UNV Asociado(a) Participación y Empoderamiento para la Acción Climática

Organizational Context

UNICEF is the UN agency dedicated to protecting the rights of children and adolescents, addressing complex rights violations in Colombia. The Country Programme operates under the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, aligning with national priorities such as peacebuilding, migration, and accelerating SDGs. Despite progress, significant inequalities persist, particularly affecting rural, indigenous, and Afro-descendant children. The program focuses on early childhood development, mental health, child marriage prevention, youth participation, and climate action.

Job Purpose

This role supports UNICEF's efforts in Colombia to empower adolescents and youth in climate action and environmental education. The Associate Volunteer will provide technical assistance for program implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, focusing on developing youth skills and leadership in sustainability. The position aims to foster youth participation in decision-making processes related to climate and education at territorial and national levels. By building alliances and promoting community empowerment, the role contributes to ensuring young people's voices are heard and their leadership is protected in climate initiatives, aligning with the "Generation Green" project.

Responsibilities

Provide technical assistance to UNICEF, implementing partners, and local authorities to ensure adolescent and youth participation, leadership, and empowerment in climate action, environmental education, and biodiversity. Facilitate learning spaces to strengthen socio-environmental skills and leadership among youth. Promote youth engagement in territorial and national decision-making on education and climate action. Identify and map partnerships with government entities, grassroots organizations, and the private sector to enhance youth participation in climate action, ensuring scalability and sustainability. Advocate for community and youth empowerment regarding participation rights, leadership protection, and climate action. Support capacity-building activities in socio-environmental skills, climate action, participation, and empowerment through material preparation and implementation support. Monitor and track indicators and targets for the "Generation Green" project, verifying compliance and reporting risks. Assist in developing programmatic cooperation agreements and preparing performance indicator reports for efficient management and accountability.

Work Experience

Requires 1 month of experience, with 1 year of relevant experience preferred. Experience working directly with communities and adolescents, in programs for children's rights, and in facilitating non-formal education is essential. Experience in participation strategies, climate action, or environmental education at local/national levels, and knowledge of these approaches are also required. Experience in classrooms, with a gender focus, preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, or with the UN system is desirable.

Skills

Core values include Care, Respect, Integrity, Commitment, Accountability, and Trust. Professional skills include teamwork, continuous learning, planning, organization, communication, and flexibility. A genuine commitment to volunteerism principles (solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, autonomy) is essential. Expertise areas include Agriculture, Communication, and Community Development.

Explore related opportunities