Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: Nicaragua
Closing date:
30 Aug 2019Duty Station: Managua, Nicaragua
Type of Position: Temporary Appointment- 6 months, P1
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, participation
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. Therefore, 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.
Since April 2018, UNICEF Nicaragua has a volunteering strategy that aims to promote the participation of adolescents and young people to contribute to the protection and promotion of children's rights in the country. This strategy has been designed as a cross-sectoral tool to accelerate the achievement of the three outcomes of the Cooperation Country Program (2019-2023): child survival and development, quality and equitable education and protecting children against violence, abuse and exploitation. As mentioned in the Country Program Document (CPD), volunteering is a programmatic instrument that allows children's rights to be placed on the public agenda, complementing the institutional cooperation of UNICEF with the Nicaraguan State and society. The strategy has also a strong focus on developing University student volunteers’ skills, so they become leaders in promoting Children’s Rights in the country.
During the first months of its implementation, the volunteering strategy achieved significant progress and interesting results. 65 students from 3 Universities committed themselves to promote children’s rights. Through their projects supported by UNICEF Nicaragua, 177 children participated in activities in which they had the opportunity to adopt self-care practices to prevent sexual abuse. The initiative has allowed UNICEF Nicaragua to have a direct contact with communities and reach some of the most vulnerable groups of children.
Based on these achievements and learnings, in 2019, the strategy entered a stage of implementation at a higher scale and further institutionalization within the structure of the Country Office. The process of integrating the volunteering strategy within the different program components is being strengthened, according to the Cooperation Country Program 2019-2023, including the development of the skills of the staff who will be responsible for the strategy in the future, guaranteeing its sustainability.
How can you make a difference?
The Project Officer reports to the Deputy Representative for close guidance and supervision. The Officer provides professional technical assistance and support for program design, planning and implementation, management and evaluation of program activities, data analysis and progress reporting, in support of program goals and objectives, specially the Country Office volunteering strategy.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
Technical support and assistance provided to elevate the quality of rights-based programs, and add coherence, synergy and value to project management process by using results-based management.Programme monitoring and evaluations effectively conducted to improve program performance, and program status reports timely prepared.Technical support and assistance provided to enhance effective communication and networking through partnership and collaboration.Technical contribution to and participation in effective knowledge management made to strengthen country program management and activities, including data collection, analysis, and information sharing/exchanges.Contribution and support provided to build and reinforce commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners.- Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management Approach:
Facilitate the transition towards the institutionalization of the volunteering strategy in the programmatic and operational structure of UNICEF Nicaragua, guaranteeing the articulation of the volunteers' projects with the priorities of the Cooperation Program (2019-2023).Support a rights-based program approach in the formulation of program goals and objectives and development of strategies and implementation frameworks. Collaborate with partners and assist in the strengthening of quality child rights-based programs through consistent and effective planning, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects. Contribute to coherence, synergy and added value to the programming planning and design processes using a results-based management approach to programme planning and design.Provide professional technical assistance in preparing viable recommendations on project implementation, alternative approaches, new initiatives and optimal utilization of resources that contribute effectively to the fulfilment of the rights of children and women.Provide technical and logistical support to groups of volunteers for their training and for the design, planning, implementation and monitoring of their projects.Supervise the design and implementation of digital tools that facilitate the development of the volunteering strategy.2. Programme Monitoring and Evaluations:
Undertakes field visits to monitor and assess youth volunteering strategy implementation and decides on required corrective action.Guarantee the monitoring of the projects implemented by the volunteers, including the organization of field visits to supervise and support their activities.Collaborate with partners to carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation and participate in major volunteering strategy evaluation exercises to improve efficiency and quality of the strategy work plan implementation. Participate in annual review meetings with students and university authorities. Collaborate and prepare annual status reports in a timely manner, as required.- Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration:
Facilitate partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, to improve the ability to collect and disseminate development data and information, exchange information on program status and implementation.Maintain close collaboration with Regional and HQ Advisers for overall coordination. Ensure fluid communication with the Global Volunteer Office of UNICEF headquarters to optimize the financial and technical support received.Represent UNICEF before the authorities of the universities to develop institutional relationships that optimize the commitment of student volunteers, also exploring other areas of cooperation in training and research.Represent UNICEF in spaces of exchange and promotion of the participation of adolescents and young people.Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.Provide professional support in the provision of technical advice, negotiation, advocacy and promotion of country level goals, leading to agreement on practicable and priority actions to be supported by the UNICEF program.Collaborate with the Operations Section to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of programming endeavors and to coordinate financial management requirements and accountability. Approve allocation and disbursement of funds ensuring they are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated in accordance with the program budget allotments (GRANTS).4. Knowledge Management:
Contribute to country program by supporting knowledge management through providing professional assistance in data collection and analysis, complete and accurate reporting as well as participation in the Programme Knowledge Network system of “lessons learned" and other corporate-level databases.Participate in information exchange with partners as well as in the development of training and orientation material by providing professional technical assistance.Document the volunteering strategy with a focus on results, developing a framework for monitoring and evaluating the initiative.5. National and Local Capacity Building/Sustainability:
Promote and maintain the building and reinforcing of the commitment and institutional capacities of the national and local partners by identifying these partners and partnerships and providing continuous support, coordination and collaboration for sustainability.Provide training on the volunteering strategy to UNICEF colleagues who will be in charge of it in the future.Coordinate the training processes directed to the student volunteers: design of the methodologies, preparation of learning materials and organization of the workshops.Train and supervise the interns assigned to the support of the volunteering strategy.To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or another relevant technical field.An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) is considered an asset.A minimum of one year of relevant professional experience in related field is required.Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) or a local language is an asset.For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
The competencies required for this post are: Formulating strategies and concepts (I); Analyzing (I); Applying technical expertise (I); Learning and researching (II); Planning and organizing (II)
View our competency framework at
http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
How to apply:UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=522530