Adolescent Development and Participation – Disability Inclusion Officer

Volunteering

Overview

Support adolescent development and disability inclusion initiatives in Mindanao.

You have:

• Demonstrated experience in designing, facilitating, or supporting safe, meaningful, and inclusive participation of adolescents, including marginalized adolescents and adolescents with disabilities, in programme planning, implementation, monitoring, advocacy, or accountability processes is required.
• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in inclusive programming, social development planning, and/or disability inclusion programming 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.
• Experience working in BARMM or similar fragile context is an advantage.
• Ability to work effectively and adapt in a challenging and multicultural environment, with both national and international staff.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimal supervision and meet tight deadlines.
• Sound security awareness.
• Interest in or commitment to UNICEF's mandate, volunteerism, and the UN system.

Contract

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The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does in programs, 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. Equity 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. (Visit: https://www.unicef.org/philippines/)

In line with the UNICEF Philippines Gender and Adolescent Strategy (2025-2028), the Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy (DIPAS) 2022-2030, and the Country Programme Document (CPD) 2024-2028, the post contributes to strengthening programming on Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP), and Disability Inclusion (DI).

The Adolescent Development and Participation – Disability Inclusion Officer will report to the Child Protection (CP) Specialist. The CP Specialist, in their role as ADAP Focal Point, and the Education Specialist, as Disability Inclusion Focal Point, will provide technical guidance and oversight.

The Adolescent Development and Participation – Disability Inclusion Officer will support programme planning, implementation, and monitoring, with particular attention to equity, disability inclusion, and the meaningful participation of marginalized adolescents in Humanitarian, Development, and Peacebuilding (HDP nexus) contexts in Mindanao, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Under the Adolescent Development and Participation and Disability Inclusion portfolios, the Adolescent Development and Participation – Disability Inclusion Officer will carry out the following tasks:

Adolescent Development and Participation (60%): 1. Support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of adolescent development and participation (ADAP) initiatives in line with UNICEF Philippines Gender and Adolescent Strategy and the Country Programme Document (2024 – 2028). 2. Facilitate safe, meaningful, and inclusive participation of adolescents in programme design, implementation, monitoring, and advocacy, particularly in conflict‑ and disaster‑affected contexts, including adolescents with disabilities, out-of-school adolescents, adolescent girls, and other marginalized adolescent groups. 3. Support coordination with government counterparts, Local Government Units (LGUs), BARMM ministries, and civil society partners to strengthen adolescent‑focused programmes and in identifying practical entry points for institutionalizing adolescent participation in local and BARMM planning, consultation, feedback, and accountability mechanisms. 4. Contribute to monitoring, documentation, and reporting of ADAP results, including lessons learned and good practices on meaningful adolescent participation, adolescent leadership, and inclusion of marginalized adolescents, including adolescents with disabilities. 5. Support capacity‑building and technical assistance for partners and stakeholders on adolescent development and participation approaches, including safe and ethical engagement of adolescents, child safeguarding, inclusive facilitation, and practical application of the basic requirements for meaningful participation. 6. Support the development or adaptation of tools, guidance notes, session designs, and knowledge products that promote safe, meaningful, and inclusive adolescent participation across UNICEF-supported programmes in Mindanao/BARMM. 7. Provide technical and coordination support to ensure that adolescent perspectives, especially from marginalized adolescents, inform programme reviews, partner engagements, advocacy materials, and field-level learning processes.

Disability Inclusion (40%): 1. Support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of disability inclusion initiatives in line with UNICEF Philippines Disability Inclusion Action Plan and the Country Programme Document. 2. Facilitate safe, meaningful, and inclusive participation of persons with disabilities in programme design, implementation, monitoring, and advocacy, particularly in conflict and disaster-affected contexts. 3. Support coordination with government counterparts, LGUs, BARMM ministries, and civil society partners to strengthen disability inclusion programming. 4. Contribute to monitoring, documentation, and reporting of disability inclusion results, including lessons learned and good practices. 5. Support capacity building and technical assistance for partners and stakeholders on disability inclusion approaches.

Furthermore, the Adolescent Development and Participation – Disability Inclusion Officer is encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work as a UN Volunteer. As such, the UN Volunteer should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Provide annual and end-of-assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Competencies: • Builds and Maintains Partnerships • Demonstrates Self-Awareness and Ethical Awareness • Drive to Achieve Results for Impact • Innovates and Embraces Change • Manages Ambiguity and Complexity • Thinks and Acts Strategically • Works Collaboratively with Others

UNICEF Core Values • Care • Respect • Integrity • Trust • Accountability • Sustainability

• Demonstrated experience in designing, facilitating, or supporting safe, meaningful, and inclusive participation of adolescents, including marginalized adolescents and adolescents with disabilities, in programme planning, implementation, monitoring, advocacy, or accountability processes is required. • A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in inclusive programming, social development planning, and/or disability inclusion programming 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. • Experience working in BARMM or similar fragile context is an advantage. • Ability to work effectively and adapt in a challenging and multicultural environment, with both national and international staff. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimal supervision and meet tight deadlines. • Sound security awareness. • Interest in or commitment to UNICEF’s mandate, volunteerism, and the UN system.

Cotabato City is the administrative and political center of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and a major operational hub for government, humanitarian, and development partners. The city hosts the regional offices of multiple UN agencies, including UNDP, WFP, FAO, IOM, UNFPA, and UNOPS, which facilitates close coordination, joint programming, and rapid response mechanisms. With essential amenities, accessible transport, reliable telecommunications, and a well-established development community, Cotabato City offers a functional duty station for field-based staff. While the context remains dynamic, strong interagency networks and local partnerships contribute to a supportive working environment.

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.

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Potential interview questions

Added 7 days ago - Updated 1 hour ago - Source: unv.org