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UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.
Uganda is an East African Country with an estimated 36 million people, over half of whom are under the age of 15. Uganda’s economic growth between 1992 and 2017 has led to a decrease in income poverty from 56 per cent to 21 per cent, although 50 per cent of children under five years still live in poverty. However, severe social and economic deprivation persists. With 56 per cent of the population under 18 years, education is an important sector for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals and Uganda’s aspiration to be middle income country. Despite the adoption of free Primary Education policy in 1997, over one million primary school aged children are still out of school. An estimated 13% of the population aged 10 years and above had never been to school, while only 9% of children with disabilities are accessing primary education and 6% accessing secondary education (UNICEF 2014). As a result, 41% of young youth, or 4,2 million aged between 18 and 30 years, are not engaged in any productive activity and are NEET (neither in education, employment or training).In this context, UNICEF within the scope of a Country Programme 2021-2025, Basic Education and Adolescent Development (BEAD) programme seeks to support the Government of Uganda, in particular, the Ministry of Education and Sports in achieving age achieve age-appropriate learning outcomes for girls and boys 3–19 years by 2025.The programme is designed through a life-cycle approach with three technical output areas – (a) Early Childhood Development, (b) Quality & Inclusive Education as well as (c) Adolescent Development Output. The BEAD programme specifically supports the government through developing innovative approaches, collecting evidence from field level implementation, and the formulation of evidence-based policies and programmes. In doing so, UNICEF works with other UN agencies, bilateral and multi-lateral donors, and NGO partners.Adolescent Development Output, the third pillar of the BEAD programme, aims at expanding access of adolescents and young people, especially the most marginalized young people, to institutionalized transferable/21st-century skills training opportunities within the formal and non-formal education and training system to mainly address the issue of increasing skills mismatch and the issue of NEET.Until today, several transferable skills training modules focusing on the skill set required for adolescents’ successful transition to adulthood and responding to the needs of job markers have been developed and institutionalized within the scope of formal and non-formal education systems. These include the comprehensive Life-Skills Toolkit, human-centered design-based innovation and social entrepreneurship skills training programme (i-UPSHIFT) and multilevel digital skills training programme providing digital skills required in the 21st century and evolving digital economy. In parallel, the provision of post-skilling opportunities such as internships and Youth online marketplace (Yoma) have been tested to create pathways that facilitates a transition to earning (Transition to Earning pathways) of those upskilled young people. Furthermore, the establishment of public-private-youth partnerships (PPYP) has been explored as one of the focused countries of Generation Unlimited (GenU), a global initiative aiming to unleash the full potential of young people through skilling, entrepreneurship, employability and social impact opportunities.
Within the delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Adolescent Development Manager and with close collaboration of the Adolescent Development Output team members and relevant section members in the country office and the Zonal offices, the UN National Volunteer, Adolescents’ Skills Development Officer, will contribute to the programme implementation, monitoring and documentation of the results and lessons learnt especially regarding the two pillars:
The UN National Volunteer liaise with key government stakeholders at national level such as the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) including its TVET Operation and Management Department (TVETOM) and Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT), and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD), as well as other UN agencies, bilateral and multi-lateral donors, NGO partners and institutional contractors.
Specific tasks include:
Objective 1. Programmatic support for the scale-up social innovation and transition to earning pathways:
Objective 2: Operational support to Adolescents’ Development Pillar:
Results/expected outputs:
As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:
3 years
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Education, Youth Studies, Development studies, Social Science and other relevant areas;
Professionalism: Demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF’s technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF’s 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’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.
At least 2 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in the certification of 21st century-skills training courses into education and training systems, a good understanding of social innovation and entrepreneurship training, human-centered design methodologies.
Experience in implementing 21st-century skills building and employability programmes targeting vulnerable youth, including refugees; experience with innovative public-private-youth partnerships is an asset; experience working in the UN or other international development organization is an asset.
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, PowerPoint, SharePoint, PowerBI etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting and reporting skills; Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.• Fluency in English. Knowledge of local language and another UN language is an asset.
Community development, Development programmes, Education
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Kampala City is Uganda's national and commercial capital bordering Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake. The city has adequate medical and banking facilities, and communication infrastructure. Road transport is mainly used. Availability of electricity/water via the national grid. A variety of foods available. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.
In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.
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