls’ empowerment including tools and approaches that aims to provide knowledge, techniques, and tools to develop skills and changes in attitudes and behaviors. • Support the management and coordination of partnership activities, developing content, and facilitating partnership activity implementation both virtually and in person. • Strengthen and expand inter-agency meetings/events on ADAP programming in the southern area of Iraq to collaborate with inter-agency partners on gender programs/projects. Identify and synthesize global and regional best practices and lessons learned for knowledge development, innovative methods to advance Youth development • Liaise, support, and assist field level PM&E staff in overseeing the effective integration, monitoring and reporting. Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual programme reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare minutes/reports on results for follow up action by higher management and other stakeholders. • Support and work with local partners in ensuring reporting requirements are fully understood and adhered to (i.e translating the robust log frame into actual documentation and reporting on results according to set indicators). • Prepare technical reports and inputs for programme preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevancy of information. Ensure gender equality approches put fort by the program are well reflected and addressed • Participate and support in evidence-based programme/project planning on gender, incorporating robust measurement and evaluation of results. • Support indicator identification, measurement and performance tracking as it relates to gender mainstreaming and girls’ empowerment in the project activities. • Participate in cross-sectoral collaboration and coordination on key programmatic results on gender, ensuring coherence, maximization of synergies and efficiency in utilization of resources and delivery of results on gender and girls’ empowerment. • Liaise and consult with sections, government, and other external partners (civil society, NGOs, private sector) to support convergence, and develop and reinforce partnerships in gender programming. • • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Eligibility criteria

Age

18 - 26

Nationality

Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

2 years of experience in fields is required: anthropology, psychology, sociology, education or another relevant technical field. • A minimum of one year of professional experience in social development planning and management in adolescent development related areas is required. • Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset. • Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset. • Sound understanding of gender equality and gender issues in international development and in Iraq context. • Experience implementing field programming and monitoring in low- and middle-income settings. • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Experience developing case studies, documenting lessons learned, etc. desired; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Area(s) of expertise

Development programmes

Driving license

-

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required Arabic, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology, Education

Competencies and values

Professionalism. Integrity Teamwork and respect for diversity Commitment to continuous learning Planning and organizing Communication Flexibility

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers receive a volunteer living allowance to sustain a basic, adequate and safe lifestyle. This allowance varies from one location to another depending on local living costs, but all national UN Volunteers in the same location receive the same allowance. Below is a summary of the Conditions of Service. Allowances The purpose of allowances for national UN Volunteers is to enable the national UN Volunteers to sustain a modest and secure standard of living at the duty station. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward or salary in exchange for the volunteer work. Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): All national UN Volunteers are entitled to a monthly volunteer living allowance of USD 1,381.53 The purpose of this allowance is to cover the basic living costs of the national UN Volunteer, and her or his family when applicable. The allowance is to ensure that the volunteer can sustain a basic, adequate and safe lifestyle. The monthly allowance rate is a fixed rate for the duty station as established by UNV headquarters. Resettlement allowance: Eligible national UN Volunteers are entitled to receive a resettlement allowance upon satisfactory completion of the assignment. The allowance assists the volunteer to reintegrate into society both professionally and personally upon completion of their UN Volunteer service.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Reasonable accommodation

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.

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