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, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. 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. There is growing evidence that investing in the health including nutrition, early childhood development, 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

Context

This assignment involves building and maintaining a scalable AI-powered web platform for Ingazi that connects Rwandan youth to skills development and career guidance and labour market opportunities. It includes developing user-friendly interfaces, integrating APIs, optimizing databases, ensuring security and performance, and collaborating within an Agile team to deliver high-quality, reliable solutions aligned with the platform’s mission.

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of the Education Officer in charge of Youth and Skills, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Develop, test, and maintain Ingazi, a scalable artificial intelligence (AI)-powered web application using modern technologies and best practices. • Build and consume Graph Query Language (GraphQL), Application Programming Interface (APIs), and Representational State Transfer (REST) endpoints for internal services and external partner integrations. • Collaborate with product managers and Scrum masters to define, plan, and implement features aligned with business goals. • Design and implement user interfaces and workflows with strong attention to usability and user experience using Figma, and optionally Adobe XD, Sketch, or Miro. • Participate in product design discussions, wireframing, prototyping, and translating mock-ups into functional interfaces. • Optimize Structured Query Language (SQL) database queries, schemas, and access patterns for performance and scalability. • Write unit, integration, and end-to-end tests to ensure high-quality, bug-free deliverables. • Deploy projects with Git for version control, maintaining clean workflows, conducting code reviews, and applying proper branching strategies. • Back up projects and ensure their security. • Ensure adherence to data protection, privacy, and security best practices in all implementations. • Actively participate in Agile and Scrum processes, including sprint planning, stand-ups, retrospectives, and delivery tracking. • Contribute to continuous improvement of the development workflow, continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, and development and operations (DevOps) practices. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and external publications and take an 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. • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities. • Contribute articles and 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.

Competencies and values

☒Adaptability and Flexibility ☒Building Trust ☒Commitment and Motivation ☒Communication ☒Creativity ☒Ethics and Values ☒Integrity ☒Knowledge Sharing ☒Professionalism ☒Respect for Diversity ☒Self-Management ☒Technological Awareness ☒Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, has experienced remarkable rejuvenation and stability, evident upon arrival in the city. While motorcycle taxis are the fastest mode of transport, they're not recommended without your own helmet, though some provide helmets. Standard taxis, marked with yellow stripes, are another option, with many operated by Kigali Taxi Service or Kigali Airport Taxis. Public transportation is affordable and efficient, with new and well-maintained buses available, and prepaid cards can be purchased at bus stations. Rental cars are also available due to significant investment in infrastructure, leading to minimal congestion. Accommodations in Kigali are readily available and meet relevant standards, with recreational facilities like swimming pools also accessible. Shopping options include various shops and markets offering essential items, imported goods, home furnishings, electrical appliances, and vehicle spare parts. The city boasts both public and private health facilities, such as King Faisal Hospital and Legacy Clinic, equipped to handle emergencies and affiliated with CIGNA insurance. Kigali is considered exceptionally safe, with emergency numbers like 999 for police, 111 for firefighters, and 112 for general emergencies, and 113 for traffic accidents. UN Volunteers receive a Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (MVLA) to cover basic needs like housing, utilities, transportation, and communication. The purpose of the MVLA is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s services.