Education Officer - Brasília

Contract

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

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) is present within 10 offices across Brazil. Education Section is part of the Programme area of UNICEF Brazil, with the Chief and one additional Education Officer located in the central office in the capital Brasilia, and an Education Specialist located in Recife (serving the Semiarid Territory).

UNICEF is implementing its 2017-2021 Country Programme in Brazil. The current programme has equity as its guiding principle and aims to support Brazil in the realization of rights for the most excluded children. Through integrated programmes, UNICEF expects to bring about more innovative, sustained and integral change in support of children’s rights. The proposed programme consists of four components: (a) enhanced policies for excluded children; (b) quality social policies for vulnerable children; (c) prevention of and response to extreme forms of violence; and (d) engaged citizenry and participation.

UNICEF Brazil continues to focus its attention on the importance of the right to quality education and access to school. This assignment will contribute to the Education Section, and strengthen its capacity to respond adequately to the needs of UNICEF and the country.

Under the direct supervision of the Education Officer, and in close collaboration with other Programme Sections, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Support to program development and planning • Support the preparation/update of situation analysis for the program sector/s for development, design and management of education related programs/projects; • Support the development/establishment of sectoral program goals, objectives and strategies and results-based planning through research, collection, analysis and reporting of education and other related information for development planning and priority and goal setting; • Support technically and operationally preparing related materials/documentations and com-plying with organizational processes and management systems, to support program planning, results based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluating results; • Provide ad-hoc support to Education section and data-related activities that may come up during 2021/2022.

Support activities related to technical and operational support to program implementation

• Follow national research and databases for the most up-to-date information on the situation of children and adolescents; • Prepare summary briefs and analyses on national research and data that may support UNICEF Brazil programme; • Support given to regular program field visits and surveys and/or exchange information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress and results; • Support program implementation providing technical and operational assistance to government counterparts, NGO partners and UN system partners on the application and understand-ng of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices on education and related issues.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Support to identifying, capturing, synthesizing and sharing lessons learned for knowledge development and capacity development of stakeholders; • Support to apply innovative approaches and promote good practice to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program results; • Support to researching and reporting on best practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.

Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, exercise discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations; Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments; 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 activities; Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender; Communication: proven interpersonal skills; creativity; 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 with national and international staff, counterparts and local interlocutors from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a range of different groups;

• A minimum of 2 years of professional work experience at national and international levels in relevant Education programmes. • Experience in UN system agency or organization is an asset.

Specific Technical Knowledge Required • Accuracy and professionalism in education programmes and project design, implementation, management and evaluation • Experience working in relevant education programmes, especially focused on the most vulnerable children and adolescents. • Solid knowledge of international development and humanitarian issues, including aid policies of major donors particularly those pertinent to UNICEF in Brazil; • Solid knowledge of human rights and results based programming; • General knowledge of administrative and financial guidelines of international organizations.

Common Technical Knowledge Required General knowledge of: • Computer systems, including internet navigation, office applications with advanced knowledge of social media, web-tools, website design and creation; • United Nations or other international organizations; good understanding of world affairs, cur-rent events and international development issues; • Global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women, and current UNICEF position and approaches; • UNICEF goals, visions, positions, policies, guidelines and strategies.

Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced • Knowledge and expertise in management and networking; • Specific reporting skills; • Technical competence in translating data into user-friendly formats for various audiences; • UN common approaches to programmatic issues and UNICEF positions • UN security operations and guidelines

Priority will be given to applications from people of African descent, indigenous people and LGBTQIA+.

The assignment will be in Brasília, the Federal capital of Brazil and seat of government of the Federal District. Brasilia is a family duty station and classified A (hardship). The living conditions in Brasilia are good as well as the access to health services. The accommodation facilities are in general good, and the choice is wide. Rent for small one-bedroom apartments range from 200 USD (unfurnished) to 600 USD (furnished) per month. UN Volunteers are also encouraged to share accommodation.

Brazil is security level 3 (moderate). 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.

Brasilia is located in the country's centre-western region. It was founded on April 21, 1960, to serve as the new national capital. Brasília and its metro area were estimated to be Brazil's 3rd most populous city, with 3.039.444 people. Among major Latin American cities, Brasília has the highest GDP per capita.

The city has a unique status in Brazil, as it is an administrative division rather than a legal municipality like other cities in Brazil. Brasília was planned and developed by Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer in 1956 to move the capital from Rio de Janeiro to a more central location. The landscape architect was Roberto Burle Marx. The city's design is divided into numbered blocks as well as sectors for specified activities, such as the Hotel Sector, the Banking Sector and the Embassy Sector. Brasília was chosen as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its modernist architecture and uniquely artistic urban planning.

Although Brasília is used as a synonym for the Federal District through synecdoche, the Federal District is composed of 31 administrative regions, only one of which is the area of the originally planned city, also called Plano Piloto. The rest of the Federal District is considered by IBGE to make up Brasília's metro area.

All three branches of Brazil's federal government are centred in the city: executive, legislative, and judicial. Brasília also hosts 124 foreign embassies. The city's international airport connects it to all other major Brazilian cities and many international destinations and is the third busiest airport in Brazil. Brasília is the most populous Portuguese-speaking capital city.

The city is located at the top of the Brazilian highlands in the country's centre-western region, at 1,172 m. The Paranoá Lake is a large artificial lake that was built to increase the amount of water available and to maintain the region's humidity.

Brasília has a tropical savanna climate (Aw, according to the Köppen climate classification), with two distinct seasons: a rainy season from October to April and a dry season from May to September. The average temperature is 22ºC, rising to over 30ºC during the hottest period. The hottest month in Brasilia is September and the coolest month is July.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.