Technical Support: Youth Development, Livelihoods and Innovation (Nationals Only, Re-advertisement)

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

• •  Objectives of the consultancy:

  The assignment will provide technical support to the Syria Country Office on improving the quality of the Entrepreneurship/Livelihood component of the Adolescent and Youth Development Program. The consultant will finalize a livelihood framework, support operationalization of the framework and support existing partners, as well as build new partnerships for ensuring a continuum of support. The consultant will also lead the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF’s youth livelihoods interventions on seed funding, social and business entrepreneurship, economic engagement and innovation and will contribute to the achievement of outputs of the 2017 Annual Work Plan.

   

  •  Geographic Area/Duty Station:

  Damascus, Syria Country Office. With frequent travel to UNICEF field offices across Syria.  

   

  • Duration:

  The incumbent will work for the ADAP Section for 11 months

   

  • Supervisor:

  The consultant will report to the Chief of the ADAP Section at SCO, and will work closely with the Youth and Adolescent Development Specialist, who will provide all needed support to the consultant.

   

  • Description of assignment:

  The consultant will assist the ADAP team in the:

  1. a) Finalization of the youth livelihood and employability skills framework
  2. b) Support partners in operationalizing components of the youth livelihood and employability program
  3. b) Establish/support linkages with a wide selection of partners to ensure a comprehensive and sustainable program including partnerships with UNICEF program sections, line ministries, private sector partners and other relevant partners, including UN e.g. UNDP, UNFPA and UNHCR, etc.

   

  Monthly deliverables linked to the above assignment tasks will be finalized and agreed by the consultant and the supervisor within the first 2 days of every month. Based on the progress of roll out of the Livelihoods Framework and Operational strategy, the monthly deliverables may include (but will not be limited to) the following key deliverables:

   

  TASKS:

   

  1. Carry out mapping of existing and emerging avenues for youth self-employment / entrepreneurship in several selected fields such as: agriculture, rural development, ICT industry, social entrepreneurship, start-ups, green jobs, etc.

   

  End Product/deliverables

  Situation analysis (inclusive of contextual opportunities and constraints for employment / self-employment of youth in Syria, actors and institutions delivering services, accessibility to vocational training and business development service, etc.) completed based on the mapping exercise and recommendations lead to at least two concrete proposals for support to youth entrepreneurship.

   

  Duration/Deadline:

  By second month

   

  2. Support the development of the youth livelihood framework (including ‘transition to employment’ and related implementation plan inclusive of youth activation measures such as internships, apprenticeships,  including partner capacity building and monitoring

   

  End Product/deliverables

  Draft Youth livelihood framework developed (includes: seed funding and youth social/business entrepreneurship, social and financial capability and employability skills). Second and third/final draft with all comments incorporated. Capacity of partners built.

   

  Duration/Deadline:

  Framework by third month; capacity by sixth month

   

  3. Support the identification of short and medium term opportunities for engagement with the private sector, UN and other partners for possible referral and joint collaboration (including review and replication of regional models by other UNICEF ADAP programs);

   

  End Product/deliverables

  Partnership in place with the UN, private sector and NGO participants to ensure that internships, apprenticeships, mentor programmes. To be accessed by young people following the entrepreneurship skills development programme ((e.g. linking trained youth with local markets, paid internships, apprenticeship, on-the-job training, self-employment opportunities).

   

  Duration/Deadline:

  By sixth month month

   

   

  • Qualification and specialized knowledge/experience required for the assignment:

   

  - Master in Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.

  - Minimum five years progressively responsible professional work experience in Youth Employment programme planning, management, monitoring and evaluation with emphasis on working for and with young people, programme guidance, technical support, networking and partnerships.

  - Proven contacts with private sector i.e., companies, industries and small business for job identification and job placement.

  - Excellent written skills in English; Fluency in Arabic.

  - Ability to work well in a team and under pressure and in response to changing needs, as well as the ability to plan well, set own targets and meet them.