Mission and objectives

UNICEF is responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. UNICEF Health program is designed to support national health priorities with focus on programs that will positively impact on the lives of the most disadvantaged children, such as the prevention and treatment of diseases through establishing community-level efforts and services to promote the health and well-being of children. In line with this strategy, UNICEF supports immunization and health prevention programs for childhood diseases and funding for sustainable health services. UNICEF programs have been guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), which affirms the right of all children to “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health.” UNICEF is committed to realizing the rights of all children to help them build a strong foundation and have the best chance of fulfilling their potential. We believe that ensuring a happy and healthy child begins before birth: from ensuring his/her mother has access to good neonatal care and delivering in a clean, safe environment to reaching adulthood as a responsible, healthy and informed parent to the next generation. This journey relies on a child having access to shelter, good nutrition, clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education.

Context

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 favouritism. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, nutrition, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It 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. UNICEF’s Nigeria Country Office (NCO) works with the Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders to support young people’s transition from learning to earning. Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) is a national Public-Private-Youth-Partnership (PPYP) platform by UNICEF Nigeria, that aims to connect 20 million young Nigerians by 2030 with access to skills, entrepreneurship, employment, and civic engagement opportunities. GenU 9JA’s ecosystem includes 40+ partners from the Government, private sector, UN agencies, and youth networks. A key emerging initiative under UNICEF Health and GenU 9JA sections is the Enabling Local Manufacturing (ELM) project, which seeks to build youth capacities and create jobs within Nigeria’s pharmaceutical, nutrition, and health commodities manufacturing sectors. In parallel, GenU 9JA is implementing several other flagship programs such as YOMA (Youth Agency Marketplace), Green Rising, FUCAP (Future-X Unilever Campus Ambassadors Program) and other youth livelihood interventions across states. To support the coordination, implementation, and scale-up of these initiatives, GenU 9JA seeks to onboard a dedicated National UN Volunteer to serve as the Youth Skills and Livelihoods Officer.

Task Description

Task description: Under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist – Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA), the UNV will play a vital coordination and implementation role in advancing youth skills development and sustainable employment across the UNICEF GenU 9JA portfolio. The officer will support program delivery, facilitate inter-agency and private sector engagement, manage documentation and reporting, and contribute to mobilization, monitoring, and visibility efforts. The officer will also be the focal point for the ELM project and interface with various national institutions. Duties and Responsibilities: 1) Support Implementation of ELM Project: a. Serve as program assistant for the Enabling Local Manufacturing Initiative. b. Coordinate partner engagement (e.g., PG-MAN, Pharmaceutical Council, Federal Ministries). c. Track project milestones, outputs, and deliverables. d. Support apprenticeship matching, youth mobilization, and skilling efforts. 2) Youth Skills and Livelihoods Coordination: a. Support implementation of GenU 9JA youth skill development, employment, and empowerment initiatives, including those under YOMA, FUCAP and Green Rising. b. Contribute to program design, onboarding journeys, and managing partnerships. c. Track progress and performance of youth engagement and training interventions. 3) Private Sector & Institutional Engagement: a. Liaise with private sector partners and employer associations to identify youth livelihood opportunities and partnerships. b. Facilitate coordination between UNICEF, Government, and implementation partners. 4) GenU 9JA Secretariat Support: a. Provide administrative and coordination support to the GenU Secretariat. b. Draft briefs, meeting notes, progress reports, and communication materials. c. Support documentation of success stories and youth impact. 5) Monitoring and Reporting: a. Maintain up-to-date results of youth beneficiaries, disaggregated by gender, location and program. b. Contribute to bi-annual donor and partner reporting, ensuring data accuracy. c. Liaise with relevant M&E officers across implementing partners and the GenU 9JA team. 6) Strategic Communication and Visibility: a. Support development of advocacy and communication materials in collaboration with UNICEF Comms team. b. Promote digital documentation of youth voices and impact stories.

Competencies and values

• Build and maintain partnerships • Demonstrate self-awareness and ethical awareness • Drive to achieve results for impact • Innovate and embraces change • Manage ambiguity and complexities • Think and act strategically • Work collaboratively with others

Living conditions and remarks

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.