UN Volunteer (UNV)

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF Lesotho is dedicated to upholding the rights of every child, particularly focusing on the most disadvantaged groups to ensure their survival and development. The organization aims to provide essential services such as healthcare, nutrition, education, protection from violence, and access to clean water. UNICEF Lesotho operates under the guidance of the Country Programme Document (CPD) 2024–2028, which emphasizes equitable access to high-quality services for children from early childhood through adolescence. The organization is committed to addressing the challenges of multidimensional child poverty and promoting inclusion across the country, while also working to enhance public investments that benefit children. UNICEF Lesotho's mission is supported by a well-established country office that is well-resourced and focused on making a significant impact in the lives of children in both rural and urban communities.

Job Overview:
The UN Volunteer (UNV) position at UNICEF Lesotho involves supporting the organization's Public Finance for Children (PF4C) agenda. The UNV will work closely with the country office to ensure that public finance systems are effective and equitable, particularly in the context of constrained fiscal space. The role includes collecting, analyzing, and presenting economic and financial data, as well as supporting the development of user-friendly knowledge platforms. The UNV will also assist in organizing PF4C-related engagements such as seminars and policy dialogues, and will play a key role in advocacy and partnership building with stakeholders in the public financial management ecosystem. This position is crucial for enhancing the efficiency and transparency of public spending and ensuring that children's rights are prioritized in budgetary processes.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The UNV will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including:

• Collecting, analyzing, and presenting quantitative and qualitative economic and financial data in accessible formats.
• Supporting the development of user-friendly knowledge platforms, including SharePoint pages.
• Assisting in the preparation and organization of PF4C-related engagements such as seminars, trainings, policy dialogues, and meetings.
• Supporting advocacy and partnership building with key stakeholders in the public financial management ecosystem. Specific duties include: - Developing Excel-based templates for data entry and retrieval. - Conducting regular budgetary analysis, including debt, tax, and climate finance analysis. - Producing analytical papers from large quantitative data sets, including national surveys. - Preparing presentations and reports that effectively communicate economic and financial data. - Maintaining a public finance for children dashboard for Lesotho. - Mapping key players in public financial management and monitoring the macro-economic situation to inform UNICEF's advocacy efforts. - Providing administrative and logistical support for events and meetings.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for the UNV position should possess strong analytical skills, particularly in economic and financial data analysis. They should be proficient in using Excel and other data management tools. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and be able to present complex information in a user-friendly manner. The ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and adapt to changing circumstances is essential. Candidates should also exhibit a commitment to UNICEF's mission and values, particularly in relation to children's rights and social equity.

Educational Background:
A bachelor's degree in economics, finance, public policy, social sciences, or a related field is required for this position. Advanced degrees or specialized training in public finance or child rights advocacy would be considered an asset. Candidates should have a solid understanding of public financial management principles and practices, as well as familiarity with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and related frameworks.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 1-2 years of relevant experience in economic analysis, public finance, or a related field. Experience working with international organizations, government agencies, or non-profits in the area of child rights or social policy would be highly beneficial. Familiarity with data analysis tools and techniques, as well as experience in advocacy and stakeholder engagement, is also desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, as it is the working language of UNICEF. Knowledge of Sesotho or other local languages would be considered an asset, as it would facilitate communication with local stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
This is a volunteer position with UNICEF Lesotho, and the selected candidate will receive a Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) of LSL 16573.7

• Additionally, there is a one-time entry lump sum of $350 at the start of the assignment, along with medical insurance, life cover, and annual leave. Volunteers will also have access to various learning platforms and will receive a one-time exit lump sum at the end of the assignment. The position is full-time and requires adaptability to living conditions in Lesotho, which may include limited access to certain services outside urban areas.