Education Officer

Contract

This is a UNV National Expert contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Expert contracts.

Brazil has not yet guaranteed to all children and adolescents the basic right to education. It is observed through available indicators the worsening of the situation of Brazilian public education in the last two years, due to the pandemic. Considering that, UNICEF works in the country to ensure that (i) all children and adolescents are at schools, protected and learning at the right age; (ii) they develop all their skills, based on an integrated and protective approach; and (iii) every young people make a positive transition from school to work.

In São Paulo, this work is done through Agenda Cidade UNICEF.

This assignment will support the implementation of the national and local education strategy in São Paulo as the main focus, but also guiding the local strategy on education in Rio de Janeiro. The UN Volunteer is supposed to design, implement, and monitor education activities, in partnership with government, civil society, based on the strategies developed by Brasília’s Education Team.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief of UNICEF São Paulo Field Office or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Education Officer will provide technical assistance to:

Advocacy activities • Provide high quality information, data and critical analyses to support UNICEF advocacy strategies on education in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro; • Identify strategic places where UNICEF should be present to influence public policies for education; • Dialogue with high level public managers in the State and Municipal levels to ensure the advancement of inclusion, permanence and quality policies in schools; • Represent UNICEF in public events.

School Active Search Initiative • Contribute to the development of the national strategy, with inputs about the experience in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro; • Engage all necessary segments to implement the strategy, including managers from the Secretariats of Education, Health, Social Assistance, civil society, protection systems, the guardianship councils, Public Prosecutor's Office, courts of auditors and other; • Support local technical teams to feed the digital platform with relevant information on children out of school; • Provide capacity building activities to managers and their teams engaged with the initiative; • Prepare donor proposals and reports.

Education that Protects • Engage public managers and their teams to implement initiatives that ensure children are protected from all forms of violence in the schools;
• Train education managers to implement a system of protection, prevention, and response to violence; • Address issues of violence and structural racism that impact learning and are usually not addressed, specially influencing the curricula of the engaged schools; • Support Education Departments in the development of strategies to use digital resources and promote the development of digital skills. • Prepare donor proposals and reports.

Early child education • Provide technical assistance on the intersectoral initiatives for early childhood, with the lens of education. • Engage public managers and their teams in the initiatives related to early child education. • Prepare proposals and reports.

One Million Opportunities (1 MiO) • Work in close collaboration with the 1 MiO team in this initiative that brings together companies, social organizations, governments, and young people in a network to generate opportunities and defend decent work. • Provide advice for the education axle of 1 MiO in Rio de Janeiro

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

Education or other relevant programmes , such as Social Policy, Human Rights and Human Development, at the national and/or international level. • Excellent oral and written 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; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness; • Have affinity with or interest in children’s rights, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System

The municipality of São Paulo will be the duty station for this UNV opportunity. São Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil, with more than 12,4 million people. It is a place marked by inequalities, mixing rich and poor areas. São Paulo is vibrant city, with numerous cultural institutions and a rich architecture.

The UNICEF office in São Paulo is in the neighbourhood of Vila Clementino, next to the AACD metro station, several restaurants and Congonhas airport. It is generally an expensive city to live in São Paulo, but it offers different housing options depending on the region chosen.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. Brazil is security level 3 (moderate). United Nations Department of Safety and Security UNDSS Brazil advises to exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to high levels of serious and violent crime, particularly in major cities. Violent crime as muggings, armed robbery, kidnappings, and sexual assault, is very high. Avoid shanty towns (favelas) in the big cities and if you are attacked or robbed, do not resist. Demonstrations can occur at any time and may turn violent with little or no warning. All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment in Brazil. For missions in rural areas or indigenous reservations, special procedures may apply; UN personnel should consult with the local DSS office in advance

São Paulo is a unique city and Agenda Cidade UNICEF is a unique opportunity to engage. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.