Job description

Mission and objectives

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling. UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

At the core of UNICEF’s universal mandate is our commitment to protect and uphold the rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) for all children – without discrimination and without leaving any child behind. The rights enshrined in the CRC apply equally to all children in a country, including children who are non-nationals or stateless, refugee and international migrant children. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, social protection, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged residents — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential, but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. A dedicated focus on children on the move is critical to meet the SDGs commitment to leave no one behind. UNICEF’s Strategic Plan (2026-2029) reflects children on the move across Goal Areas and as an important cross-cutting priority, supporting global commitments such as the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and Global Compact on Refugees. The Strategic Plan commits UNICEF to a renewed focus on inclusion of children on the move into education, child protection and social protection systems to tackle root causes for forced displacement or unsafe migration, discrimination and exclusion.

Context

The Education Centre of Excellence is advancing its knowledge and evidence base on Children on the Move, refugee inclusion, learning continuity, alternative pathways, and evidence-informed programming as part of its work supported by the PROSPECTS Partnership.

Thus, the purpose of this assignment is to support the UNICEF Global Program Division (GPD) Education Centre of Excellence (CoE) in strengthening knowledge management, evidence generation, and learning on the inclusion of refugee, displaced, and migrant children and adolescents in education systems, with a particular focus on learning continuity, access, progression, and educational inclusion. The post includes linkages with focused attention on countries that are part of the PROSPECTS Partnership (Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda) and coordination with youth engagement components of PROSPECTS, such as MENA Youth Advisory Group / Network and the PROSPECTS4Youth Initiative.

The Youth on the Move UNV programme was designed by UNICEF in collaboration with UNV to provide refugee, displaced and migrant youth between the ages of 20-32, who face learning to earning barriers, with a paid 16-months volunteer opportunity.

Eligibility criteria include:

• Young people aged 20-32

• Refugees, asylum seekers, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and migrants

• In their motivation statement, applicants can demonstrate they face learning to earning barriers

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

• Hosting offices are encouraged to ensure application processes are accessible to youth on the move with disabilities

Additional Information:

The UN Associate Volunteers in Jordan are entitled to:

• Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of JOD 916.04;

• Annual and learning leaves;

• Free Medical and life insurance;

• Free access to different learning platforms.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Education Specialist, GPD Education, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

- Support Knowledge Management, Learning and Evidence Related to Education for Children on the Move

• Develop, maintain and curate a repository of promising practices, tools, policies, and guidance related to education for children on the move.

• Assist in coordinating with UNICEF country offices to compile lessons learned from UNICEF country offices and partners on refugee and displaced children’s inclusion in national education systems, this includes developing templates, questionnaires and other tools to gather information in a streamlined way.

• Support development of knowledge products, case studies, blogs, newsletters, and briefing notes on education and children on the move.

• Support dissemination of UNICEF guidance, evidence, and learning products related to refugee and migrant education through various channels.

• Support global advocacy milestones under the PROSPETCS4Youth technical facility and the Youth Advisory Board / Network.

- Support Evidence Generation and Research

• Conduct literature reviews and desk research on educational inclusion of displaced and migrant children and adolescents in focus countries.

• Support mapping and analysis of barriers and enablers affecting access, retention, progression, certification, and educational participation for displaced and migrant children and adolescents in focus countries.

- Contribute to development of country profiles and thematic analyses on refugee inclusion, learning continuity, and alternative education pathways.

• Support development of templates, briefing notes and other documents on refugee inclusion, learning continuity, and alternative education pathways.

Skills

Age

18 - 80

Required experience

1 month

Nationality

Candidate must be a national, legal resident or hold refugee status in the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience

1 year

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Arabic, Level: Fluent, Required

French, Level: Fair, Desirable

Required education level

Secondary education

Competencies and values

• Adaptability and Flexibility

• Commitment and Motivation

• Commitment to Continuous Learning

• Professionalism

• Working in Teams

Skills and experience

At least 1 year demonstrated experience as a volunteer or in community engagement.

• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations.

• Self-motivation and ability to adapt professionally in a challenging environment and work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel

• Proficient digital skills to deliver the assignment, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet.

• Demonstrate UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS).

Remarks:

Eligibility criteria include:

• Young people aged 20-32

• Refugees, asylum seekers, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and migrants

• In their motivation statement, applicants can demonstrate they face learning to earning barriers

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

• Hosting offices are encouraged to ensure application processes are accessible to youth on the move with disabilities