Adolescent & Youth Environmental Engagement Coordinator

Contract

This is a UNV International Youth contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Youth contracts.

UNICEF’s regional office provides research, technical advice, advocacy and assistance to our 14 country teams across East Asia Pacific to help them achieve results for children. Through partnerships with governments, civil society, businesses, youth networks and young advocates, UNICEF is supporting increased access to climate literacy and green skills through schools and working with youth networks to build their capacity to engage in systematic and meaningful ways in decisions that affect them. UNICEF aims to promote inclusive and active platforms and spaces for young people to share their perspectives, make recommendations and sustainably engage on issues that matter to them. Increasingly, our consultations with young people and our regional research has highlighted that adolescents in East Asia Pacific are passionate about environmental causes, but do not have adequate understanding of how they can take action.

Our regional partnership for Youth Empowerment with UNDP is an important pillar of our Adolescent Development & Participation portfolio, allowing UNICEF and UNDP to jointly invest in adolescents and youth and support governments to provide comprehensive and youth-friendly services, including youth-friendly local governance.

Under the above partnership, UNDP and UNICEF, among other partners established the Youth Engagement in Climate Action Platform in 2020. This UNV assignment would support UNICEF to develop a clear value proposition to ensure the platform is aligned with UNICEF’s core mandate for children and adolescents, support cross-sectoral coordination to ensure UNICEF Climate, Adolescent Development, Education, Child Protection and Communications sections are engaged and updated, and to identify and develop technical contributions on behalf of UNICEF, including but not limited to designing adolescent-friendly tracks for YECAP, supporting the inclusion of most vulnerable groups such as adolescent girls and adolescents with disabilities, and identifying opportunities for the regional platform to showcase and elevate country-level results.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Youth Empowerment Partnerships Specialist within UNICEF EAPRO and in close coordination with the Regional WASH, Climate & Sustainable Environment Advisor and Regional Gender-ADAP Advisor, the Adolescents & Youth in Climate Action Lead will undertake the following tasks:

• Support UNICEF regional initiatives related to adolescents and youth participation and empowerment through climate action, coordinating across UNICEF sections and offices, and ensuring clear alignment between UNICEF goals and value-add and Youth Engagement in Climate Action Platform’s regional strategy; • Provide technical and operational support to develop and implement adolescent-focused capacity building and awareness tracks within YECAP, drawing on existing assets and programmes (such as UNICEF’s Adolescent Kit and the Global Volunteer Initiative) with the overall aim of developing the capacity of adolescents effectively participate and engage in climate policy development and negotiations, with a specific focus on opportunities for adolescents to lead change within their communities.
• Develop regional theory of change on adolescent and youth climate action and participation through desk research, consultations with UNICEF colleagues and young people for presentation to regional ADAP, Climate and Education Focal Points; • Design and manage Cohort 1 of Adolescents YECAP Fellowship (13-15 year old), working in close collaboration with UNDP and YECAP organizers and within the overarching Regional Young People’s Action Team; • Support integration of YECAP members and Fellows into UNICEF Regional Young People’s Action Team to regularly contribute to UNICEF programming dialogues and regional platforms to share their voices; • Develop advocacy and communications materials, such as social media cards, newsletters and blog posts to highlight YECAP results on an as-needed basis; • Support and facilitate meaningful and active participation of adolescents, including adolescent girls, adolescents with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, in pertinent climate- related meetings and events at the national, regional and international level, including but not limited to, Regional Climate Weeks, Conference of Parties (COPs), UNICEF programming discussions, and others. • Assist UNICEF EAPRO and YECAP co-conveners in organizing capacity building workshops, regional dialogues and networking events with Asia-Pacific governments, adolescent and youth leaders and other relevant stakeholders on youth-inclusive climate policy development • Manage information sharing and updates to ensure that Climate, ADAP, WASH, Education, Child Protection and Communications teams are updated on YECAP progress, UNICEF role and opportunities for greater collaboration with UNICEF country offices. • Develop and maintain a database of movements, initiatives, organizations and individuals driving youth-led climate action in the region.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are 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 such, UN Volunteers 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.

Results/expected outputs

• As an active UNICEF EAPRO ADAP team member with dotted reporting to the WASH Advisor, the UNV will provide efficient, timely, responsive, youth-friendly and high-quality support through:

o High quality input is provided in supporting Youth Engagement and Climate Action Platform and coordinating UNICEF inputs across Asia-Pacific region; o Theory of change document developed and shared to relevant focal points; o Effective communication with adolescent and youth stakeholders and managing meaningful and safe participation of young people at regional events. • Gender, equity, diversity and inclusion 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.

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

International Development, Political Science, Environmental Studies, Sustainable Development or similar; • Professional work experience at the national and/or international level in youth empowerment, youth-led campaigns and adolescent and youth skills development with demonstrated experience in environmental issues or climate action; experience in East Asia at the grassroots level is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization; • Excellent oral and written skills in English; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • 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; • 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; • Knowledge of communications, social media, and graphic design skills are an asset; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness; • Previous experience (volunteer, intern or other professional experience) in supporting adolescent and youth-led climate action initiatives at the local or regional level and a passion for Sustainable Development, volunteerism and youth empowerment as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System. • Knowledge and networks among youth groups in the region is an asset;

Bangkok provides basic living needs, including accommodation, banking facilities, medical facilities and telecommunications/internet services are readily available. All staple foods can be found in the markets, eg: rice, meat, vegetables, fruit, cooking oil, salt, etc. Many imported goods are available in Bangkok and other places throughout Thailand. Bangkok has many good restaurants with good health standards and most guesthouses provide food. In Thailand the most used means of transportation are taxi or local bus (and, in Bangkok, the elevated train service). Mobile phone is the most dependable tool to be in- touch with colleagues and friends. Internet service is readily available and affordable at most apartment complexes. ATMs are everywhere in Thailand and Western cards can usually be used to withdraw Thai Baht. For those with children, schooling options in Bangkok are to be well evaluated and determined before taking your children at duty station. School fees and area really depends on your preferences. Admission fee for school in Thailand ranges from $3,000 - $9,000 and tuition fee from $5,500 - $25,533 (per annum). Depending on educational quality and the area which comes with price tags, you may need to explore more on schools to find out what they could offer that serves the needs of your children. No specific allocation is available for schooling and Volunteers will need to bare the entire costs.