Mission and objectives

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does - in programmes, 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, and thrive, so that they develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. Every child must have an equal chance in life - in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions - and for her or his rights to be protected. The evidence is clear that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens - and by addressing inequity - will not only give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also leads to the sustained growth and stability of countries. As such, the focus on equity is 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 (CRC), while also supporting the equitable development of nations. UNICEF works with governments and other partners to ensure that all countries fulfil the commitments they made at the UN Convention CRC, that every child can grow and develop to reach their full potential.

Context

UNICEF works in over 190 countries to protect children’s rights and help them reach their full potential. Through the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI), UNICEF has supported over 3,500 municipalities in 40+ countries, creating safer, more inclusive environments for millions of children. In Trinidad and Tobago, children in urban areas face risks such as violence, lack of safe play spaces, and unequal access to services. The 2022 MICS (Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys) survey found that 69.2% of children experience violent discipline and 60% psychological aggression, often rooted in exposure to violent environments. Despite these challenges, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago remains committed to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and continues to advance child protection and social policy. UNICEF, in partnership with the Municipality of San Fernando and other UN agencies, is launching the Child Friendly Cities Initiative to strengthen inclusive local governance and ensure safe, supportive urban spaces for children. As part of this initiative, the Mayor of San Fernando will sign an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with UNICEF, signalling joint commitment to CFCI. In line with global guidelines, local councils will conduct a situational analysis (SITAN) and develop a costed action plan to address key barriers to children’s rights. The national UNV is therefore required to support the SITAN and costed action plan.

Task Description

Conceptual Approach to Situational Analysis (SITAN) – San Fernando • Support, under the guidance of the CFCI Specialist, the City of San Fernando, communities, children, and other stakeholders in identifying and responding to child well-being bottlenecks in the city. • Ensure particular attention to the needs and challenges of the most vulnerable children and adolescents, including migrant children. • Contribute to the Situational Analysis (SITAN) process aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of the status of children’s rights in San Fernando. • Ensure the analysis is aligned with: - the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - the National Child Policy 2024 • Ensure the SITAN covers all key dimensions of children’s rights, including: - Survival - Development - Protection - Participation • Ensure the process follows the UNICEF Guidance on Conducting a Situation Analysis of Children’s Rights. • Contribute to all stages of the conceptual process related to: - the Situational Analysis (SITAN), and - the development of the CFCI Action Plan. The UN Volunteer will contribute to the situation analysis with the following objectives: • Enhance access to disaggregated data and evidence - Support the collection, organization, and analysis of data on the status of children’s rights in San Fernando. - Help identify causes of shortfalls and inequities affecting children. • Strengthen child-sensitive and equity-focused planning - Assist in integrating intersectional child sensitivity and equity considerations into the city’s socio-economic development planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation systems. • Document innovations and good practices - Gather and record examples of existing innovations and successful practices within the city that can inform future programming. • Provide evidence for CFCI action plan development - Contribute to compiling sufficient evidence to guide the design of the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) action plan. • Establish a baseline for progress measurement - Support the establishment of a baseline that will enable objective measurement of progress required for CFCI Recognition. • Children and Adolescent engagement and participation - Facilitate opportunities for children and adolescents to share their perspectives during the SITAN process (e.g., focus groups, participatory workshops, surveys). - Document and integrate children’s views into the SITAN findings and subsequent action plans. - Support young people in designing creative and accessible methods of engagement tailored to their peers, ensuring inclusivity and relevance. - Provide guidance and technical support to adolescents in developing simplified tools or platforms for participation in the CFCI initiative. - Encourage peer-to-peer learning and youth-led activities that strengthen ownership of the CFCI process among children and adolescents.

Competencies and values

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to the UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to the 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 clientoriented; • 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, mixedgender 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; • 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.

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. Trinidad and Tobago offers a unique and vibrant cultural experience shaped by its rich history, diverse population, and strong traditions in music, food, and festivals. The country is known for its warm, welcoming people and a relatively high standard of living compared to many other countries in the region. While the environment is generally comfortable, the assignment requires adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and a high level of professionalism. Urban areas can be fast paced, with traffic congestion and occasional safety concerns, while rural areas may offer fewer amenities and services. Flexibility, resilience, and a proactive approach to navigating both professional and personal life are essential for a rewarding experience in this dynamic setting. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”