Youth and Education Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Several UN organizations within of the UNBT, promote child and youth engagement and participation to ensure that EU policies and legislation are informed by their views and inputs. Together with UNEP, UNICEF and UNESCO support the implementation of climate and environmental education in school and academic institutions.

Context

UN Brussels Team (UNBT) - The United Nations team brings together 27 specialised agencies, funds and programmes spanning the development, humanitarian and human rights work of the UN. The Director of the UN Office in Brussels is the representative of the UN Secretary-General to the European Union institutions. The team works to build understanding and support for UN system activities within the EU institutions and amongst a wider public in Europe. The assignment will have two parts: Part one: to support the coordination of activities of UN Brussels Team (UNBT) on engagement with the EU institutions in the field of youth. Part two: to support the UNs engagement with formal education partners across the European region that facilitate youth involvement and Environmental Education to meet relevant SDGs. With key objectives: To increase youth engagement and participation in the European consultative processes and education topics and cooperate with the European institutions, particularly the European Commission and the European Parliament, under the 2022 European Year of Youth and the development of the European Youth Action Plan. To support youth involvement and environmental education in the transformation process in line with UN goals addressing planetary emergency and the European Green Deal ambitions at the EU level. To assist on engagement on formal education partners across the European region. The Youth and Education Unit oversees the education outreach and a series of youth projects for UN Environment at its headquarters in Nairobi.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of UNEP Brussels Offices and Chief, Environmental Education & Training Unit, and in close collaboration with members of the UN Youth Task Team the UN Volunteer on Youth and Education Officer will: 50%: Engagement with youth and education organizations with EU partners: • Outreach activities with youth supporting UN work with youth, with special focus on sustainable development, particularly environment, climate, children, and human rights with the European Commission in line with the European Green Deal and the European Year of Youth, the development of the European Youth Action Plan and youth events with the European Parliament; • Facilitation of cooperation of UN agencies in Brussels on youth (i.e. working group/task force) towards EU institutions and key European academic institutions; • Coordinate joint UN inputs to EU consultations on youth and education-related topics; in collaboration with relevant colleagues; • Facilitate regular exchanges with EU institutions; • Coordinate participation of UN agencies in key youth and education-related events, such as the European Youth Event, European Development Days, as well as regional events (e.g. Youth Event during the Europe-Africa week in February 2022); • Engagement and preparation of information for the Council Working Group on Education on ad hoc basis; • Supporting youth organizations in advocacy on the climate action and environment; • Supporting youth participation in decision-making within the context of UN-EU cooperation. 50%: Support the UNs engagement with formal education partners across the European region that facilitate youth involvement and Environmental Education to meet relevant SDGs: • Mapping of existing environmental education and engagement activities amongst UN agencies and facilitate the development of a common position; • Advocacy for environmental education and youth engagement in the activities with the European Commission and EU Presidency at key moments; • Identifying region-specific opportunities to leverage environmental education in schools and higher education institutions, with attention to European Alliances; • Support university network’s engagement based across Europe to integrate environmental and climate-related domains across the Higher Education, in addition, to support the rollout of projects on green jobs and behavioral changes on campus; • Contribute to the formulation of new initiatives and support the engagement of university networks based across Europe in these opportunities; • Youth Work: as one of the focal points of UNEP’s Youth Working Group, contribute to the mapping and organization of UNEP’s ongoing workstreams related to youth, identify opportunities and define the new youth agenda in line with UNEP’s MTS, UN Youth Strategy and the UN’s Our Common Agenda; • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. Results/Expected Outputs: Efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to UNBT and UNEP in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • Facilitate cooperation with EU institutions, youth organizations, and movements based in Brussels; • Organize outreach events with youth representatives with the European Parliament, the European Commission, the EU Presidencies, and EESC; • Working with key University networks in Europe to support the rollout of materials/curriculum that supports the priorities of the European Green Deal; • Support the delivery of at least 3 advocacy initiatives in the region that raise the profile of UNEP’s work with education/youth; • The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring, and formal on-the-job training when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); • Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment; • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.