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

Sri Lanka continues to face a combination of humanitarian and development challenges that directly affect the education sector, including climate-related disasters, localized emergencies, and socioeconomic vulnerabilities among children and their families. Recent cyclonic disturbances and associated heavy rainfall have caused disruptions to schooling, damage to education facilities, and losses of essential learning materials mainly on this island. These events have highlighted the need for strengthened preparedness, timely coordination, and effective supply management to ensure continuity of learning for affected children. Within the humanitarian architecture, the Education Cluster plays a central role in bringing together government authorities, UN agencies, and civil society partners to coordinate assessments, response planning, and resource mobilization. The Cluster also acts as a platform to ensure harmonized approaches, avoid duplication, and uphold minimum standards in education in emergencies. In parallel, the Ministry of Education and UNICEF are scaling up efforts to establish climate resilient education framework. This initiative requires strong administrative and logistical support to ensure smooth organization of workshops, consultations, and capacity-building activities with national and sub-national stakeholders. To support these complementary areas of work—humanitarian coordination, emergency supply management, and programme administration—UNICEF seeks a national UN Volunteer Specialist. The UNV will help reinforce the Education Cluster’s coordination functions, strengthen the efficiency and accountability of cyclone-related supply chains, and provide administrative support for climate education initiatives. This role is critical to ensuring that education systems remain inclusive, resilient, and prepared to meet the needs of children affected by both sudden-onset emergencies and long-term climate risks.

Task Description

Under the overall guidance of UNICEF Sri Lanka Chief of Education, the UNV will work with the Education Officer on the following key tasks related to disaster response and other regular work: 1) Emergency Response-related Supply Monitoring Support a. Coordinate with the Education Section, Supply Team, and suppliers/vendors to monitor timely procurement, dispatch, and delivery of teaching and learning materials and emergency education supplies related to the cyclone response. b. Maintain accurate supply records, including tracking delivery status and distribution lists. c. Support supply-related documentation if needed, helping ensure transparency and accountability. 2) Administrative and Logistical Support to the Education Section a. Provide administrative, logistical, and coordination support for workshops, consultations, training sessions, and awareness-raising events at national and sub-national levels. b. Support preparation of event materials, participation lists, travel arrangements, venue coordination, vendor engagement, and liaise with participants related to programme activities. c. Assist in documenting programme activities, including meeting notes, attendance records, and basic data required for planning and reporting. d. Maintain effective document repository systems and Sharepoint for digital and physical programme documentation. e. Assist with stakeholder communication, helping partners access key resources, guidelines, and operational information. 3) Additional Support to the Education Section a. Provide support to any other tasks assigned by the Education Section, based on evolving priorities, workload, or emerging needs when required.

Competencies and values

The core values of UNICEF of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability needs to be maintained at all times. The functional competencies required are:  Builds and maintains partnerships  Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical-awareness  Drive to achieve results for impact  Innovates and embraces change  Manages ambiguity and complexity  Thinks and acts strategically  Works collaboratively with others

Living conditions and remarks

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 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.