Country: South Sudan
Closing date: 10 Oct 2018
Overview of the functions of the post
Background
South Sudan faces many challenges that threaten its development including but not limited to conflict, political instability, poverty, underdeveloped non-oil industries and more. Over 70% of the population is illiterate (UNESCO, 2009), six million people are food insecure (WFP, 2017), and the country suffers from hyperinflation with rates reaching 550% in September 2016 and peaking at 102% as of September 2017 (World Bank, 2017). More than 2,300 children have been killed or hurt in the most recent conflict, while an estimated 900,000 suffer from psychological distress and need psycho-social support. Data indicates that only about half the population has access to safe drinking water and 14% to safe sanitation facilities (UNICEF, 2017). There is also high rates of child labour and a 19% youth unemployment rate (Understanding Children’s Work, 2011). The challenges are further heightened at the state level and by gender. Youth employment in the state of Jonglei was 31.6% in 2011 and 6.5% in Eastern Equatoria, while 23.6% of female youth were classified as inactive in employment (Understanding Children’s Work, 2011). With many youth becoming restless and the risk of them joining the conflict as a result, there is an urgent need to engage them in decision-making processes, as it not only affects their lives, but the nation’s development.
As per its Operational Strategy on Youth 2014-2021, UNESCO works to create an enabling environment where young women and men are promoted as crucial actors in finding solutions to the issues they face. Essential to this is bringing youth voices to the fore and encouraging young people to take action.
UNESCO is engaging with youth as a priority group with the understanding that young women and men are not just the future – they are the leaders and partners of today.
To speak of meaningful youth engagement is to develop inclusive partnerships and involve youth or youth partner organizations in all aspects of programme planning, development, execution and monitoring/evaluation. Such a change is needed both at project levels and at the level of programming in youth-relevant areas.
In its current and future action, UNESCO is willing to:
· Engage with youth as partners in co-shaping and co-delivering UNESCO’s work;
· Engage with youth as change-makers, to support and scale up outstanding youth-led grass-roots actions.
One of the modalities of action to achieve the above will be the rolling out of Youth Spaces Initiatives (YSI) that address the concerns of young people at the local, sub-regional, regional and global levels. In particular, in line with the aspirations of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, they will allow to replicate and upscale the most successful experiences in youth-led grass-roots action, involving also those young people who go unnoticed or do not have opportunities to engage in civic action.
The Youth Spaces will bring young people together, both online and offline, to discuss challenges, inspire others through innovative projects and cross-fertilize good practices and knowledge. Every two years, innovative experiences will be shared and showcased through a Global Youth Community of Practice.
The YSI will allow the creation of an engaged community of young change-makers who can work with UNESCO, through its programme sectors, as leaders and partners in the development of actions that truly address youth needs.
The YSI are part of the UNESCO-MiSK Foundation project entitled “Towards the Reinforced Engagement of Youth in UNESCO’s Action” that will be implemented until 2021.
In this regard, the selected candidate for this position will implement the project in the context of South Sudan, specifically developing platforms at the national and state levels for youth engagement as well as leading advocacy campaigns.
In addition, the UNESCO Office in Juba, South Sudan has signed a partnership with UNFPA to further strengthening youth activities in the country, including but not limited to detailing the status of youth in the country, revising the national youth development policy and national sports policy and developing platforms (including the above-mentioned YSI) for youth engagement. UNESCO Juba’s initiatives in the youth sector also include youth involvement in quality physical education, sport, values education (including anti-doping), using sports for peacebuilding and conflict mitigation, in cooperation with UNESCO’s other mandated sectors: culture, education, natural/human sciences and freedom of expression.
Main responsibilities and tasks
Under the overall authority and the supervision of the UNESCO Representative to South Sudan and Head of the Juba Office, and in close consultation with the Regional Adviser in Social and Human Sciences, in Nairobi, the incumbent will perform the following duties:
Provide expertise and undertake assignments to implement the Youth Space, in particular with the engagement of youth, contributing to the overall implementation, monitoring and reporting of the Space and other youth initiatives (including youth in sports, quality physical education, sport values education, vocational education, and sport for peace, etc.
Liaise with relevant youth organizations and young people, from the very outset, as partners in the Space, ensuring youth inclusion and ownership throughout, making sure to reach out to the traditionally underserved.
Liaise also with other youth stakeholders (UN system agencies, donors, media, civil society organizations working at the international, regional, national and local levels) as needed, ensuring that in all cases youth remain front and centre of the Space.
Coordinate advocacy campaigns including but not limited to radio outlets to promote youth engagement in South Sudan.
Ensure communication and visibility around the Space, UNESCO and the donor.
Identify, in liaison with UNESCO Youth Team at Headquarters and Regional Office in Nairobi, relevant elements of the Space that would contribute to the Global Community of Practice (outcome document, participants, online Youth Community of Practice, youth-led initiatives with social/community dimension, etc.) and lessons learned.
Liaise regularly with UNESCO Youth Team at Headquarters and Regional Office in Nairobi, to keep them informed of the progress of the Space and provide updated reporting.
Liaise with other Field Offices, if relevant, to ensure effective planning, implementation and coordination of the Space.
Ensure the needed coordination with all concerned colleagues for regular reporting to the donor and any other reporting.
Support resource mobilization and proposal writing for youth and sports-led initiatives for UNESCO.
Provide assistance with the financial and logistical aspects related to the Space and perform a range of administrative tasks as required in the Space implementation.
Perform any other tasks that might be needed to successfully implement the Space.
Competencies
A successful candidate will be required to demonstrate the following competencies:
Core Competencies
· Demonstrated ability to successfully coordinate multi-stakeholder consultations, and manage projects with minimum supervision.
· Good knowledge of the youth context in South Sudan and the region.
· Experience with working on youth-focused projects.
· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, as well as very good writing and computer skills.
Required qualifications
Education
· Advanced university degree (equivalent to Master’s) in social sciences, law, international relations, or any related field.
Work Experience
· A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in the youth sector – ideally with youth-led and youth relevant projects and activities – of which 1 year acquired at international level.
· Experience with youth-related issues.
Skills and competencies
· Good analytical and organizational skills.
· Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
· Good IT and database management skills.
· Ability to work in a multicultural environment.
· Excellent team spirit.
Languages
• Excellent knowledge of English
Desirable qualifications
Work Experience
· Experience with the UNESCO system, an understanding of its functioning and procedures.
· Experience with the UN System
Languages
· Knowledge of any local language would be an asset.
How to apply:
Interested applicants are invited to submit the following (in English) and referencing “Consultant – Youth Spaces Initiative” by 10 October 2018.
• Up-to-date curriculum vitae
• Statement indicating how their qualifications/experience make them suitable for the assignment
By e-mail:
E-mail to: j.recruitment@unesco.org
By post to:
UNESCO Juba Office
P. O. Box 649
Juba
Republic of South Sudan