Youth Engagement Officer, NOA (Temporary position) (Maldivian Nationals only)

Contract

This is a NO-1 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-1 contracts.

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.

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, a voice.

ADVERT – YOUTH ENGAGEMENT OFFICER NOA, (Temporary position) (for Maldivian Nationals only)

In recent years UNICEF has increased its focus on young people. The UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2022−2025 recognizes the whole spectrum of young people, including young adults or youth over 18, and includes in its Change Strategies “supporting young people and children as agents of change.” Taking its cue from the strategic plan, the Global Communication and Advocacy Strategy 2019−2021 (GCAS) asserts the important role that young people can play in the successful realization of UNICEF’s mandate, and outlines the need to listen to, co-create and collaborate with young people and create meaningful engagement opportunities for them to make a difference. Being important drivers of change, children and young people are essential partners and contributors to both the development and implementation of UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2022 2025. With a new and ambitious SP, UNICEF intends to be deliberate and committed in fully involving children and young people in creating the solutions to accelerate the realization of the SDGs and driving change forward.

Organizational context UNICEF Maldives Country Office has a flagship program on youth engagement, under the thematic area of Education and Skills Development. The program focuses on convening and building capacities of young people including youth reference groups, school clubs, student unions, national scouts and guides. Additionally, the program also entails design and roll out of internship, mentorship and apprenticeship programs for young people. The youth engagement officer will report to the Education and Skills Development Specialist and work in collaboration with the Education, Health and Nutrition, Social Protection, Climate Change and Child Protection programs.

Purpose of the job:

This role will assist Maldives UNICEF office to develop, implement and monitor effective and engaging advocacy campaigns involving young people. Under the leadership of Program Specialist, Education and Skills Development, the role will support the development, implementation, and monitoring of youth engagement program.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Youth Engagement Strategy Development and Implementation
2. Youth Communication Content Development
3. Youth Engagement Platform Management
4. Creation of a Cohort of Youth Advocates
5. Safeguarding and Participation of Young People
6. Youth Engagement M&E
7. Project and Budget Management
8. Youth Engagement Capacity Building & Knowledge Management
9. Stakeholder Engagement
10. Others

This staff member will support the development of effective, integrated strategies for youth engagement in advocacy and action. They will work collaboratively with colleagues across teams, as well as with external partners, to create meaningful opportunities for young people to take action in support of children’s rights through UNICEF’s campaigns and priority initiatives.

Duties include:

1. Youth Engagement Strategy Development and Implementation:

• Assist in the development of youth engagement strategies under the Youth Engagement Flagship program to achieve SMART outcomes.

2. Youth Communication Content Development:

• Assist in the development and implementation of communication content development with and for youth as part of youth development and advocacy priorities.

3. Youth Engagement Platform Management:

• Support content moderation, community management, content creation and M&E for youth focused digital platforms/communities. Assist in the local coordination and implementation of U-Report.

4. Youth Advocates:

• Support the implementation of a local Youth Advocates programme: researching potential youth advocates; supporting workplan development and communication; supporting youth advocates in preparation for events/media; documenting learnings and successes.

5. Safeguarding and Participation:

• Ensure adherence to principles of child/youth participation and safeguarding when assisting in the development/implementation of all campaigns, communication products and platforms.

6. Youth Engagement M&E:

• Support the monitoring and evaluation of youth engagement strategies, campaigns and platforms. Assist in the preparation of relevant reports.

7. Project and Budget Management:

• Support the day-to-day delivery of key projects/ workstreams, developing and tracking project plans to ensure progress and address obstacles and bottlenecks. Support effective budget management, projections and tracking.

8. Youth Engagement Capacity Building & Knowledge Management:

• Support the implementation of capacity building and knowledge management efforts. Assist in the development of training and workshops; and develop and disseminate case studies and other knowledge management products.

9. Stakeholder Engagement:

• Research current and potential partners. Assist and maintain a database of formal and informal partnerships and networks whose support is essential to achieving objectives. Support the flow of information to key stakeholders.

10. Others:

• Undertake other key responsibilities as required.

Impact of Results

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Youth Engagement Officer:

• Increased capacity to engage young people as advocates and champions for children’s rights through flagship initiatives and platforms.
• Strategic, innovative, effective and engaging campaigns with increased and robust participation of young people, ultimately helping to achieve key advocacy objectives for the organization.
• A positive brand image among young people, laying the groundwork for sustained supporter engagement.

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

Core Competencies

• 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)

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education:

University degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, International Relations, International Development, or another related field.

Experience:

• At least two (2) years of relevant professional work experience in advocacy/ campaigning and communications focused on young people is required.
• Experience in supporting the development and implementation of youth engagement strategies, with specific, measurable and timebound objectives and performance indicators.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting and/or managing projects to completion, including developing and implementing clear processes.
• Demonstrated experience in designing content for youth audiences and/or community moderation of youth focused platforms.
• Experience in supporting the effective functioning of a team.
• Knowledge of children’s rights, child safeguarding and ethics of working with children and young people and humanitarian issues will be an asset.
• Experience working for an advocacy or campaigning organization e.g. national or international NGO, UN or other multilateral organization is an asset.
• Experience in supporting training and facilitation is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and Dhivehi is required.

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. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.

Remarks:

[Remove below text if not a child safeguarding elevated risk role]

[If applicable] This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is:a role with direct contact with children, works directly with children, is a safeguarding response role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) applies.

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). 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.