Project Coordinator- Billion Children, Billion Futures

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 fulfilling 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.
In the East Asia and Pacific Region, UNICEF works to uphold the rights of all children. This means the rights of every child, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

Recognizing children, adolescents and youth have a right to participate in decisions that affect their lives, a right to a healthy and safe environment, and a right to protection from harm, UNICEF is calling for governments and businesses to address the climate crisis through reduction in greenhouse emissions, increased investment in children’s awareness and climate literacy, and by engaging young people in environmental and climate related policy making.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations.

This international UN Volunteer assignment will support Billion Children, Billion Futures (BCBF), a multi-year regional advocacy and policy initiative coordinated by UNICEF’s Asia-Pacific Regional Office. The initiative aims to place children at the centre of political and economic decisions across Asia and the Pacific, translating evidence into policy engagement and sustained investment in children.

The BCBF initiative focuses on three interconnected pillars: climate change; digital transformation and artificial intelligence; and investment in children. Children’s and young people’s participation will inform the advocacy agenda across these pillars. UNICEF will convene governments, regional institutions, academia, civil society, foundations, businesses and youth networks to identify shared priorities and opportunities for collective action.

During the 12-month assignment, the incumbent, under the direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director Programmes and Partnerships (DRD), APRO will coordinate turning the initiative’s priorities into a coordinated workplan, policy and advocacy products, partnerships and engagement at national and regional platforms. The role will work closely with UNICEF country offices, Centres of Excellence, regional technical teams, the Office of Strategy and Evidence, and advocacy and partnerships colleagues. The UN Volunteer will also coordinate with external partners who join the BCBF coalition. Technical specialists will guide substantive work under each pillar. The incumbent will also support coordinating and implementing other activities as assigned by the supervisor.

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director (DRD), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks :

A. Support Billion Children, Billion Futures Initiative (80% time)
Support Coordination and implementation
• Support implementation of the BCBF workplan by maintaining a consolidated schedule of activities, deliverables and deadlines across the three pillars and youth engagement work;
• Coordinate inputs from country offices, Centres of Excellence, regional teams, and external partners;
• Provide secretariat support to the BCBF Steering Committee, including preparing agendas, briefing materials, meeting records and action trackers.
• Help translate findings of foresight analysis into clear policy messages, briefing notes, presentations, talking points and background materials tailored to government, business and development audiences.
• Support the preparation and review of thematic policy briefs, coordinating technical inputs and ensuring clear, consistent messaging.

Partnerships and regional engagement
• Maintain a stakeholder map and contact database covering governments, regional bodies, research institutions, civil society, foundations, businesses and youth networks.
•Identify relevant regional and national policy platforms and maintain a calendar of advocacy opportunities, deadlines and proposed contributions.
• Support preparations for policy dialogues and regional events, including concept notes, agendas, participant coordination and briefing packs

Children and young people’s participation
• In collaboration with a consultant, work with relevant regional and country office team and youth networks to support consultations and dialogue. Synthesize children’s and young people’s priorities for use in policy products and advocacy activities
• Ensure use of UNICEF safeguarding, consent, accessibility and data protection requirements in all participation activities, with guidance from relevant specialists

Monitoring and knowledge management
• Maintain a simple results tracker covering agreed outputs, advocacy engagement, partner commitments and evidence of policy influence; prepare concise progress updates.
• Undertake other related duties within the scope of the assignment, as agreed with the supervisor.
B. Other programme and coordination support (20% of assignment)
• Support coordination and follow-up on selected priorities and initiatives, as assigned by the supervisor.
• Assist in preparing briefing notes, presentations, correspondence and background materials for meetings and engagements.
• Support meeting arrangements, document key discussions and track agreed actions in coordination with relevant colleagues.