Advocacy Specialist, P-4, TA (7 Months), Child Rights and Advocacy, PFP, Geneva, Switzerland

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 171,387 USD and 220,969 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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.

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.

The National Committees for UNICEF operate in 33 high-income countries, and their functions include to advocate for increased action by governments and other decision-makers to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights nationally and globally.

Country Relations is the Section in PFP in charge of leading the partnership and relationship with National Committees, coordinating with other parts of UNICEF, as appropriate. In particular, the Child Rights Programming and Advocacy Unit is in charge of providing the primary entry point for support to National Committees in their advocacy activities domestically and globally. In order to do so, the Unit works in close collaboration with all other relevant divisions and offices in UNICEF. The Unit has to ensure that UNICEF delivers to its commitment to provide access to relevant research, evidence, and information in support of National Committee advocacy strategies as mutually agreed in the Joint Strategic Plans.

For every child, a Champion

Under the overall guidance and direction of the Chief of Child Rights Programming and Advocacy, the Advocacy Specialist will be responsible for supporting the National Committees in the design, implementation and monitoring of their advocacy strategies.

How can you make a difference?

1. Act as Focal Point within the unit for strategic planning, monitoring and reporting support to National Committees

1. Lead on the overall PMR capacity strengthening work in close collaboration with PRIME and DGCA, including customized training packages for NCs during country visits and regional workshops.
2. Support the organization of the Annual Network Meeting of Advocacy Directors (taking place on September 6th-8th 2023), taking final ownership of the PMR related sessions and follow-up.
3. Contribute to the finalization of the Joint Strategic Plan and Influence Deep-Dive review process and lead on the implementation of the changes relevant to the unit for the 2024 planning period.
4. Lead on the guidance and support to National Committees on the policy change reporting for 2023 and work with the KM Specialist in promoting the direct use of the knowledge exchange platform by NatComs.
5. Contribute to the development of key knowledge and reporting products including UNICEF Annual Reports, strategic-level meetings and dedicated National Committee products.

2. Provide bilateral support to a group of National Committees in their advocacy planning and implementation, securing alignment with UNICEF's frameworks and guidance

1. Provide a subset of National Committees with targeted support and guidance to develop and implement a quality Influence Strategy as part of the JSP and JEP processes.
2. Facilitate monthly calls with the advocacy focal points from select National Committees to ensure ongoing dialogue on their strategies, gather insights and respond to their specific/emerging needs.
3. Support PHICs leads in PG Social Policy and Social Protection and PG Nutrition and Early Childhood Development to engage directly with National Committee focal points on alignment with UNICEF frameworks and strategies.
4. Support National Committees with any adjustments required following the publication of the revised PHICS guidance and programme review.
5. Act as the focal point for DGCA on the Global Advocacy Priorities on Education (1) and Vaccines (2) to ensure alignment and engagement of National Committees.

3. Advocacy support and coordination to National Committees on social policy and social protection

1. Provide targeted advocacy support to National Committees with a focus on social policy and social protection.
2. Convene monthly calls between the National Committees and the key supporting Divisions and Offices, including PG, OoR, ROs and PPD Brussels to support knowledge exchange and collaboration across the network.
3. Participate in the Advisory Group on Report Card 18 on Child Poverty and Social Protection and contribute to the development of the advocacy strategy.
4. Participate in the Regional Social Policy Advisors Network and provide relevant updates and guidance on the activities and results of National Committees and foster linkages with HICs.

4. Advocacy support and coordination to National Committees on nutrition and ECD

1. Provide advocacy support to National Committees with a focus on obesity and overweight in children in PHICs and Early Childhood Development.
2. Convene regular calls between the National Committees and the PG focal points to support knowledge exchange and learning across HICs country contexts and ensure participation of National Committees in key global initiatives.
3. Support PG to develop three country case studies from National Committees on advocacy strategies focused on tackling obesity and overweight.
4. Collaborate with the PG BECE team to ensure alignment on related priorities, including family-friendly policies and the impacts of harmful marketing practices on obesity.

DELIVERABLES

• PMR related sessions of the Annual Network meeting delivered.
• JSP and Deep-Dive revised process designed and implemented.
• Deep-Dive sessions for selected NatComs under the incumbent’s support implemented.
• JSPs successfully submitted and signed-off.
• Frequency of monthly calls on social policy and ECD/Nutrition maintained.
• Report Card 18 successfully launched in coordination with National Committees.

Estimated Duration of the contract

• 7 Months

Reporting To:

• Chief of CRPA team in PFP

Working Place:

• Geneva, Switzerland is the official duty station. Remote work within CET office hours can be considered within UNICEF's transnational teleworking arrangements.

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

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required international development, International Relations, Social studies, or another relevant field.
• Alternative, a first-level University Degree in a relevant field combined with (2) additional years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of progressively professional work experience in the field of advocacy and child rights is required.
• Familiarity with the work of UNICEF National Committees is an asset.
• Strong planning, monitoring, and reporting skills.
• Good judgment, initiative, and capacity to manage complexity.
• Takes ownership and initiative and can work both independently and effectively in a team environment.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills in interacting with colleagues at all levels.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment.
• UN/UNICEF experience is an asset.

Language requirements:

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

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Value

The 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)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1) are required.

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 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.

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 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:

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.

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