Programme Officer (Local Governance)

Details

Mission and objectives

Working in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child, UNICEF has spent 70 years improving the lives of children and their families. UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. In all of its work, UNICEF takes a life-cycle based approach, recognizing the particular importance of early childhood development and adolescence. UNICEF programmes focus on the most disadvantaged children, including those living in fragile contexts, those with disabilities, those who are affected by rapid urbanization and those affected by environmental degradation. UNICEF was created with a distinct purpose in mind: to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child's path. We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life because proper care at the youngest age forms the most robust foundation for a person's future. We promote girls’ education – ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum – because it benefits all children, both girls and boys. Girls who are educated grow up to become better thinkers, better citizens, and better parents to their own children. We act so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished: no child should suffer or die from a preventable illness. We work to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people because it is right to keep them from harm and enable them to protect others. We help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to live their lives with dignity. We are UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Context

This UNV assignment is part of UNICEF’s project/flagship programming initiative. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. Under the supervision of the Chief Field Office (CFO) based in Tripoli covering the governorates of the North and Akkar Lebanon, provide professional technical assistance and support for programme design, planning and implementation, management and evaluation of programme/project activities, data analysis and progress reporting, in support of achievement of programme goals and objectives. In addition to duty station specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts. UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

Task description

Under the supervision of the Chief Field Office (CFO) based in Tripoli covering the governorates of North and Akkar Lebanon, the national UN Volunteer Programme Officer (Local Governance) will be performing the below duties: • Sensitization and capacity support: dialogues, sensitize, and capacitate the selected municipalities, unions and governors on local governance, child wellbeing and rights, social accountability, disaster risk reduction, multidimensional vulnerabilities, challenges as well as opportunities and initiatives at local level to deal with them in North and Akkar Governorates. • Concept notes and terms of reference: support in developing notes and TORs for local systems strengthening, DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction)/ DRM (Disaster Risk Management) capacity building, and other relevant localization initiatives at municipality and/or governorate level. • Local data and evidence: support the identification and update of children related findings on issues and priorities in the municipal level through local data generated in coordination with UNICEF planning, monitoring, and evaluation (PME), sections, and other agencies/partners (e.g., municipal snapshots, neighbourhood profiling, surveys and research related to initiatives in the North and Akkar such as Tripoli Child Labor Plan, documentation of the multiple service center jointly implemented with UNHCR and UN women ), workshops, community consultations, etc. • Local policies, plans, and budgets: support the process of developing child-friendly local plans and programmes with the priority municipalities and unions in North and Akkar, with the support of UNICEF sections to enhance children’s access to services. • Programme quality and relevance: closely work with UNICEF programme officers in North and Akkar Field Office and CFO to align implementing partners’ plans and activities to contribute to the local area ones of municipalities and unions. (e.g. child friendly spaces, MSCC, mental health spaces, PSEAH mechanisms, inclusion, Accountability to Affected People, Qudwa initiatives, Disaster Risk Reduction strategies and plans etc) in North and Akkar Governorates. • Community engagement and Participation in local decision-making: support the selected municipalities and unions in North and Akkar Governorates to empower their communities through enhanced participation and sharing of information, including during emergencies, and establish sustainable feedback platform with technical supports from the CFO and Programme Specialist – Local Governance at Country Office and Social behavioral Change section. • Coordination for local and area-based work: under the guidance of the CFO, collaborate with other actors and join efforts such as UNDP, UN-HABITAT, UNOPS, UNHCR, DRM, LRC, etc to maximize results and impact for children in local authorities and communities in North and Akkar Governorates. • Contribute to Field Operations-Local Governance efforts in evidence generation, documentations, monitoring, piloting of projects and initiatives, planning, mid and year end reviews of the field rolling workplan and provide the needed inputs for North and Akkar Governorates.