Switzerland: Advocacy and Policy Specialist

Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: Switzerland
Closing date: 10 Sep 2014

Purpose of the Position

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director Private Sector Engagement, the incumbent is to provide National Committees with support and guidance on evidence-based and results-focused advocacy and child rights education, with emphasis on technical support on child rights and child protection.

Key Expected Results

1. Policy guidance: Provide policy guidance to National Committees on the content and modalities of their advocacy and child rights education work, and on specific child rights and child protection issues such as the protection of migrant children's rights.
   Key end results:
   Top priority National Committees have the necessary policy guidance to achieve results for children through advocacy and child rights education.
2. Advocacy and CRE strategy development: Devise and formulate, in close consultation with UNICEF National Committees and relevant UNICEF Divisions, strategies for strengthening the modalities and content of UNICEF's engagement on agreed priority child rights concerns, with particular emphasis on the strategic nature of policy advocacy and Child Rights Education by National Committees.
   Key end results:
   In top priority countries with a National Committee presence child rights are prioritized in policies and practices that affect children, globally and domestically.
3. Support to strategic planning: In close coordination with the National Committee Relations teams, support National Committees in the strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation of their advocacy and child rights education and oversee the alignment of National Committee JSP objectives with UNICEF's global priorities.
   Key end results:
   Top priority National Committees have advocacy and CRE components in their JSPs that meet the criteria for rights and results-based planning approaches.
4. Network Support: coordinate the representational bodies of the National Committee networks for Advocacy and Child Rights Education to determine priorities for cooperation, identify support requirements, and organize meetings and workshops of the Networks.
   Key end results:
   The priorities and support requirements of the National Committee Advocacy and Child Rights Education Networks are determined.
5. CRC monitoring & reporting: Provide guidance and capacity building to National Committees, in close coordination with other relevant Divisions, on monitoring the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child at national level and participating in the CRC reporting process, with particular on partnerships in national NGO coalitions.
   Key end results:
   Top priority National Committees have increased capacity and engage in the CRC monitoring and reporting process.
6. Reporting & representation: Prepare documentation, reports and analyses on advocacy and child rights in industrialized countries. Represent UNICEF in various meetings and fora and bring a child rights perspective to the discussions.
   Key end results:
   UNICEF advocates for children's rights in key fora responsible for UNICEF thematic priorities.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Law or other relevant field. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• The incumbent should have a strong background in advocacy, child rights, and human rights and a solid experience in conceptualizing and implementing advocacy and campaigning work in industrialized countries.
• Eight years of progressively responsible relevant work experience at national or international level in the development, implementation and management of advocacy and campaigning work, of which a significant part in the industrialized world. Focus on advocacy on behalf of children and human rights advocacy an asset.
• Fluency in English required. Knowledge of French and Spanish desirable.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

• Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking
• Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment
• Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals
• Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear
• Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives
• Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources
• Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments
• Identifies urgent and potentially difficult decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates team- and department-wide activities
• Demonstrates, applies and shares expert technical knowledge across the organization

How to apply:

For more information please visit:
http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_vacancies.html

or https://careers.unicef.org/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/hrrcf_a_posting_apply?PA...