Adolescent Development Officer, NO-B, Temporary Appointment, #131087, Cairo-Egypt, MENA

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For every child, Hope.

Egypt, home to 27 million young people aged 10-24, stands at a pivotal juncture in its demographic evolution. With projections indicating that the youth population will grow to 35 million by 2030, the country has a unique opportunity to capitalize on its demographic dividend. However, to fully harness the potential of its youth, Egypt must focus on key priorities: supporting the school-to-work transition, addressing gender inequality, and managing rapid population growth. These priorities are aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030, which emphasizes youth empowerment and sustainable economic development. In response to these challenges, UNICEF, in collaboration with the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, Silatech, and other strategic partners, has launched the ‘Green Visions and Thriving Futures’ programme. This initiative aims to empower youth in Egypt to take climate adaptation action and gain employment. As such, interventions are designed to empower youth to contribute to their local economies while addressing pressing climate challenges. By engaging young people in sustainable community activities, job placement, and entrepreneurship, the project not only addresses unemployment but also fosters economic growth through green-focused sectors. Interventions are designed to ensure that by the end of the partnership:

Young people are empowered with knowledge, skills, and resources to positively engage in climate action in their communities. Learning to Earning pathways across Egyptian national services are strengthened, consolidated, and piloted. Adolescents and youth, particularly girls, learn and acquire skills to support their transition from leaning to earning. Young people in Egypt are supported to gain employment Strengthened PPYP governance structure'(Shabab Balad) to achieve Learning to Earning (L2E) national commitments in Egypt.

In light of this ambitious initiative, UNICEF Egypt is seeking to recruit an Adolescent Development Officer to support the design, implementation, and coordination of these efforts. Given the scale and complexity of the programme, it is vital to recruit highly skilled professionals with expertise in youth employment, and additional in green skills development will be an asset. The roles required will focus on bridging the gap between learning and earning, ensuring that youth—especially the most disadvantaged—have access to the necessary resources, opportunities, and training to thrive in the green economy.

How can you make a difference? 

You will be used in a Country Office (CO) where the adolescent development programme is a major/key component of the Country Programme (or UNSDCF). You will report to the Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) Specialist and play a key role in advancing UNICEF’s work on adolescent development and participation within the Country Programme. This position ensures that the needs and opportunities of adolescents and young people are fully integrated into UNICEF’s programming, policies, and partnerships. The Officer will support the ADAP Specialist in managing the implementation of “Green Visions and Thriving Futures” ensuring that interventions are aligned with UNICEF’s goals of youth and adolescent learning to earning. Responsibilities include preparing, executing, and implementing a range of technical and administrative programme task.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Support to programme development and planning.
• Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.
• Technical and operational support to programme implementation.
• Networking and partnership building.
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.

1. Support to programme development and planning.

• Provide technical expertise in understanding pathways for young people into the labor market. Conduct analysis of the skills sector and labor market trends to inform program design and ensure alignment with national and international standards on youth employability.
• Contribute to the design, implement, monitor, and evaluate youth development programs with a focus on employability, career guidance, internships, apprenticeships, and pathways to employment and self-employment. Ensure programs are aligned with global best practices and tailored to the local context.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical, programme, operational and administrative transactions, preparing related materials/documentations and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results-based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluating results.
• Prepare required programme documentations/materials/data to facilitate the programme review and approval process.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.

• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss adolescent development and participation operational and implementation issues; provide solutions, recommendations and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decisions. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess programmes/projects on adolescent and youth development and participation and report on required action/interventions at the higher level of programme management.
• Monitor and report on the use of adolescent and youth development and participation programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocation/goals, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on critical issues/findings to ensure timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare regular/mandated relevant programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Conduct regular programme field visits and surveys and exchange information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support, take appropriate action to resolve issues and refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices on adolescent development and participation related issues to support programme implementation, operations, and delivery of results.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Ensure strong linkages and collaboration with other UNICEF teams and sections, including Generation Unlimited (GenU), education, partnership, and External Communication, to create a cohesive approach towards the learning to earning agenda. This internal collaboration is vital for promoting multi-sectoral programming and ensuring that adolescents and youth are supported in all areas of their lives.
• Leverage global resources and networks to enhance program effectiveness and support youth transitions to the labor market.
• Map out and support the identification of potentials private sector partners in coordination with the Public Private Partnership Section. • Support the design and implementation of a referral mechanism of young people to relevant employment or self-opportunities and ensure a feedback mechanism.
• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve and sustain results on adolescent and youth development and participation programmes.
• Draft communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support resource mobilization to ensure the adolescent and youth development and participation programmes are adequately resourced and supported.
• Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) meetings/events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNSDCF operational planning and preparation of adolescent and youth development and participation programmes/projects and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF position and strategies with the UNSDCF development and planning process.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Develop and maintain effective documentation and knowledge management systems to facilitate learning, sharing of best practices, and continuous improvement in program implementation. Ensure that systems enhance communication among stakeholders and contribute to the overall success of youth development initiatives.
• ▪ Apply innovative approaches and promote good practice to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results
• Research and report on best and cutting-edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Participate as resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A university degree in one of the following fields is required: anthropology, psychology, sociology, education, or another relevant technical field.
• Work Experience:
• Minimum two years professional experience in program design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation specifically in adolescents and youth development.
• Experience in understanding pathways for young people into the labour market, skills sector and labour market analysis.
• Experience in developing and maintaining documentation systems that facilitate knowledge sharing among stakeholders and enhance programmatic learning.
• Experience in working within UN programs, international organizations, or NGOs, specifically in the areas of youth employment.
• Experience in building and managing strategic partnerships with government entities (including the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Solidarity, Ministry of Environment, or similar), private sector,… to design and implement programs focused on youth skills development, engagement, and active participation.
• Experience in fostering collaboration and drive multi-stakeholder initiatives that align with national priorities.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility jobs-near-me.org UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable Male candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

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All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.