Mission and objectives

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. UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children. UNICEF insists that the survival, protection and development of children are universal development imperatives that are integral to human progress. UNICEF mobilizes political will and material resources to help countries, particularly developing countries, ensure a "first call for children" and to build their capacity to form appropriate policies and deliver services for children and their families. UNICEF is committed to ensuring special protection for the most disadvantaged children – victims of war, disasters, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation, and those with disabilities. UNICEF responds in emergencies to protect the rights of children. In coordination with United Nations partners and humanitarian agencies, UNICEF makes its unique facilities for rapid response available to its partners to relieve the suffering of children and those who provide their care. UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority. UNICEF aims, through its country programmes, to promote the equal rights of women and girls and to support their full participation in the political, social and economic development of their communities. UNICEF works with all its partners towards the attainment of the sustainable human development goals adopted by the world community and the realization of the vision of peace and social progress enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

Context

The UNICEF office for Timor-Leste would like to welcome a UNV in a dynamic, green, and forward-looking office to support adolescent and youth Development and civic engagement in line with the National Child Action Plan and the National Youth Policy. The UNV will be a critical member of a team supporting one of the youngest nations in the world, helping unleash the potential of one of the youngest populations in the region, in the areas of employment with a focus on green jobs, entrepreneurship, skilling, and civic participation, with a specific focus on gender and disability. The UNV will work closely with the Chief of Social Policy and coordinate with other UN agencies to help strengthen UNICEF support for the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Art and Culture, CSOs, and technical agencies in the areas of adolescent and youth empowerment. She/he will be a critical contributor to the UNICEF programme of cooperation signed with the Government of Timor-Leste, which foresees a greater focus on adolescents and youth through all programme focus, including health, climate change, education, protection, and governance.

Task Description

1. Support to Programme Development and Planning • Contributes to updating the situation analysis by conducting assessments to establish evidence-based data for UNICEF advocacy and development and programmes to promote adolescent and youth development and participation. • Assists in providing operational support to sections to ensure cross-cutting issues such as gender, disabilities, and the rights of marginalized groups are integrated into projects, proposals, and programming. • Supports capacity-building initiatives for institutions and organizations working on adolescents and youth, focusing on Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and integrating CCA into Youth Parliament curricula. • Participate in organizing campaigns and workshops on Climate Change, disability to engage adolescents and youth, with a focus on green jobs. • Contributes to promoting access to and use of digital services and digital public infrastructure among adolescents and youth, leveraging digital transformation for sustainable and inclusive growth. 2. Programme Management, Monitoring, and Delivery of Results • Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews, and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and report on required actions. • Monitor and report on the use of programme resources, ensuring compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, and donor commitments. 3. Technical and Operational Support to Programme Implementation • Conducts regular field visits, exchanging information with partners to assess progress, provide technical support, and resolve issues. • Provides support to government counterparts, NGO partners, and UN system partners on UNICEF strategies and best practices for programme implementation. 4. Innovation, Knowledge Management, and Capacity Building • Identifies, captures, and shares lessons learned to build the capacity of stakeholders and support knowledge development. • Apply innovative approaches and promote good practices, particularly in climate change, disability, and gender, to achieve sustainable programme results. • Research and reports on best practices for knowledge products and systems to contribute to achieving the SDGs. • Prepare required programme documentation for social media, other materials, and data to facilitate the programme advocacy, review, and approval process.

Competencies and values

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☐ Building Trust ☐ Client Orientation ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☐ Creativity ☒ Empowering Others ☒ Ethics and Values ☐ Integrity ☐ Judgement and Decision-making ☐ Knowledge Sharing ☐ Leadership ☐ Managing Performance ☐ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☐ Technological Awareness ☐ Vision ☒ Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

The UNICEF Office is located on the UN compound, along with most UN agencies. UN House is in the city center, and safe accommodation options are available nearby as well as further away. Dili is a small city, and most expatriates live within a 6km radius / a 10 to 20mn car ride from UN House. As public transport is not recommended for international staff, most expatriates purchase a motorbike (price range: $700 to $2,000) or a car (price range: $4000 to $20,000), which they then resell upon leaving the country. The UNICEF office, and particularly the drivers, can help with purchasing a vehicle. There are a range of housing options in Dili, that range from the very basic to adequate, although many private houses in Dili have been renovated to a reasonable or even considered ‘luxurious’ level of comfort. Many expatriates live in fully serviced compounds, usually in individual houses but sometimes in apartments. Some choose private houses, which tend to be cheaper than compounds. Houses are very often fully furnished in Dili. Housing prices start at about $750 per month for a studio or one-bedroom place. Two-bedroom houses in a compound range from $1,000 to $2,500.