Intern - Roma and Egyptian Inclusion (3 months, Open to candidates who are identifying as Roma and Egyptians and who are living in Montenegro)

UNICEF is looking for an Intern - Roma and Egyptian Inclusion, support to UNICEF program implementation, with the focus on Roma and Egyptian children and families.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, opportunities.

Background: According to the data obtained from Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in Montenegro from 2011, Roma population composes 1.01% of the total population, with the largest population concentration in Podgorica, Berane, Herceg Novi and Niksic. Additionally, 0.33% of the total population declared themselves as Egyptians. 

The findings of Montenegro Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and the Montenegro Roma Settlements MICS6, carried out in 2018 by the Statistical Office of Montenegro (MONSTAT) as part of the Global MICS Program, with the support by the Government of Montenegro, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UNHCR, provided disaggregated data for the identification of disparities, to inform policies aimed at social inclusion of the most vulnerable, such as the Roma community. MICS6 revealed that the percentage of Roma children aged under five who have been registered is 96, of which 4 percent are reported to have been registered with civil authorities but do not have a birth certificate. In terms of material deprivation, 91% of Roma children are materially deprived in three or more dimensions, which qualifies as extreme poverty. The results related to nutrition demonstrate that 21 percent of children under five are stunted, while 3 percent of children under 5 are wasted, which is the result of chronic or recurrent malnutrition. Little less than one third of Roma children aged 6-23 months, obtain a minimal variety of nutrition (five out of eight recommended food groups), and only one fifth has a minimal acceptable diet. Only every seventh Roma child under 6 months is exclusively breastfed.

The issue of education is perceived as very challenging. Four out of five Roma children do not attend preschool, thus entering the first grade of school unprepared, lacking knowledge of basic numeracy and an ability to follow instructions. This, in turn, not only leads to their lagging behind their peers, but also to their feeling of being discouraged and demotivated. The lack of quality and inequity of education has negatively affected the educational outcomes of Roma girls and boys. Based on the MICS6 data, primary and secondary education completion rates for general population stand at 96 percent and 86 percent, respectively, while only 56 percent of Roma and Egyptian children (59 percent boys and 51 percent girls) complete primary education.  The completion rate for lower secondary school stands at mere 29 percent and is lower for girls (23 percent) than for boys (34 percent). Roma almost never complete tertiary education, with a single-digit number of adolescents enrolling and completing each year.

Children, adolescents, and young people from Roma communities are engaged in begging and exposed to other forms of violence and exploitation. The practice of arranged child marriages in Roma and Egyptian communities remains a concern. MICS6 shows that more than one third (32.5 percent) of girls aged 15–19 and more than one in six boys (15.8 percent) are married or in union. The main drivers of child marriages include the low level of education, poverty, lack of opportunities, social norms and customs, marginalization of the Roma community, legislative gap allowing the marriage at the age of 16, implementation gaps in the execution of the laws, etc.

The institute of associate in social inclusion of Roma and Egyptians (Roma mediators) is established, but there are several identified challenges, such as: insufficient number, job classification and systematization, issuance of adequate employment contracts and their funding, the lack of continuous training and the like.

The Government of Montenegro has adopted the Strategy for Social Inclusion of Roma and Egyptians 2021-2025, which sets the vision and defines interventions towards the improvement of the socio-economic and legal position of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro, through the creation of an inclusive and open society dedicated to the fight and the elimination of all forms of discrimination, antigypsyism and poverty.

The European Union's strategic framework for Roma for the period 2021-2030 calls for recognition of the diversity among Roma people and communities when designing national strategic frameworks and empowerment of Roma women, young people and children to overcome socio‑economic gaps, fully exercise their rights, realize their potential and be agents of change. Participatory approach is promoted at the EU level and by countries aligning with the EU framework. Participation of Roma is considered condictio sine qua non for the development of integration policies and interventions which can be effective and have long-lasting positive effect on Roma communities.

The National Strategy for Sustainable Development until 2030, which is the implementation document of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 in Montenegro, indicates the insufficient level of integration into the Montenegrin society as the most important from the series of problems faced by members of the Roma population (the necessity of adequate regulation of the legal status, education, employment, health and housing). However, despite the moderate progress, Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro continue to face serious challenges in exercising their rights. While all Roma face high poverty and material deprivation rate, Multidimensional Child Poverty Analysis (MODA) 2021 in Montenegro additionally showed that Roma under the age of 5 are the most deprived subgroup of children and how poverty is experienced in daily life. In practice, ‘multidimensional poverty’ translates to a combination of unmet child needs – areas in which the child is deprived. The needs include those of appropriate nutrition, housing, health care, and acquiring skills within formal education that would support them on the labor market, but also support to protect them from violence, abuse and exploitation. Hence, the multidimensionality of poverty requires a holistic, multidimensional and multisectoral response.

UNICEF Montenegro Country Program Document (2023-2027) rests on four pillars (i) Protection from poverty, violence and exploitation; (ii) Early childhood development; (iii) Skilled, empowered and well-supported children, adolescents and young people and (iv) Monitoring and leveraging resources and results for child rights. The support to inclusion of Roma and Egyptian children and families is at the core of all UNICEF activities in Montenegro.

How can you make a difference? 

Adequate support to all children is critical for their cognitive, social, emotional and physical development, and it implies a stimulating environment, interactions with attentive caregivers, adequate nutrients, access to high quality basic services, with the focus on health care, education, safety and protection. Children facing a broad range of risk factors, such as Roma children, including poverty, poor health, inadequate access to education, exposure to violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation, often fail to reach their developmental potential. Investing in the early years is one of the most critical and cost-effective approaches that countries may adopt to reduce gaps that frequently place children with low social and economic status at a disadvantage.

With the view of addressing the challenges faced by Roma and Egyptian children and their families in Montenegro, UNICEF intends to engage an intern, who will undertake the following activities, under the supervision of Social Policy Officer:

1. Continue to provide focused support to UNICEF Country Office, in consultations with Outcome leads and other relevant staff, towards the implementation of the priorities identified for accelerating Roma and Egyptian inclusion across sectors (Health, ECD and Education, SCP, Adolescent Development and Participation, CRM, PF4C), by providing recommendations, inputs and guidance in designing and realizing targeted interventions.

• Expected deliverable: Final Report summarizing the inputs and achievements over the period of three-month engagement.

2. Contribute to finding a sustainable solution for the engagement of Associates for Social Inclusion of Roma and Egyptians (Roma mediators) and other supporting professionals, such as mentors) through regular situation monitoring in the field, preparation of materials for consultations with the relevant authorities, assisting in the organization of dedicated meetings, updating the list of mediators, conducting research on new developments re. this topic, etc.

• Expected deliverable: Monthly report summarizing the activities conducted and final report inclusive of the separate Section on the results and findings re. Roma mediators.  

3. Contribute to finding a sustainable solution for the transport of Roma children to pre-school and school institutions, through regular situation monitoring in the field, with the focus on the municipalities where this issue is most prominent, preparation of materials for consultations and exchange of information with the relevant authorities, assisting in the organization of meetings dedicated to this topic.

• Expected deliverable: Monthly report on the activities conducted and final report inclusive of the separate Section on the results and findings re. Transport of Roma children. 

4. Support the CO in the analysis and monitoring of the situation of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro and provide recommendations for further programmatic interventions. 

• Expected deliverable: Final report containing a List of recommendations for further programmatic interventions.   

5. Event support: Upon request from relevant program staff, participate in the organization of meetings and events related to the implementation of program activities in the capacity of attendee or facilitator.

• Expected deliverable: Monthly Report summarizing work and achievements and Separate section in the Final report with the list of the supported events.

6. Support UNICEF’s public advocacy, communication, social and behavior change efforts aimed at promoting equal rights and opportunities for Roma and Egyptian children among different audiences.

• Expected deliverable: Monthly Report summarizing work and achievements and Separate section in the Final report with the list of the supported communications and SBC activities.

7. Prepare Final report on the activities conducted with the recommendations on the further steps that the Country Office, particularly the Country Management Team, should undertake to strengthen diversity and inclusion in the UNICEF team.

• Expected deliverable: Final Report summarizing the results and recommendations, with the Separate sections as outlined in the text above.

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

Education:

• Be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or have graduated within the past two years.
• Have strong academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records or, if not available, a reference letter from an academic supervisor.

Experience:

• Familiarity with the context of Roma and Egyptian children and families in Montenegro and the region.
• Previous exposure to the areas of work relevant to UNICEF programs – such as social and child protection, health, education, early childhood development is considered an asset. 

Language:

• Good knowledge of Montenegrin.
• Basic knowledge of English is required. 

Other:

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
• Have no immediate relatives (e.g., mother, father, sister, brother) working with UNICEF.
• Strong willingness to learn on the job is required.
• Have good computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel).
• Good communication, writing skills and presentation skills.
• Ability to work with different stakeholders (Government institutions, NGOs, community organizations, international organizations, etc.). 
• Be able to work individually and as part of a team; 
• Displays cultural, gender, religious and racial sensitivity, and awareness of different nationalities and age awareness.

For every Child, you demonstrate... 

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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

Salary/Payment:

Full-time Intern will receive a stipend equal to 70% of the full-time monthly salary of the General Service (GS) level 3 step 1 applicable for duty station: Montenegro. 

Insurance:

UNICEF will not be responsible for costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during the Intern's service. Therefore, the selected candidate must provide proof of enrolment in a health/accident plan prior to starting his/her work.

How to apply:

If you wish to make a difference for every child, you can apply online. Only completed online applications will be eligible for further review. When you apply, please attach the following:

• Your CV and a cover letter in English or Montenegrin stating your motivation for application; 
• Proof of having completed a minimum of 1 year of university education;
• Proof of strong academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records or, if not available, a reference letter from an academic supervisor;
• Confirmation of two vaccine doses received against Covid-19; 
• Copy of candidate's most recent official transcript showing good academic performance;
• Please note that the successful candidate will be required to further provide proof of having medical insurance at the time of communicating for the job offer

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 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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.