Learning Officer, Adolescent Skills

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.

Viet Nam is part of the global UN ‘Delivering As One’ reform initiative, whereby Viet Nam has agreed to capitalize on the strengths and comparative advantages of the different members of the UN family and look at ways to increase the UN system’s impact. In Viet Nam, the initiative brings together the expertise, experience and capacities of all UN agencies in the country to provide more coordinated and effective assistance.

The Viet Nam Country Programme for 2022-2026 will support the achievement related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets, and it will complement the One Strategic Plan between the Government and UN system agencies that will continue with a delivering-as-one (DaO) approach for the period 2022-2026 and is aligned to UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025. With equity as the fundamental principle, social policies and social protection serve as an overarching umbrella for the country programme strategic intent.

The Education Programme is a key component of the UNICEF Country Programme, aiming to enhance policy and legal frameworks for the realisation of children’s right to education and strengthen accountability of the education system, legislators and policy makers to families, children and the public to deliver on commitments to equitable and inclusive education and ethnic minority education in the context of education sector plans. In particular the programme intensifies interventions to support the achievement of SDG 4 which focuses on education across all categories and also on quality and access. The Education programme in based on Viet Nam’s Education sector progress and vision, and includes a specific focus on: disadvantaged children especially girls, children with disabilities, ethnic minority children and other marginalized children; quality of inclusive education; learning and skills; conducive and respectful learning environment; enabling education system; and safe, green and clean world.

The UN Volunteer will work in the Education Programme team managed by the Chief of Section. The UN Volunteer will work under the direct supervision of the Education Specialist-2nd Decade Education and Learning and with the team to support the improvement of adolescents’ skills and learning, mental health and psycho social support (MHPSS), disaster risk reduction (DRR) in education sector, climate action led by adolescents, Technical & Vocational Education & Training (TVET), and social innovation, and will assist the education colleagues on digital learning initiatives, inclusive education, social behavior change, communications, and others section’s work.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Education Specialist-2nd Decade Education & Learning, the UN Volunteer will support work related to the Skills & Learning pillar of the Education programme, and will lead on specific areas of work in agreement with the Education Specialist – 2nd Decade Education & Learning including the following tasks:

• In coordination with other colleagues in the Office Adolescent Development (ADAP) and Emergency Working, will support the Education Specialist-2nd Decade Education & Learning to drive forward the development of children and adolescents’ skills and leaning, the emergency-disaster risk reduction and climate change related work in the section, MHPSS and TVET • Support the Education Specialist on the coordination work in Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh cities and Ninh Thuan province as needed with all program cycle management (planning – implementation – monitoring – evaluation) and donor and high-level visits. • In collaboration with Education Programme Officers, Communications team members, and others as appropriate, assist in the section’s efforts in new initiatives such digital literacy, digital learning, technology based innovations to strengthen skills and learning, social behavior change and communications, and inclusive education.
• Supporting the Education Specialist – 2nd Decade Education & Learning and other Programme Officers, review activities/annual work plan/activities descriptions and designs developed and proposed by the Implementing Partners (IPs) under the MOET project (2022 – 2026) and convergent provinces to ensure the accuracy of methods applied, inclusion aspects and gender-responsive integration in those activities. Based on the review, support the Education Specialist – 2nd Decade Education & Learning in providing inputs to IPs to ensure adequate planning in UNICEF priority areas related to Skills & Learning. • Work with Programme Officers and Education Specialist – 2nd Decade Education & Learning to ensure the availability of accurate, complete and up-to-date data and information related to quality education including Skills & Learning. • Establish and foster partnerships with internal UN and external stakeholders working on Skills & Learning. This may include representing the UNICEF Education advocacy platform in dialogue with UN, government, development partners, donors, and NGO partners. • Ensure the appropriateness of financial, administrative and supply documentation for interventions related to Skills & Learning. • Prepare and/or draft reports, concept notes, proposals, briefing notes and other documentation, in collaboration with other team members. • Raise awareness and build capacity within the section and Country Office on Skills & Learning as appropriate. • Other tasks related to supporting the Education programme broadly, including both the Skills & Learning, and Inclusive Education programme pillars, as needed.

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.

• 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

• Sound knowledge of the major development issues especially in education, TVET, and adolescent; • At least three years of professional work experience at the national and/or sub-national level in education or other relevant programmes; experience with skills and learning of adolescent issues is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization; • Motivated to contribute towards peace and development and to serve others; • Excellent oral and written skills; 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; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.