Program Officer for “Scaling Internet of Good Things for Social and Behaviour Change in Eastern and Southern Africa and South Asia regions” cross-regional initiative

Details

Mission and objectives

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. In all of its work, UNICEF takes a life-cycle based approach, recognizing the particular importance of early childhood development and adolescence. UNICEF programmes focus on the most disadvantaged children, including those living in fragile contexts, those with disabilities, those who are affected by rapid urbanization and those affected by environmental degradation. UNICEF was created with a distinct purpose in mind: to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person’s future. We promote girls’ education – ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum – because it benefits all children, both girls and boys. Girls who are educated grow up to become better thinkers, better citizens, and better parents to their own children. We act so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished: no child should suffer or die from a preventable illness. We work to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people because it is right to keep them from harm and enable them to protect others. We help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to live their lives with dignity. We are UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Context

This UNV assignment is part of the ROSA SBC/C4D section to support the coordination and scale up of a cross-regional initiative aiming to reinforce the use of the Internet of Good Things (IoGT), a platform that hosts mobile-packaged content designed to make life-saving and life-improving information available for free, even on low-end devices. This UNICEF-led initiative aims to bridge the digital divide by providing localized and relevant content to parents, caregivers, young people and frontline workers. The platform also provides training opportunities, referral information to access essential services as well as a space to provide feedback through polls. The UNV assignment will contribute to the “Scaling-up Internet of Good Things for Social and Behaviour Change in Eastern and Southern Africa and South Asia” cross-regional initiative. The incumbent will mainly focus on supporting South Asia region. However, exchanges and coordination are envisaged with the East and South Africa (ESA) and headquarters (HQ) components of the initiative. The cross-regional initiative will run up to December 2022 and is expected to achieve the following targets: Target 1: After 12 months of programming, increase the number of adolescents and young people visiting and interacting with IoGT resources and engaging with Social and Behaviour Change content in ESA and SA over a 12-month period by at least 40%. Target 2: After 12 months of programming, increase the number of adolescents and young people reached by mental health and psychosocial support content, SRH/HIV information and climate change content through IoGT by at least 40%. Target 3: After 12 months of programming, increase the representation of women and girls in two-way engagements on IoGT by at least 8%. Target 4: After 12 months of programming, increase the number of frontline workers engaged in two-way communication through IoGT by at least 40%.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the C4D Regional Advisor (Second decade of life and Digital/Technology platforms) or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Programme Coordinator will: • Coordinate the implementation of the South Asia component of the “Scaling-up Internet of Good Things for Social and Behaviour Change in Eastern and Southern Africa and South Asia regions” initiative. • Support the development and management of tools to monitor the implementation of the initiative in SA countries and ensure quality and timely delivery of the countries’ plans. • Support SA countries to adjust their implementation plans, as required. • Support the documentation of lessons learnt and the development of other knowledge products generated through the initiative; and widely disseminate them. • Support knowledge and good practices exchanges between countries involved in the cross-regional initiative. • Under the guidance of HQ and ESARO IoGT focal points, support capacity building and technical guidance to countries involved in the cross-regional initiative. • Contribute to the development of regional guidance to roll out and scale up IoGT. • Collect and compile information from countries to ensure timely and quality reporting on the cross-regional initiative as per reporting requirements. • Support the coordination of meetings with HQ and South Asia to ensure optimum implementation of the cross-regional initiative. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.