Adolescent Development and Participation - Disability Inclusion Officer

Organizational Context

UNICEF is dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights of every child globally, especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. It collaborates with governments and partners to enhance national and regional policies, programs, and services for children and adolescents. The organization strives to address common barriers hindering the realization of children's rights, ensuring equitable opportunities for all to survive, develop, and reach their full potential without discrimination.

Job Purpose

The core purpose of this assignment is to advance UNICEF's fundamental mission of promoting the rights of every child, particularly through its equity strategy that prioritizes the most disadvantaged and excluded. This role specifically contributes to strengthening programming on Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) and Disability Inclusion (DI) in the Philippines. The officer will support program planning, implementation, and monitoring, with a strong focus on equity, disability inclusion, and the meaningful participation of marginalized adolescents. This includes those in Humanitarian, Development, and Peacebuilding contexts in Mindanao, especially within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), ensuring all children have an equal opportunity to thrive.

Responsibilities

The Adolescent Development and Participation - Disability Inclusion Officer will support program planning, implementation, and monitoring, focusing on equity, disability inclusion, and meaningful participation of marginalized adolescents in Mindanao, particularly BARMM. Key responsibilities include: Adolescent Development and Participation (60%): Support ADAP initiatives, facilitating safe and inclusive participation of adolescents, including those with disabilities, out-of-school youth, and girls, in program design, implementation, monitoring, and advocacy, especially in conflict- and disaster-affected areas. Coordinate with government, LGUs, BARMM ministries, and civil society partners to strengthen adolescent-focused programs and institutionalize their participation in local planning and accountability mechanisms. Contribute to monitoring, documentation, and reporting of ADAP results, including lessons learned and good practices. Provide capacity-building and technical assistance to partners on ADAP approaches, safe engagement, child safeguarding, and inclusive facilitation. Support the development of tools and knowledge products promoting inclusive adolescent participation across UNICEF-supported programs. Ensure adolescent perspectives inform program reviews and advocacy. Disability Inclusion (40%): Support planning, implementation, and monitoring of disability inclusion initiatives. Facilitate safe, meaningful, and inclusive participation of persons with disabilities in program design, implementation, monitoring, and advocacy, particularly in conflict and disaster-affected contexts. Coordinate with government, LGUs, BARMM ministries, and civil society partners to strengthen disability inclusion programming. Contribute to monitoring, documentation, and reporting of disability inclusion results, including lessons learned. Support capacity building and technical assistance for partners on disability inclusion approaches.

Work Experience

A minimum of three years of professional experience is required in inclusive programming, social development planning, and/or disability inclusion programming. This must include demonstrated experience in designing, facilitating, or supporting safe, meaningful, and inclusive participation of adolescents, particularly marginalized adolescents and those with disabilities, in program planning, implementation, monitoring, advocacy, or accountability processes. Experience in a developing country, a UN system agency, or in BARMM/similar fragile contexts is an asset. Candidates should possess the ability to work effectively in multicultural environments, be self-motivated, and have sound security awareness.

Skills

Required competencies include building and maintaining partnerships, demonstrating self-awareness and ethical awareness, driving to achieve results for impact, innovating and embracing change, managing ambiguity and complexity, thinking and acting strategically, and working collaboratively. Key areas of expertise are development programmes, social work, and community development. The role also requires adherence to UNICEF's core values: Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability.

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