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 favoritism. 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 education, health and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill 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
Task Description
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the In-country Staff Counsellor or his designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Staff Counsellor will be able to provide: A. Preventive and protective psychosocial support: • Facilitate the provision of effective psychosocial support to all staff, prioritizing emergency locations with the aim of mitigating stress and increasing protective factors during the ongoing Ebola Virus Disease (EVD ) response. • Provide a safe and confidential environment where staff members can address professional and personal problems, either individually or in groups (modality: assessment, short-term intervention, referral). • Provide support and advice to the leadership and managers in offices on healthy work practices and approaches to effectively support staff and encourage resilience. Recommend suitable staff support strategies to managers during and following emergencies and other crises. • Deliver preventive psychoeducational programmes/training to address systemic issues and recurrent problems within teams and offices; develop and deliver tailored workshops and webinars for staff; raise awareness on common mental health themes and act as an advocate for anti-stigma programming; deliver training aimed at managing changes. • Provide pre/post-deployment briefings to new staff. • Develop a creative system to build a network of external mental health providers available to provide services to staff. • Contribute to promoting and enhancing duty of care and a positive work environment. • Coordinate the Peer Support Volunteer (PSV) Programme for the country’s office. B. Provide Critical Incident Stress Management to groups and/or individual staff following critical incidents. A holistic approach to critical incident management is used and may include services such as practical support, psychoeducation, psychological first aid, strategic advice to leadership, family support, and individual or group interventions. The Staff Counsellor will be responsible for: • Contacting the affected staff member(s) and offering information about typical stress reactions, support, and referral information. • Facilitating appropriate traumatic stress interventions following a critical incident or traumatic event. • Recommending and arranging individual and/or group follow-up support to staff and their dependents. • Regular follow-up contact and visits to staff in field offices. • Coordinating with UNDSS counsellors, agency counsellors, and PSVs to ensure the provision of adequate psychosocial support during emergencies. C. Monitoring and oversight: • Providing, on a regular basis, data, statistics, and trends on issues related to staff well-being while maintaining confidentiality. Alert the In-country Staff Counsellor and/or Country Office management team on trends that may be of concern in offices requiring targeted support or managerial intervention. Capture lessons learned and best practices for dissemination as appropriate. D. Other tasks: • Undertake regular travel to the regions and duty stations under coverage as per the regional wellbeing strategy and demands from the country offices. • Identify and recommend prevention measures for systemic issues and trends. • Facilitate interface with the various services and resources of the organization. • Ensure adherence to the professional standards of the UN Staff Counsellor's Global Services Committee (UNSSCG ) as well as the Code of Ethics for UN Staff Counsellors.Competencies and values
• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF 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 client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEFin 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, mixed-gender 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; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • 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
Democratic Republic of Congo is a unique country, and Bunia is a unique (humanitarian) operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.
