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At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to education.

An estimated 29% of the population in Lesotho comprises youth and adolescents aged 10 to 24. Unfortunately, this demographic group is disproportionally affected by poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunities. Moreover, despite representing a big part of the population, their views, opinions, and perceptions are rarely considered in national, district and community level planning, budgeting, and service delivery processes. Young people with disabilities face double disadvantages and have limited access to essential services while their voices are not heard.

It is against this background that the United Nations Childrens fund (UNICEF) and International Organization for Migration (IOM), with financial support from the European Union, came together and designed a five-year program of action to empower youth-focused civil society organizations, branded the Youth Power Hub. The project is aimed at contributing to an inclusive, participatory, empowered, and independent civil society that can create a democratic space in Lesotho for youth, including people with disabilities and adolescent girls and young women (AGYW).

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision and guidance of the Chief of Social Policy, the Programme Associate supports the Social Policy Section by carrying out a range of programme support functions to help implement the Youth Power Hub. The Programme Associate will work with various state and non-state actors including the Ministry of Gender, Youth, Sports, Culture and Social Development (MoGYSCSD), Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), National Consultative Committee on Migration (NCCM), Diaspora Directorate, Basotho Diaspora Association (BDA), CSOs, the private sector such as telecommunication companies, and various formations of young people.

The Programme Associate will support programme design and delivery, financial management and reporting by cooperating partners including CSOs that will participate in the Youth Power Hub. In addition, the incumbent will support with other project management activities such as monitoring and reporting on activities and results.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TOR Programme Associate G-6 TA.pdf

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

Minimum requirements

• Education: Completion of Secondary Education is required.
• Work Experience: At least 6 years of relevant work experience in social policy, programme administration, project coordination, budget monitoring, financial reporting, monitoring and evaluation, data analysis, partnership management, grants management, capacity building, youth engagement, or any other related fields is required.
• Skills:

• • Knowledge of programme and project administration, monitoring, and evaluation.
  • Budget monitoring and financial management skills.
  • Strong organizational, planning, and prioritization abilities.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent office management and administrative skills.
  • High attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Sound judgment, initiative, and confidentiality.
  • Ability to work effectively with diverse and multicultural stakeholders.
  • Proficiency in MS Office, SharePoint, and other relevant systems.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Experience with international development agencies and civil society organizations, knowledge of VISION, and donor reporting experience are assets.
• Relevant UN experience is an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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

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 promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of serious misconduct. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable. Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks. 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 are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female 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.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.