Adolescent Development Specialist, NO-3, Mexico City, Mexico - MATERNITY LEAVE COVER

Mid Programme & Policy

Overview

Lead adolescent development agenda and support programmatic interventions.

You have:

• An advanced university degree in anthropology, economics, international relations, sociology, education, or a relevant technical field is required.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in social development planning and management in youth and adolescent development-related areas is required.
• Experience in designing and implementing programs and projects related to skills development for life and employment of adolescents is desirable.
• Fluency in Spanish is required.
• Proficient level of English is required, complete fluency is preferred.
• Commitment to improve English skills in the first six to twelve months if not fluent is expected.

Contract

This is a NO-3 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-3 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, Support

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. 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 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 Mexico currently has adolescent development as one of its key components. Adolescent programming is cross-cutting and led by the Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) Specialist, in coordination with different sectors and areas of the office. Supporting Mexico in building a new generation of healthy, educated and protected adolescents, with equal access to opportunities, is an overall goal of the UNICEF program in Mexico. Adolescence and early youth is an important time for investment because, after early childhood, it is the second chance to prompt a positive impact on the person’s development and future education, health and socioeconomic outcomes. Currently, 25% of the population in Mexico is between 10 and 24 years old and faces different challenges, such as poor learning outcomes and high dropout rates, violence, higher rates of mental illnesses and worse employment outcomes compared to older adults. Overcoming these challenges will benefit Mexico with a generation who is empowered to generate positive change and development.

Currently, the three main pillars of the adolescent development cross-cutting strategy are:

1. Skills development and employability for at-risk youth and for the jobs of the future,

2. Mental health support, including services for adolescents and their parents, and online violence,

3. Meaningful adolescent participation, with a focus on climate change and mental health.

The ADAP Specialist reports to the Deputy Representative for Programmes for guidance and supervision. The Specialist supervises the work of three United Nations Volunteers (UNVs) focused on mental health, adolescent participation and skills development, who carry out different types of programmatic interventions. The purpose of this job is to continue leading the adolescent development cross-cutting agenda and, specifically, to support ongoing programmatic interventions within the three main pillars of the ADAP Area. It is also expected that the Specialist supports the Country Office’s planning, management and monitoring processes, and contributes to innovation, knowledge management and partnership building.

How can you make a difference?

1. Skills Development and Employability

2. Implementation of skills for life and work programs for out-of-school adolescents and youths.

The skills for life and work programs were launched in 2021 to provide learning and employability alternatives for out-of-school youths in the states of Chiapas, Chihuahua and Baja California, including Mexican and foreign youths on-the-move. Currently the program is being implemented in Chiapas and Chihuahua, with activities continuing until June 2023. The main responsibilities are the following:

• Supervise the implementation of the program by civil society partners, including biweekly calls and bimonthly field visits, and monitoring the execution of funds, ensuring a timely disbursement of fund transfers and sound internal and donor reporting.
• Support partnerships with the private sector, civil society actors and relevant government agencies. Present results to the government counterparts, including state youth institutes and employment secretariats. Special focus should be put on assessing potential scalability and supporting a policy pathway.

2. Technical assistance for the government of the state of Michoacán to launch a skills development program

The youth institute of the state of Michoacán (IJUMICH) has requested UNICEF’s technical assistance to design and implement a skills development and employability program for youths. The program is set to be launched during the first quarter of 2023. The main responsibilities are the following:

• Oversee two consultancies that are providing support to IJUMICH: (i) a life skills training package for educators and (ii) the development of an operations manual for the programme.
• Provide technical support to IJUMICH during the implementation of the program.

3. Design and implementation of a digital skills program

UNICEF has partnered with AMEX to implement a digital literacy program for at-risk adolescents and youths in two Mexican states, to be launched in the first quarter of 2023. The main responsibilities are the following:

• Supervise the implementation of the program by civil society partners, including biweekly calls and bimonthly field visits, and monitoring the execution of funds, ensuring a timely disbursement of fund transfers and sound internal and donor reporting.

2. Mental Health

3. Contacto Joven

Contacto Joven is an online mental health support service launched in mid-2020 in partnership with the Mexican National Youth Institute (IMJUVE) and other partners. The service is provided by young volunteers who are also mental health professionals. Currently the program is being strengthened and scaled up. The main responsibilities are the following:

• Supervise the Contacto Joven UNV coordinator and hold meetings with IMJUVE to coordinate activities.
• Oversee an agreement with civil society partner set to strengthen psychological support provided by volunteers.

2. Implementation of the Parenting for lifelong health (PLH) program

PLH is a program aimed at promoting better parenting practices within households. In Mexico, it will target families with children and adolescents aged 5-17 years old. The main activities are the following:

• In coordination with the Child Protection section, who will lead the program, supervise its implementation through periodic calls and field visits to the implementing partner.
• Contribute to the coordination of activities and partnerships with government counterparts, like National Family Welfare Agency (SNDIF) and IMJUVE.

3. Coordination of donor relations with Z Zurich Foundation (ZZF)

ZZF and UNICEF signed a global partnership agreement in 2021 to promote and fund adolescent mental health and wellbeing programs. The main responsibilities are the following:

• Act as focal point with the UNICEF’s regional office (LACRO) and with UNICEF’s headquarters for the provision of information about the implementation of the grant.
• Contribute to donor reports, participate in reporting exercises and provide inputs for the design of communication materials.
• Lead the organization of field visits by the donor, when requested, in coordination with the Child Protection section and the adolescent mental health team in LACRO and HQ.

3. Adolescent and youth participation

The ADAP Area is committed to promoting meaningful adolescent participation that is aligned to their interests and concerns, as well as to UNICEF Mexico’s priorities. In this line, the main responsibilities are the following:

1. Climate Change:

• Work with the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (SRE), IMJUVE and civil society partners to train a group of young Mexicans who will attend the COP 28.
• Partner and provide technical support to the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) to launch the Climatón 2023.
• Launch a national consultation for adolescents under 18 years old to collect their views and present them to the group of young Mexicans attending the COP 28.
  2. U-Report:
• Supervise the UNV in charge of U-Report, a tool to empower and collect adolescents and youths’ views and ensure that it supports programmatic activities within UNICEF Mexico.
  3. Youth Day Event:
• Co-lead with the Communications Section the organization and successful launch of the International Youth Day event in August 2023, including the definition of its main topic.
• Scale up of school participation committees
• Contribute to the scale up of a school participation program in Chihuahua, led by the Education Section.

4. Coordination of the ADAP Area

5. Provide support across the program section to position adolescent development, especially for the three priority topics mentioned before.

6. Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and mid-year annual reviews within the office and with government and other counterparts, as required. Provide support to the Representative and the Country Office in inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on youth and adolescent development related issues.

7. Monitor and verify the optimum/appropriate use of programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), ensuring compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability, integrity and ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.

8. Coordinate the Adolescent Development team: Hold weekly calls with the team, supervise UNV contracts, ensure compliance with organizational rules, regulations and procedures, timely reporting and resource execution.

Deliverables for this position:

It is expected that the TA Adolescent Development Specialist will deliver the following products to the FT Adolescent Development Specialist upon her return to the post:

1. A general handover: This document should contain a thorough status update and action points for each project led or co-led by the ADAP Area, and a financial and human resources administration status, especially regarding the ZZF and AMEX grants. The document should also present strategic updates related to the country office’s strategy and programming.

2. A specific handover for each of the following actions within the three main pillars of the ADAP Area:

3. Skills development and employability:

4. A closure report for the programs in Chiapas and Chihuahua with detailed information on the implementation and next steps for a potential scale up.

5. A detailed status (AMEX grant) report for the digital skills program

6. Mental Health

7. A detailed status report for Contacto Joven and PLH

8. Adolescent and youth participation

9. A detailed status report on the climate change participation initiatives, with a special focus on the national consultation for the COP 28

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

Education: An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: anthropology, economics, international relations, sociology, education, or another relevant technical field. Alternatively, a Bachelor’s Degree complemented with two additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of professional experience in social development planning and management in youth and adolescent development-related areas is required.
• Experience in the design and implementation of programs and projects related to the development of skills for life and employment of adolescents, 21st-century skills and school-to-work transition is desirable.
• Experience in the design and implementation of youth engagement and meaningful participation is an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset. Experience working with UN interagency initiatives is an advantage.

Language:

• Fluency in Spanish.
• A proficient level of English is required, but complete fluency is preferred. If the person hired is not fluent, he/she will have to commit to improving their English skills in the first six/twelve months of work.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others. (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. 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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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:

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• Candidates must be citizen of Mexico to be considered eligible for this post.
• The temporary assignment will have an estimated duration of 7 months.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org