Adolescent Development and Participation Officer (NO-A) - Bulgaria CO Emergency Response (Temporary Appointment (364 days) open to Bulgarian nationals only)

Contract

This is a NO-1 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-1 contracts.

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, safety.

The armed conflict in Ukraine has led to an outflux of population from Ukraine into other countries of the region, including the Republic of Bulgaria. Women and children make up to 90% of the refugee population and they are extremely vulnerable to significant risks, including human trafficking and exploitation, as evidenced in a recent Europol warning. The Republic of Bulgaria has received over 100 000 refugees, out of them over 35 000 are children. This is placing significant strain on the systems.

UNICEF is working with Government, municipalities, other UN agencies and international organizations, civil society and private sector to address immediate child protection, health and nutrition, education, early childhood development, social protection and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs of the refugees.

How can you make a difference?

The Adolescent Development and Participation Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance for the development, formulation, implementation and monitoring of adolescents and youth engagement strategies (online and offline), partnerships management, and content creation as part of the emergency response to the refugee crisis related to the armed conflict in Ukraine.

Support to programme development and planning

- Research and analyze regional and national political, health, social and economic development trends. Collect, analyze, verify and synthesize information to facilitate programme development, design and preparation.

- Prepare technical reports and inputs for programme preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevancy of information.

- Facilitate the development/establishment of adolescent development and participation programme goals, objectives, strategies and results-based planning through research, collection, analysis and reporting of related information for development planning and priority and goal setting.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

- Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to collect/analyze/share information on implementation issues, suggest solutions on routine programme implementation and submit report to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decision.

- 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.

- Monitor and report on the use of adolescent development and participation programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocation/goals, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity.

- Prepare inputs for programme/donor reporting.

Technical and operational support to programme implementation

- Undertake field visits and surveys and share information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.

- Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF and adolescent development and participation policies, strategies, processes and best practices to support programme implementation, operations and delivery of results.

Networking and partnership building

- Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve and sustain results on adolescent development and participation programmes/projects.

- Draft communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and support resource mobilization to ensure the adolescent development and participation programmes/projects are adequately resourced and supported.

- Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) meetings/events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF operational planning and preparation of adolescent development and participation programmes/projects and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with the UNDAF development and planning process.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

- A university degree in one of the following fields is required: anthropology, psychology, sociology, education or another relevant technical field.

- A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in social development planning and management in adolescent development related areas is required.

- Experience working in a humanitarian context is considered as an asset.

- Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

- Fluency in English and Bulgarian is required.

- Knowledge of Russian or Ukrainian is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.