Background
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. Equity accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Child Protection Specialist, the National UN Volunteer will undertake the following functions:
- Provide support in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF programmes and projects related to child protection, with a focus on Violence Against Children and Access to Justice.
- Provide technical assistance to the Protection System and the Justice System, in incorporating a child rights-based approach into its procedures and actions.
- Analyse and evaluate data related to programme/project implementation to ensure achievement of objectives and/or take corrective action when necessary.
- Draft proposals and reports, including but not limited to donor proposals, donor reports, annual reports, and communication materials.
- Participate in inter-sectoral collaboration in the development of joint workplans, programmes and projects.
- Provide technical assistance and training to partners in child protection.
- Support the design, implementation and monitoring of initiatives and materials on prevention of Violence Against Children and Access to Justice in the framework of the UNICEF´s response to the COVID 19.
- Support in admin and operation tasks as requested.
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.
Results/expected outputs:
Working with UNICEF, the UNV Protection Officer will contribute to obtain the following results:
- Assigned child protection project and programme activities are effectively managed, monitored and evaluated, and results achieved;
- Capacities of the Protection System and the Justice System are strengthened in integrating and implementing a child rights-based approach.
- Technical programme administration support provided to counterparts, ensuring good planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the assigned programme activities;
- Information and data systematically collected and reports produced to support progress monitoring;
- A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.
Competencies
- Diversity and inclusion: Treats all people with dignity and respect; shows respect and sensitivity towards gender, cultural and religious differences; challenges prejudice, biases and intolerance in the workplace; encourages diversity wherever possible.
- Integrity: Maintains high ethical standards; takes clear ethical stands; keeps promises; immediately addresses untrustworthy or dishonest behaviour; resists pressure in decision-making from internal and external sources; does not abuse power or authority.
- Commitment: Demonstrates commitment to UNICEF’s mission and to the wider UN system; demonstrates the values of UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours; seeks out new challenges, assignments and responsibilities; promotes UNICEF’s cause.
- Communication: Speaks fluently; expresses opinions, information and key points of an argument clearly; presents information with skill and confidence; responds quickly to the needs of an audience and to their reactions and feedback; projects credibility; structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience; presents information in a well-structured and logical way.
- Working with people: Shows respect for the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy; listens, supports and cares for others; consults others and shares information and expertise with them; builds team spirit and reconciles conflict; adapts to the team and fits in well.
- Drive for results: Sets high standards for quality of work; monitors and maintains quality of work; works in a systematic, methodical and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals; focuses on the needs and satisfaction of internal and external partners; accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm.
Required Skills and Experience
- Degree level: Master Degree or equivalent.
- Type of degree: Social Sciences, Political Sciences, Development Studies, Law, International Human Rights or another relevant field
- Years of work experience: At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in human rights, with a focus on child rights and protection against violence.
- Area of expertise requirement:
- Project Management and data analysis;
- Violence against children
- Capacity-building
- Fully proficient computer skills, including use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, internal databases, Internet, etc.;
- Good writing and analytical skills
- Driving license required: No
- Project Management and data analysis;
- Violence against children
- Capacity-building
- Fully proficient computer skills, including use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, internal databases, Internet, etc.;
- Good writing and analytical skills
English (Mandatory) Level - Intermediate
Spanish (Mandatory) Level – Fluent
French (Optional)
Living Conditions:
According to the last Security Risk Assessment (SRA), elaborated by UNDSSS, Bogotá was ranked in a “low” level of risk for living and working. The city presents a positive and safe conditions for UN functionaries. Bogota presents the risks every major urban center has, without compromising the safety of UN workers, either local or foreigners. At their starting date, every UNV receives a security brief given by UNDSS Security Department, which contains information concerning the security conditions of the Duty Station, security measures and if necessary the volunteers are accompanied in their search for a living place. Likewise, the UNV has a right to get a subvention to upgrade their security conditions, (Minimum Operating Residential Security Standards – MORSS). Alike, UNV are encouraged to take security training sessions (some of them are mandatory).
Even though Colombia presents different levels of security (which go from low to critical risk), each of them is clearly established for the fulfillment of missions, also supported by the SRA where mitigation measures are stated and those pointed out by MORSS.
Since Bogotá is the capital of Colombia, housing, communication services and the offer any other big city has, will be available for the UNV.
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.
Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers
The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.
Travel to duty station (if applicable) and a Settling-In-Grant will be provided in the event the duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment. The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.
Furthermore, in non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, a Well-Being Differential (WBD) will be provided monthly.
Important
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, age and culture.
Only applications that contain the signed P11 format will be considered (Under no circumstances will applications be considered that do not correctly attach the file in question). You can find the P11 format at http://www.co.undp.org/content/dam/colombia/docs/Operaciones/P11_Personal_history_form-en.docx