Advocacy Manager (Sustainability and Climate Action) P-4, Fixed Term, Division of Global Communication and Advocacy, UNICEF NYHQ

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, an Advocate on Sustainability and Climate Action

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. This is why 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.

Organizational context

Advocacy and Communication are at the centre of UNICEF’s mandate. We advocate to decision makers for ‘the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential’. We communicate to key public and private audiences to build support for the cause of children.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose for the job

The triple planetary crisis of climate change, environmental pollution, and biodiversity loss is the defining challenge of our time, with every child in the world already exposed, and a billion children at extremely high risk.

This crisis is changing children – changing their lives and communities, harming their health and reducing their opportunities. Children are disproportionately affected by the impacts of environmental degradation and the climate crisis compared to adults through pollution, deadly diseases and extreme weather.

We need to ensure that every child’s access to water, healthcare, education, or protection is made resilient to these shocks, including disasters. Young people are also our best hope for a more sustainable future and are rightly demanding that they be given the tools to create a liveable planet. We need to ensure that every child has access to the education and skills they need to protect themselves during disasters, devise better solutions to environmental problems, and be effective when demanding stronger action from Governments and the Private Sector.

This P4 Advocacy Manager will:

• Have a strong understanding of global climate change politics, policy, institutions, actors and processes including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• A strong understanding of strategic advocacy.
• Hold existing strategic relationships within the world of climate diplomacy, advocacy and philanthropy.
• Have good knowledge of child and youth climate entities and movements.
• Be critical in contributing to the development, implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation of global, regional, and national advocacy strategies and mobilizing resources to support advocacy initiatives.
• Work closely, as a member of the Division of Global Communications and Advocacy (GCA), with other GCA sections, Programme Division, other HQ Divisions, Regional, Country Offices, National Committees, other relevant internal and external stakeholders.

Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and should be able to work independently and as part of a team.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Advocacy strategy development and implementation with a focus on advancing UNICEF’s sustainability and climate action agenda.
2. Gather, analyze, and utilize strategic and political intelligence in pursuit of climate advocacy goals.
3. Stakeholder engagement and formation of alliances and partnerships with key non-government climate-relevant entities, including philanthropies and other strategic funders of climate advocacy
4. Resource mobilization in support of UNICEF sustainability and climate advocacy and communications needs.
5. Advocacy capacity building with strategically relevant UNICEF regional, country and national committee offices.
6. Support strategic engagement with child and youth climate entities and movements.
7. Carry out additional activities as required.

As part of the global advocacy section, the staff member will design and coordinate effective, integrated advocacy strategies, and support the scale up of our advocacy capacities, through the development, funding, implementation, monitoring and evaluation stages. Key functions will include;

1. Advocacy strategy development and implementation with a focus on advancing UNICEF's sustainability and climate action agenda

• Develop and execute advocacy strategies – including defining advocacy outcomes, power analysis, and developing a clear theory of change – to advance UNICEF’s advocacy goals.
• Support the development of up-to-date climate advocacy products, such as policy briefs and materials, informed by the latest political, policy and legislative intelligence.
• Work in close collaboration with Headquarters and regional and national focal points.

2. Gather, analyze, and utilize strategic and political intelligence in pursuit of climate advocacy goals.

• Leverage strong understanding of global climate change policy, institutions, actors and processes including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to monitor, gather and analyze developments in global and regional climate change politics and policy-making..

• • Knowledge of the evolving climate financing landscape including Multilateral Climate Funds (MCFs) and International Financial Institutions (IFIs) an asset.

• Recommend strategies and tactics to leverage these development to advance UNICEF's advocacy goals

3. Stakeholder engagement and formation of alliances and partnerships with key non-government climate-relevant entities, including philanthropies and other strategic funders of climate advocacy.

• Undertake regular mapping exercises to monitor potential partners, advocacy targets and issues.
• Form and maintain active relationships and partnerships with current and potential climate-relevant partners, governmental, intergovernmental organisations (i.e. IPCC, UNFCCC etc), non-governmental organizations, philanthropies and other strategic funders, private sector partners, institutes and academia.
• Where necessary play a convener role, convening and organizing engagements with entities to advance UNICEF’s sustainability and climate agenda.

4. Resource Mobilization in support of UNICEF sustainability and climate advocacy and communications needs

• Support, collaborate and where needed lead on the development of resource mobilization and funding proposals/ materials designed to secure resource and financial support for UNICEF’s sustainability and climate advocacy, communications and youth engagement.

5. Advocacy Capacity Building with strategically relevant UNICEF Regional, Country and National Committee offices.

• Contribute to building UNICEF regional and national climate advocacy capacities including through coaching, training, sharing of advocacy expertise and direct input into national/ regional strategies to ensure alignment with global plans

6. Support strategic engagement with UNFCCC child and youth constituency (YOUNGO)

• Act as primary focal point within UNICEF for UNFCCC child and youth constituency (YOUNGO), including advising on children’s rights and engagement within the constituency’s working groups.
• Leverage knowledge and skills in child and youth climate engagement mechanisms including Conference of Youth (COY) and Global Youth Statement, to support and advance youth and UNICEF sustainability and climate agenda.
• Where relevant, support and provide guidance regional offices and key country offices on youth engagement in regional climate weeks, RCOYs and LCOYs.
• Work in close collaboration with UNICEF youth engagement section to ensure alignment with youth engagement strategies and whole-organisation approach to youth engagement in climate action.

7. Carry out additional activities as required

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Advocacy Manager:

1. Robust advocacy strategies are developed implemented, monitored and evaluated, with SMART advocacy outcomes and clear theories of change.
2. Measurable change for children and young people through the achievement of defined advocacy outcomes at the global and national level.
3. The Advocacy Section drives the development of global plans and priorities, building partnerships and capacity at all levels to improve advocacy impact.

Achieving these goals will significantly contribute to the well-being of children.

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

Education:

An advanced university degree is required in one of the following fields: International Relations, Political Science, International Development, Public Policy, Public Administration, Economics, Communication or related fields.

*A first level university degree (Bachelor’s) in a relevant field, in conjunction with ten (10) years of relevant work experience in advocacy, campaigning or a related field may be taken in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Experience:

At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in advocacy/ campaigning is required, with at least two years at the international level.

Experience in leading the development and implementation of advocacy strategies, with clear theories of change, specific, measurable and timebound objectives, and performance indicators.

A track record of achieving or contributing to tangible policy change.

Proven experience in deploying a range of advocacy tactics based on a clear theory of change.

Experience in building and maintaining a network of advocacy stakeholders, and in working with advocacy coalitions, including with philanthropies and other strategic funders, and a track record of attracting funding and investment in advocacy

Strong communicator with emphasis on being able to present complex policy ideas in succinct, engaging ways through campaign narratives and creative tactics.

Experience in managing a team is a requirement, along with a proven commitment to diverse and inclusive recruiting process. Managing a multicultural team is an asset.

Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects, including budget management and monitoring and evaluation of results.

Knowledge of international development, humanitarian issues and children’s rights.

Experience in training and facilitation is an asset.

Experience working in a developing and emergency environment is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

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.

Remarks:

CHILD SAFEGUARDING

Child safeguarding involves proactive measures to limit direct and indirect collateral risks of harm to children, arising from UNICEF’s work, UNICEF personnel or UNICEF associates. The risks may include those associated with: physical violence (including corporal punishment); sexual violence, exploitation or abuse; emotional and verbal abuse; economic exploitation; failure to provide for physical or psychological safety; neglect of physical, emotional or psychological needs; harmful cultural practices; and privacy violations.

Certain UNICEF positions present elevated child safeguarding risks (“elevated risk roles”) and candidates and/or incumbents may be subject to more rigorous vetting and training. Roles may be elevated risk roles because of significant unsupervised direct contact with children, their data, having a role in responding to safeguarding incidents, or being otherwise assessed as presenting an elevated risk. This position has been identified as a safeguarding response role.

Note: To appropriately categorize this position, please refer to the Guidance on Identifying & Assessing Elevated Risk Roles for this job profile and remove non-applicable description in the highlighted area above.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert diversity profile] are encouraged to apply.

[If Applicable] Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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 are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will 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.

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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.