El Niño Response Coordinator

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

Timor-Leste is highly vulnerable to climate-related shocks. Following the 2023–2024 El Niño, which affected 10 of the 13 municipalities and the Special Administrative Region of Oecusse, the country again faces increased El Niño risk, with reduced rainfall expected to cause drought, water shortages, and crop losses. With 66 per cent of households depending on agriculture, children, women, people with disabilities and remote communities face heightened risks. This National UN Volunteer assignment is part of UNICEF Timor-Leste’s multisectoral El Niño preparedness and response plan, covering WASH, nutrition, health, education, child protection, social protection and community engagement. The UN Volunteer will work under the Deputy Representative (Programme), alongside the office Emergency Focal Point and Emergency Management Team, in coordination with the Government, municipalities, UN agencies and partners.

Task Description

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Representative (Programme) and in collaboration with the Emergency Focal Point and the Emergency Management Team, the UN Volunteer will:

• Support the preparation and regular updating of UNICEF Timor-Leste’s El Niño preparedness and response plan, including scenarios, triggers, priority municipalities, target populations and response packages.
• Consolidate climate, water, nutrition, health, education and protection data into an integrated analysis of risks to children.
• Maintain a consolidated El Niño action tracker and follow up with programme sections on agreed actions, deadlines and constraints.
• Represent UNICEF, as delegated, in government-led and inter-agency coordination meetings at national and municipal levels.
• Maintain a stakeholder and partner mapping covering geographical presence, capacity, response coverage, stocks and gaps.
• Work with Programme, Operations, Supply and Finance teams to identify and address bottlenecks and track the status of critical emergency supplies.
• Coordinate rapid assessments and undertake regular field missions to priority municipalities to monitor implementation and consult affected communities.
• Support accessible community feedback mechanisms in Tetum and local languages and help integrate Prevention of Asexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), child safeguarding and do-no-harm principles across the response.
• Prepare weekly internal updates, situation reports, inputs to donor reports, briefing notes and dashboards, and document lessons learned for future climate-related responses.

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Living conditions and remarks

Dili is the capital of Timor-Leste and offers access to basic services, including accommodation, banking, health facilities and telecommunications. Frequent field missions to rural and remote municipalities are required, where road access, electricity, water and communications may be limited, particularly during the rainy season.