Gender & Development Specialist (Adolescent Girls’ Rights), (P 3), WCARO, Dakar, Senegal #103593 Job in Senegal Recruiting by Unicef

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For every child, Hope

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, 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 health, education 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.

Job organizational context:

The UNICEF Regional Office for West and Central Africa is an adolescent girls’ rights specialist to provide critical support for the accelerated implementation of the adolescent girls’ portfolio.

The Regional Office for West and Central Africa (WCARO) is based in Dakar, Senegal and covers 25 countries in a region that bridges development and humanitarian contexts. It is estimated that 196 million adolescents and young people (aged 10-24 years) live, learn, 

overcome challenges and contribute to their communities in Western and Central Africa (WCA). Of this group, 70 million are adolescent girls (10-19 years), of whom 45 million live in the Sahel. Adolescent girls and boys live – and die prematurely - in contexts rife with gender inequalities that contribute to high levels of child marriage, adolescent pregnancy, lower learning outcomes, reduced access to basic hygiene services and a plethora of challenges to access quality, age-appropriate and gender-responsive services when and where girls need them. Despite these challenges, adolescent girls, as well as boys and young people, demand to be meaningfully engaged in decisions that affect their lives and to be part of the solution in their communities.

The Region has placed a high priority on adolescent girls, within the context of regional challenges and in line with the GAP, recognizing that the multidimensional nature of risk factors girls face requires a multisectoral and multidimensional response that not only addresses the vulnerabilities they face but amplifies their agency. A five-pillar girl-intentional approach is guiding the Region’s localization of UNICEF’s Global Adolescent Girls Program Strategy by: a) placing adolescent girls at the center of policymaking and programming; b) addressing the barriers for adolescent girls to safely access quality services when and where they need them; c) transforming gender norms that hold adolescent girls back, e) partnering with girl-focused organizations, and e) generating and using evidence on girls’ rights, agency and leadership.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose for the job: 

The Adolescent Girls’ Rights Specialist will provide technical support around the implementation and follow up to the WCAR Girl-Intentional Approach to both UNICEF country offices and regional office sectors, with a principal focus on the Sahel, including the five Sahelian countries implementing the Building Resilience in the Sahel (BRS) Programme. S/he will also play a role in working with adolescent and gender specialists or focal points across the 24 country offices, and regional sectors such as Education, Child Protection, Health, WASH, Nutrition, Climate, Gender, Social and Behavioral Change, Emergencies and other enablers to ensure office-wide contributions to the WCA Adolescent Girls’ Agenda, and the broader Resilience Agenda. A portion of her/his time will contribute to regional programming around adolescent and youth engagement, applicable within and outside of the Sahel, towards strengthening enabling environments and resilience-building and supporting adolescents and young people to be changemakers at local and national levels.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Technical support on the WCAR Girl-Intentional Approach (including in emergency contexts)
2. Advisory services and technical support to regional sectors and country offices on adolescent and youth programming (including in emergency contexts)
3. Strengthen partnerships with girl-focused, youth and women’s groups (including in emergency contexts)
4. Knowledge management and advocacy

Impact of Results

Regional consolidation and visibility of the WCAR Girl-Intentional Approach among global, regional and national partners.

Adolescent girls’ resilience model in the Sahel tested in at least 4 countries through evidence generation, community engagement and through girls’ leadership programming.

Sectoral and cross-sectoral programs on girls’ rights, adolescent and youth programming are effectively and efficiently supported and implemented in alignment with the WCAR Girl-Intentional Approach, the UNICEF GAP and Second Decade Guidance, the UN Resilience Framework, UNICEF Core Commitments for Children through the timely and systematic provision of coordination and technical expertise on adolescent and youth programming.

Knowledge and information of regional trends and patterns around adolescents, with a particular focus on girls in development, humanitarian and peacebuilding contexts is generated, managed and shared with internal networks and with external partners to support policymaking and programming.

Knowledge, information and best practices on effective adolescent and youth programming is generated, managed and shared within internal networks and with external partners.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

The following minimum requirements:

• Education:  Advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in the social sciences ( gender and development, sociology, demography, psychology, political science, social policy or economics), public health, public policy, public administration, international development, or in an area relevant to UNICEF’s sectoral work ( Gender, Adolescent Development and Participation, Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, Social Inclusion, HIV/AIDs, etc.).

• Work Experience:

• Skills :  

• Language Requirements:  Fluency in English and French is required.

The following desirables:

• Experience in designing, implementing, managing, and delivering results-based programmes/projects on gender and development or any other cross cutting programme, especially at country/field level, experience in emergency response is an asset.
• Language: Knowledge of Spanish, Portuguese or a local language is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

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Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (, application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

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