Internal & External VA: Programme Specialist - Migration (P-3), # 00115611, PDD Migration, NYHQ (Temporary Appointment)

You will support UNICEF’s migration team at global, regional and country level to support the realization of UNICEF's organizational priorities as set out in the Agenda for Action for Children on the Move. The incumbent will also support the policy and partnership dimension of the multi-country Prospects Partnership.

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.

Migration is an expanding global reality, increasing in scale and complexity over the last few years. Between 2005 and 2015, the number of child refugees worldwide, more than doubled from 4 million to 9 million. 1 in 2 refugees in the world is a child. 1 in 5 international migrants is younger than 20 years. While migration bears acute protection risks for many children, particularly if unaccompanied or undocumented, migration is also an empowering experience for millions of children who migrate safely and regularly within their countries or regions, enriching the societies they leave and join.

The Migration Team is working with other sectors (notably Education, Child Protection, Health, Social Policy) and other cross-cutting areas (Gender, C4D, ADAP) to implement programming for children on the move globally. Notably, the team supports directly the implementation of the multi-year and multi-country PROSPECTS Partnership.

The Partnership aims to help transform the way governments and other stakeholders, including the private sector, respond to forced displacement crises – and in particular:

(1) to enhance the enabling environment for the socio-economic inclusion of forcibly displaced persons (to mitigate their plight during years of exile and to best prepare them for their return);

(2) to enhance access to education and child protection for vulnerable children on the move; and

(3) to strengthen the resilience of host communities through inclusive socio-economic development that also benefits forcibly displaced persons. Engaging youth at every step of the way and finding ways to empower and upskill them is at the core of the entire partnership.

For every child, clear Communication….

You will support UNICEF’s migration team at global, regional and country level to support the realization of UNICEF's organizational priorities as set out in the Agenda for Action for Children on the Move. The incumbent will also support the policy and partnership dimension of the multi-country Prospects Partnership.

 
How can you make a difference?

 Support UNICEF’s work on Youth Empowerment and upskilling

• Ensure the team’s plans are informed by youth on the move, including by establishing and managing a Youth on the Move mentorship program, allowing youth to gain professional experience in the PD Migration team, as well as allowing the team to benefit from insights by youth on the move.
• In partnership with U-report, work toward capturing youth voices on critical issues for youth on the move, leveraging these to push for programme adjustements and policy advocacy. Manage the drafting of a global flagship Report building on voices by youth on the move.
• Manage the team’s linkages and work with youth groups, YOMA, and U-Report, including to contribute to UNICEF’s Agenda on Climate Migration and Displacement.
• Drive forward the meaningful engagement of internally displaced children and youth to ensure their voices are heard at global level, and systematically inform policy dialogue, including in the follow-up actions to the high-level panel on internal displacement and the GP20+ inititiave

Support UNICEF’s push towards including migrant and refugee children in COVID Recovery and Response

• Work with a range of partners across UNICEF to ensure that UNICEF is aligned on messaging, advocacy and programme action on migrant and refugee-inclusive COVAC roll-out, and takes these into partnerships with WHO, UNHCR and IOM, and advances these at country level
• Work closely with PD Health and other relevant sectors to anchor children on the move within key health strategies and programme documents, including the development of UNICEF’s new global Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Strategy and its roll-out in the eight PROSPECT Countries
• Support Regional and UNICEF country Offices, with a focus on the PROSPECTS countries, to engage on including children on the move within UNICEF health programming and provide the tools for advocacy at global, regional and national level for inclusion in health systems – with health being key to empower young people to go  from learning to earning.
• Represent UNICEF in UN Migration Network on Access to Services to ensure boys and girls on the move are prioritized across partners organisations to be included in services and prominently reflected in joint advocacy, including by pro-actively driving agenda items
• Leverage UNICEF’s partnerships with the Global Parliament of Mayors (GPM) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) around migration governance, guardianship models and social innovation, as well as cooperating with UNICEF’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI).

Development and quality assurance of key policy analysis, programme guidance and advocacy materials on children on the Move

• Develop an investment case on refugee inclusion and youth integration as a global good to inspire learning across participating countries and beyond as the Global Compact for Refugees is being implemented
• On demand, support the team across the programme areas of Include, Protect, Empower and Embed with high quality editing and quality assurance of a range of flagship documents.
• On demand, provide technical assistance in the development of UNICEF policy guidance, by researching and analysing developments in global, regional and national policy discussions, reviewing best practices, consulting research and data, and capturing the experience of regional and country offices.

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

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Statistics or related fields required. A degree in law is an advantage.
• A minimum of 5 (five) years of professional experience at the national and/or international levels in the area of migration is required.
• Experience managing meaningful ways to engage youth is a requirement.
• Prior knowledge and experience on Climate Change and Climate displacement is an advantage.
• Outstanding writing and editing skills in English are a requirement and writing samples are part of the recruitment process.
• Experience in managing and contributing to flagship reports is a strong advantage.
• Experience managing a cross-cutting issue within a sector-driven context is a strong advantage.

 Specific technical knowledge strongly preferred of:

• Rights- and results-based approach and programming in UNICEF
• UNICEF programme policy, procedures and guidelines, including the UNICEF Global Programme Framework for Children on the Move and 6 Point Agenda for Action
• Previous experience with UNICEF is an asset
• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respective, Integrity, Trust and Accountability.

For more information on remuneration and benefits, please visit UNICEF’s Entitlements’ page.  If you would like to find estimates for entitlements, you may use the online Salary Estimate Calculator

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

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, appearance, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

“UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/”