Programme Specialist, Generation Unlimited at the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

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United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (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.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Programme Specialist, Generation Unlimited

Job Number: 546315
Location: Lagos
Contract Type: Temporary Appointment
Level: P-3
Categories: Adolescent Development, Innovation, Programme Management

Overview
For Every Child, a Hero:

• Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU Nigeria) is a public-private-youth partnership platform established to support adolescents and youth successfully transition from learning to earning. GenU Nigeria’s goal is to support 20 M youth, aged 10-24, access to job related 21st Century skills and/or employment by 2030. GenU crowds in public and private partners as well as young people with the aim to co-create innovative solutions to be implemented by all partners at scale.
• It is a powerful partnership platform focused on unlocking all existing in-country, regional and global investments in support of empowering youth to play a positive role in their societies and the global economy.
• It unleashes the voices of young people, creates synergies between major actors, and accelerates momentum towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
• GenU Nigeria gives a special focus to adolescent girls and boys, young women and men, and young people with specific needs, especially those at greater risk of being left behind, such as youth living with disabilities, young people on the move, young people affected by conflict and natural disasters, rural youth, and youth from poor backgrounds.
• GenU Nigeria is committed to taking urgent action today so young people have the support they need to assume leadership roles tomorrow.
• In Nigeria, UNICEF works in a complex humanitarian and development setting to fulfill and protect children’s rights in partnership with the government, civil society, children, and families.  UNICEF Nigeria is one of the largest UNICEF Country Offices globally – click the link to learn more about UNICEF in Nigeria: https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/

How Can You Make a Difference?

• Under the supervision of the Chief of Field office in Lagos, Nigeria, the incumbent will support UNICEF’s catalytic role in the development of GenU Nigeria and the rollout of YOMA in Nigeria, Benin, and Cote d’Ivoire.
• The Generation Unlimited Specialist will work closely with all GenU partners and internally at UNICEF, with all programme sections (particularly Innovation, Education, Child Protection, Nutrition, Health, WASH, Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships, and M&E), CFOs, and GenU focal points in focus Field Offices.
• This post will be key in ensuring UNICEF NCO plays a catalytic role in support of the GenU Secretariat successfully rolling out GenU Nigeria’s partnership, strategy, and target achievement. She/he will be based in Lagos with 10-20% travel to selected focus states.

Main Responsibilities and Tasks
To have maximum impact, GenU will focus on three priorities:

• Digital skills and access to data
• Skills for learning, employability, and decent work
• Youth engagement and empowerment

Task1: Coordinate UNICEF’s contribution to the GenU Nigeria framework:

• Ensure that GenU Nigeria’s Strategy is integrated into UNICEF programme strategies and aligned to outcomes for children in education, health, nutrition, child protection, WASH, youth engagement and other relevant programme sections
• Support GenU Nigeria’s Secretariat to monitor implementation and progress of the GenU Nigeria strategic plan and ensure timely contribution from UNICEF NCO on agreed components
• Work as an integral part of GenU Nigeria’s national secretariat (UNICEF and TEF) in support of creating the public-private-youth partnership, organizing co-creation meetings with GenU Nigeria partners, supporting CAP with formalizing partnerships, support the organization of GenU Nigeria Board, Steering Committee and Task Forces meetings

Task 2: Lead the implementation of the Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA) as part of GenU Nigeria

• Design and implement GenU Nigeria’s Youth Challenge through YOMA using a dynamic model that brings together young Nigerians to design innovative new solutions in support of education, skills, employment, entrepreneurship and youth engagement for scale and private sector investments
• Develop the YOMA strategy for the GenU Nigeria, Benin and Cote d’Ivoire and rollout plan to reflect priorities of young Nigerians aged 10-24, in support of preparing every young Nigerian to become productive and engaged members of society by being in some form of school, learning, training and/or employment by 2030.
• Act as overall Focal Point for YOMA scale-up in UNICEF Nigeria, Benin and Cote d’Ivoire and maintain internal and external networks for the initiative
• Coordinate and implement the YOMA roll out in UNICEF Nigeria, Benin and Cote d’Ivoiret in close consultation with the YOMA Global team
• Conduct biannual lessons learned workshop for YOMA Nigeria, Benin and Cote d’Ivoire
• Lead the process of building YOMA Nigeriapartnerships between national and local youth organisations to draw on collective expertise, planning and investment to support young people’s meaningful participation, communication and advocacy (e.g., through dialogues, workshops and conferences), equipping them as problem-solvers & engaged members of society
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement process with development partners, government, specialised agencies, foundations, NGOs and private sector alongside young people engagement to contribute to GenU Nigeria based on their respective comparative advantage to expand opportunities for the empowerment and meaningful engagement of adolescents and young people and identify innovative, cutting-edge solutions for and with young people that are ready to be taken to scale on YOMA.
• Liaise with National Innovation Spealist on the technical development of YOMA with wider tech stakeholders
• In coordination with NCO Partnerships Manager and the UN SDG Platform, engage Industry Associations in defining and delivering an enhanced focus on youth skills and employability within their sectors.

Performance Indicators for the Evaluation of Results

• YPAT created and initial meeting held maximum 2 months following incumbent’s arrival
• YOMA roll-out strategy for Nigeria, Benin and Cote d’Ivoire delivered 1 month following incumbent’s arrival
• Co-creation workshops: organize, coordinate and produce high-quality presentations and key notes once a month
• Management of GenU knowledge: keep key notes, reports and presentation available to all team and organized on the dedicated GenU Nigeria SharePoint
• Produce high-quality, timely reports and documents
• Communication with all stakeholders, demonstrating a sense of initiative, accuracy and accountability.

Required Qualifications And Competencies

• An advanced University Degree in one of the following fields: International Development, Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology, Education, or another relevant field.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, at the national and international level working with children and marginalized youth in the global south, including on adolescent/youth/community engagement and innovation.
• Experience with working with Generation Unlimited globally or at the national level will be an asset
• Fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

Skills and Work Experience:

• Specialized training in youth, gender, diversity, community leadership and engagement, entrepreneurship, innovation and social, behavioral change is an asset
• Strong interpersonal, communication, public speaking, presentation, writing, critical thinking, and analytical skills
• Previous experience in Africa is essential
• Experience in working with teams
• Good computer skills with software proficiency in Windows, Microsoft Office Suit (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote)
• Previous work experience with UNICEF would be an advantage.

For every Child, You Demonstrate
UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are:

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness
• Works Collaboratively with others
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships
• Innovates and Embraces Change
• Thinks and Acts Strategically
• Drives to achieve impactful results.
• Manages ambiguity and complexity.

Application Closing Date
29th November, 2021.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click here for more information

Note

• 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.
• 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:

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.