Advocacy Specialist P4

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. Established in 1946, UNICEF is dedicated to promoting the rights of every child, which is not merely a job but a calling. The organization is committed to providing diverse opportunities for professional and personal development, fostering a culture of belonging and growth, and offering an attractive compensation and benefits package. UNICEF's National Committees operate in 32 high-income countries as independent civil society organizations that partner with UNICEF to advance children's rights and support its mission. Their advocacy efforts aim to increase action by governments and decision-makers to respect, protect, and fulfill children's rights both nationally and globally.

Job Overview:
The Advocacy Specialist will play a crucial role in supporting National Committees in the design, implementation, and monitoring of foundational advocacy and platform initiatives. This position is guided by the Chief of Child Rights Advocacy and focuses on promoting Child Rights Education (CRE) and child and youth participation. The role involves facilitating interactions among National Committees, sharing global developments in child rights advocacy, and ensuring alignment with UNICEF's guidance and frameworks. The Advocacy Specialist will also coordinate platform initiatives such as the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI), Child Rights Schools Initiative (CRSI), and Baby-Friendly Hospitals Initiative (BFHI), promoting synergies among these initiatives and foundational advocacy efforts. The position requires strong analytical and communication skills, as well as the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support National Committees on foundational advocacy by designing, implementing, and monitoring initiatives related to Child Rights Education, child participation, and youth engagement.
• Facilitate regular interactions among National Committees through the maintenance of the existing CRE Network and CPYE Working Group, including organizing webinars for information sharing.
• Promote alignment of National Committees' work with the child rights approach and UNICEF's global guidance.
• Coordinate platform initiatives (CFCI, CRSI, BFHI) and promote synergies among them.
• Provide guidance on monitoring and reporting of advocacy initiatives through Joint Strategic Plans (JSP) and national tools.
• Collaborate with the Child Safeguarding Specialist to ensure child protection in advocacy efforts.
• Support UNICEF in organizing specific initiatives and events involving foundational advocacy and platform initiatives.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: A Master's degree or equivalent in education, social studies, child rights, or a relevant field is required. A Bachelor's degree combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Work Experience: A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience is required, including experience in child rights, child participation, youth engagement, and advocacy work. Demonstrated experience in managing multi-stakeholder networks and partnerships is essential.
• Skills: Strong analytical and communication skills, ownership and initiative, ability to work independently and in teams, and strong interpersonal skills are required. Cultural sensitivity and the ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment are also necessary.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree or equivalent in fields such as education, social studies, child rights, or another relevant area. A Bachelor's degree may be accepted if combined with sufficient relevant work experience.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience, particularly in child rights, child participation, youth engagement, and advocacy. Experience in managing multi-stakeholder networks and partnerships is crucial, along with a strong understanding of child rights-based programming and the application of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in advocacy work.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a language of a UNICEF National Committee is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
This position is a temporary role with a duration of 364 days. It is essential for candidates to demonstrate UNICEF's core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, or background. The organization offers a wide range of benefits, including paid parental leave and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on misconduct and is committed to safeguarding the rights of every child.