Organizational Setting
Jordan has one of the youngest populations in the world, with 63 per cent of its population under the age of
30. The country’s rate of adolescents and youth who are not in education or employment (NEET) is nearly 50 percent for adolescents aged 15-19 and nearly 39 percent for youth aged 20-24. Thirty-two per cent of youth aged 15-30 years are unemployed, with rates being even higher for girls. The global pandemic has exacerbated the situation for many young people in Jordan, creating major disruption to young people’s education and training, employment and access to economic opportunities and livelihoods.
In close collaboration with UNFPA and UNICEF country offices, the Youth Specialist contributes to the coordination of the youth support efforts and initiatives among the UN agencies operating in Jordan, and provides technical and advisory support to the UN leadership in the country to accelerate the implementation and monitoring of the UN Youth 2030 Strategy and Jordan’s National Youth Strategy 2019-2025.
The position is located in the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) and reports to the Head of Office and the UN Resident Coordinator. The Youth Specialist will ensure day-to-day coordination among UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes on the ground in support of the implementation and monitoring of the 2030 UN Strategy on Youth and its five priority areas (i. Engagement, participation and advocacy; ii. Informed and healthy foundations; iii. Economic empowerment through decent work; iv. Youth and human rights; and v. Peace and resilience building). This will include mainstreaming youth in the UN Socio-Economic Framework for the COVID-19 response, in the UN Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF) and the yearly updated CCAs and acting as the liaison for national and local partners, youth organizations and networks. The Youth Specialist works closely with UNFPA and UNICEF on the implementation of the National Youth Strategy, the Compact for Young People in Humanitarian Action, the Youth peace and security agenda (SGR 2250), and oversees reporting to the pilot youth scorecard for the UN in Jordan.
Note: The incumbent will have double reporting lines (UNDP & UNFPA):
UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) and reports to the Head of Office and the UN Resident Coordinato
UNFPA Humanitarian Coordinator
The activities of the Youth Specialist will advance the implementation of the Youth 2030 Strategy in Jordan and create sustainable integration and meaningful consultation of youth in both government’s and UN’s efforts towards the achievement of the strategy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Main Tasks & Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions:
The Youth Specialist will provide technical advice to the United Nations leadership in Jordan, oversee the revision and implementation of the UN Youth Strategy for Jordan and coordinate interagency efforts on youth.
S/he will coordinate and support the implementation of the UN Youth Strategy 2030, the SGR 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security, and Jordan’s National Youth Strategy.
S/he will mainstream youth in the Socio-Economic response to COVID-19, the UN Sustainable Development Framework and Common Country Analysis.
S/he will support and oversee implementation of the UNCT Youth Scorecard.
1- Coordination and support to the implementation of the UN Youth Strategy 2030, the SGR 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security, and Jordan’s National Youth Strategy
Leads and contributes to the oversight of the implementation of the UN Youth Strategy 2030 on the ground and its five priority areas.
Supports the coordination of a coherent and integrated youth response programme by the UN family on the ground, facilitating joint situation analysis and problem analysis, fostering joined planning/programming and multi-disciplinary approaches towards collective outcomes, developing joint resource mobilization efforts and collaborating on communication and public information campaigns;
Convenes and provides secretariat and expert support to UNCT’s youth-related initiatives and platforms/working groups, as required.
Supports the establishment and operationalization of a youth engagement platform, such as a youth advisory board, consisting of representatives of national and local youth-led and youth focused organizations and networks to provide inputs to the UN’s work in the country.
Coordinates and supports advancing the UN agenda on youth peace and security through providing support to the National Coalition on Youth Peace and security.
Provides coordination and information-sharing support for donors, line-ministries and other stakeholders, facilitating engagement with youth-serving and youth-led organizations and networks;
As appropriate, advises the UN Resident Coordinator on matters related to youth.
Supports the coordination and information-sharing platform for donors and government ministries and entities on youth issues, facilitating engagement with youth serving and youth-led civil society organizations;
Assists in liaising and outreaching to youth representatives and youth-led organizations across Jordan.
2-Mainstreaming youth in the Socio-Economic response to COVID-19, the UN Sustainable Development Framework and Common Country Analysis
Supports the mainstreaming of youth in the socio-economic response to COVID-19 in the planning, implementation, and monitoring and reporting phases.
Supports the mainstreaming of youth in the UNSDF UNCT annual workplans, annual reporting and in its results groups.
Ensures youth issues, challenges and aspirations are adequately reflected in the yearly updates of the CCA and of other joint analyses of the situation in Jordan.
Provides and curates technical expertise and assistance on youth policy and programmes to the UNCT, national counterparts and other stakeholders, as required.
Ensures youth mainstreaming at the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), and Review Results Groups (Institutions, People, Opportunities) and provides support for mainstreaming youth with each RG work plan.
3- Support and oversee implementation of the UNCT Youth Scorecard
Supports the UNCT implementing, monitoring and reporting on the Youth Scorecard.
4- Other
In collaboration with UNFPA, UNICEF and other partners working on youth, provides expert and technical support to the Government on youth-related matters based on international best practices;
In collaboration with UNFPA and UNICEF and all relevant partners, supports capacity building of national partners, as required.
Develops advocacy initiatives and a resource mobilization strategy for UN youth-related interventions in collaboration with all relevant partners.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Qualifications and Experience
Education:
Master’s Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Public Administration, International Relations, or a related field.
Experience:
Minimum of five years of relevant experience at the national or international level in youth policy and programming, youth empowerment, youth participation, monitoring and reporting, programme coordination, or similar fields. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages. Knowledge of Jordan’s context and related youth policies, initiatives and key stakeholders would be a strong advantage.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in Arabic and English is required.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Required Competencies
Functional Competencies:
Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN Jordan
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Treats all people fairly without favoritism
Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning
Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office
In-depth knowledge on development and youth issues
Ability to advocate and provide policy advice
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
Development and Operational Effectiveness
Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources
Strong IT skills
Ability to lead implementation of new systems, and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change
Management and Leadership
Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNFPA Work Environment
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, Embracing diversity in all its forms, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer
WARNING TO APPLICANTS: UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. Should you feel that you have received a fraudulent notice, letter or offer that makes use of the name or logo of UNFPA, you may submit a report through the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm
