UNV - Adolescents and Youth Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, established to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA's mission is to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health, realize reproductive rights, and reduce maternal mortality. The organization aims to improve the lives of adolescents, youth, and women by addressing population dynamics, human rights, and gender equality. UNFPA launched three transformative results in 2018: ending unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal death, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. The organization operates in numerous countries and employs a diverse workforce dedicated to innovation and impactful solutions for the challenges faced by populations worldwide.

Job Overview:
The UNV - Adolescents and Youth Officer will play a crucial role in supporting the Regional Office's initiatives focused on adolescents and youth, particularly in the areas of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), youth-responsive health services, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. This position involves collaborating with various stakeholders to develop knowledge products, manage regional partnerships, and coordinate efforts to address adolescent pregnancy and gender-based violence. The officer will assist in creating and disseminating knowledge on adolescent trends in the Arab region, ensuring that the content is relevant and contextualized. The role also includes monitoring and evaluating youth program activities, advocating for policy dialogue, and contributing to the overall mission of UNFPA to improve the lives of young people in the region.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Programme Development and Knowledge Management: Assist in creating and disseminating knowledge products on adolescent trends in the Arab region, focusing on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), adolescent pregnancy, and Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). Manage the adaptation of Global CSE Academy modules for the Arab region, ensuring content is contextualized. Support the identification and documentation of innovative approaches and lessons learned from Country Offices (COs) and youth-led organizations. Maintain a vibrant Adolescents and Youth Community of Practice by facilitating information exchange and sharing technical resources. Develop adolescent girls' pregnancy profiles in Palestine and Egypt, and assist in developing multi-country proposals to tackle these issues.
• Regional Partnership and Coordination: Foster partnerships with the League of Arab States (LAS), UN agencies, and youth-led organizations to advance the regional SRHR agenda. Explore partnerships to develop knowledge products on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on adolescent health. Support the Youth and SRH teams in developing the Regional Healthy Lifestyles Framework in collaboration with LAS Member States. Coordinate the regional ASRH and CSE Ideathon Lab and sustain the Social Practice Lab Network to address adolescent pregnancy in high-priority contexts such as Gaza, Yemen, and Sudan. Validate the Global CSE in Humanitarian Settings Framework across six priority COs and develop roadmaps for integrating youth-focused responses into humanitarian action.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Advocacy: Collect and compile data for monitoring and reporting on youth program activities, including EMPOWERED and NORAD out-of-school CSE initiatives. Collaborate with the communications team to draft human interest stories, press releases, and advocacy materials that highlight field experiences and youth-led initiatives. Map key regional and global events to leverage policy dialogue and advocacy opportunities for adolescents. Contribute to UNV activities, such as International Volunteer Day, and assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived volunteers.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates should possess strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in a multicultural environment. They should demonstrate adaptability and flexibility, creativity, and sound judgment in decision-making. Professionalism and self-management are essential, along with a commitment to the values and mission of UNFPA. Experience in program development, knowledge management, and partnership coordination is highly desirable, as well as familiarity with the challenges faced by adolescents and youth in the Arab region.

Educational Background:
A bachelor's degree in public health, social sciences, international development, or a related field is required. A master's degree in a relevant discipline is preferred and may enhance the candidate's qualifications for the position. Educational background should reflect a strong understanding of sexual and reproductive health issues, particularly as they pertain to adolescents and youth.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 2-3 years of relevant experience in program development, monitoring and evaluation, or advocacy related to sexual and reproductive health and rights. Experience working with youth-led organizations or in the context of the Arab region is an advantage. Familiarity with the UN system and its operations, particularly in relation to youth and health initiatives, is also beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, while proficiency in Arabic is highly desirable. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly in the context of regional collaboration and partnership development.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Cairo, Egypt, which is a family duty station offering a good quality of life with access to various services. The role is a full-time volunteer position under the UNV program, with a Volunteer Living Allowance of USD 2,012.45 per month, along with a one-time entry lump-sum payment of USD 4,000 and an exit lump-sum upon completion of the contract. Medical and life insurance coverage is provided, and volunteers have access to training and learning resources through the UNV E-Campus.