UNICEF | Youth & Adolescent Development Specialist

Job no: 501212
Work type: Fixed Term Staff
Location: State of Palestine
Categories: Adolescent Development, Human Rights, Programme Management, NO-3
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.
For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Position

The Adolescent Development Specialist reports to the (Chief of Section (Level 4) or Specialist (Level 4) for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist provides support to country office colleagues and internal and external partners and stakeholders throughout the programming processes by providing technical, administrative and operational support to country office colleagues and internal and external partners and stakeholders to ensure that adolescent development and participation and child rights established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, international treaties/framework and UN intergovernmental bodies, are integrated in UNICEF's advocacy, policies, programs and humanitarian work.
The Specialist contributes to achievement of concrete and sustainable results on adolescent development related programs/projects according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF's Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

-Support to programs/projects development and planning
-Program management, monitoring and delivery of results
-Technical and operational support to program implementation
-Networking and partnership building
-Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks

Support to country program/project development and planning

-Support the preparation/design and conduct/update of situation analysis and assessments to establish evidence-based data for UNICEF advocacy and development of policies, framework and programs to promote adolescent development and participation in the country and for monitoring results on related programs/projects.
-Assess national/regional/international development priorities to identify opportunities and courses of action to enhance the delivery of services and achieve objectives on adolescent development and participation in the country.
-Participate throughout the process of CO program formulation, planning and preparation to provide input, advice and operational support on the integration of policies and framework that promote adolescent development and participation and to ensure that crosscutting issues such as gender, disabilities, the rights of minority and marginalized groups are considered and integrated within the country programs and projects.
-Establish specific goals, objectives and strategies and implementation plans for the adolescent development programs/projects using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare relevant documentations for program review and approval.
-Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss methodologies and to assess national priorities/competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.

Program management, monitoring and delivery of results 

-Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of sustainable results on adolescent development programs and projects.
-Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
-Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in program and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
-Actively monitor adolescent development programs/projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress, identify achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
-bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
-Monitor and verify the optimum/appropriate use of program resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity and ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
-Prepare regular/mandated program/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of program progress

Technical and operational support to program implementation

-Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and country office partners/donors on policies, practices and methodologies on adolescent development and participation to support program management, implementation and delivery of results.
-Participate in program meetings including program development and contingency planning to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.
-Draft relevant policy papers, briefs and other strategic program materials for management use, information and/or consideration.

Networking and partnership building

-Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors/academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results on adolescent development and participation initiatives.
-Prepare communication and information materials for program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and to ensure that adolescent development and participation programs and initiatives are adequately resourced and supported.
-Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on adolescent development related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF planning and preparation of programs/projects ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting including emergency preparedness.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
 
-Apply/introduce innovative approaches and good practices on adolescent development and participation to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program results.
-Keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best practices on adolescent development and participation. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
-Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programs and projects.
-Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results on related programs/projects.
 
 
Qualifications of Successful Candidate

An Advanced University Degree in anthropology, psychology, sociology, education or other social science field is required.
A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in social development planning and management in adolescent development related areas at the international level some of which preferably served in a developing country is required. Relevant experience in program/project development and management in related areas in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core Values

-Commitment
-Diversity and Inclusion
-Integrity

Core competencies

-Communication
-Working with People
-Drive for Results

Functional Competencies

-Leading and supervising (I)
-Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
-Analyzing (III)
-Relating and networking (II)
-Deciding and Initiating action (II)
Applying technical expertise (III)

Technical Knowledge 

To view our competency framework, please click here.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious
 

Apply here

Applications close: 25 Nov 2016 FLE Standard Time