Child Friendly Municipalities Coordinator
Organizational Context
UNICEF, a UN agency established in 1946, operates in over 192 countries, focusing on children's health, education, protection, and well-being, particularly for vulnerable groups. In Cameroon since 1975, UNICEF supports child protection, education, water, sanitation, and HIV/AIDS initiatives. The Child Protection Program aims to shield children, especially adolescent girls, from violence and exploitation by strengthening government and community systems. The Child Friendly Municipalities Initiative is a key strategy to integrate children's rights into local governance and public policies.
Job Purpose
The Child Friendly Municipalities Coordinator will support UNICEF's initiative to embed children's rights into local public policies across Cameroon's municipalities. This role involves citizen advocacy and collective engagement to make local authorities prioritize children's well-being and rights. The coordinator will help municipalities integrate children's rights into management, planning, and budgeting, ensuring services meet the specific needs of all children, including girls and those with disabilities. The position aims to accelerate the fulfillment of children's rights at the community level through decentralization and strengthen local interventions for sustained impact.
Responsibilities
The Child Friendly Municipalities Coordinator will be responsible for developing a directory of participating municipalities, disseminating relevant tools, and organizing capacity-building sessions for local authorities. Key duties include monitoring the implementation of interventions using appropriate tools, relaying community feedback to UNICEF focal points, and coordinating technical support. The role involves participating in the establishment of municipal monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, facilitating data collection for tool development and assessment, and creating an Excel spreadsheet to track process and performance indicators. For the Buea-based role, collaboration with the NASLA institute and support for fundraising activities targeting the private sector are also required.
Work Experience
A minimum of three years of relevant professional experience is required. This should include strong knowledge of common computer applications and office software, particularly for database management and analysis. Experience in community development, local governance, or related fields is highly desirable, along with proven analytical and synthesis skills for reporting results and the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
Skills
The role requires excellent written and oral communication skills in French and English, with proficiency in local languages being an asset. Strong interpersonal skills, a proactive approach, and the ability to work in a multicultural environment are essential. Candidates must possess proven analytical and synthesis skills, the ability to meet deadlines, and aptitude for field work with communities. Competencies include nurturing and managing people, self-awareness, ethical awareness, collaborative work, partnership building, innovation, strategic thinking, driving results, and managing ambiguity and complexity.