Advocacy Specialist, P-4, Temporary Position, Rome, Italy, 364 days, Private Fund Raising and Partnerships, #00138623
Organizational Context
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The National Committees for UNICEF operate in 32 high income countries as independent civil society organizations that work in partnership with UNICEF to advance children's rights and support UNICEF's mission. Their functions include advocating for increased action by governments and other decision makers.
Job Purpose
The Advocacy Specialist will support the National Committees in the design, implementation, and monitoring of foundational advocacy and platform initiatives. This includes providing support for Child Rights Education (CRE) and child and youth participation, as well as assisting with platform initiatives like the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI), Child Rights Schools Initiative (CRSI), and Baby-Friendly Hospitals Initiative (BFHI). The role involves identifying and pursuing opportunities for synergies among these initiatives, ensuring that National Committees are equipped with relevant global developments, policy guidance, and strategic documents. The specialist will facilitate regular interaction among National Committees through networks and working groups, organizing webinars for information sharing and exchange of rights-based practices, and ensuring effective collaboration with key UNICEF headquarters teams.
Responsibilities
Support National Committees in designing, implementing, and monitoring Child Rights Education, child participation, and youth engagement initiatives. Facilitate regular interaction among National Committees through the maintenance of the existing CRE Network and CPYE Working Group, including the organization of regular webinars for mutual information sharing and exchange of rights-based practices. Facilitate the interaction of the National Committees with the key relevant teams in UNICEF headquarters. Proactively share key global developments in CRE and child and youth participation with National Committees (i.e., policy guidance, new initiatives, strategic documents, etc.), and lead the adaptation required to make them relevant to the National Committee context. Ensure that National Committees are informed about and can leverage relevant research, evidence, and information to support their child rights advocacy strategies. Provide support to National Committees on Platform Initiatives, either directly or through supervising dedicated consultancies when available. Identify and pursue opportunities for synergies among foundational advocacy and platform initiatives to enhance their collective impact. Contribute to the development and refinement of advocacy strategies and tools for National Committees. Monitor and report on the progress and outcomes of advocacy initiatives supported by the position.
Work Experience
At least five years of professional experience in child rights advocacy, programme management, or a related field. Experience working with National Committees or similar civil society organizations is an asset.
Skills
Child Rights Advocacy, Programme Design and Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation, Stakeholder Engagement, Communication and Interpersonal Skills, Research and Analysis, Project Management, Capacity Building, Knowledge Management, UNICEF Policies and Procedures, Child and Youth Participation, Child Rights Education