Adolescent Education Officer

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF works in close collaboration with the government and partners to ensure that by 2027, children including adolescents, especially the most vulnerable, have equitable access to and participate in quality learning and skills development opportunities within a safe inclusive learning environment.

UNICEF supports the Government of India and 17 states in implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) and strengthening the Samagra Shiksha programme, with a strong focus on improving foundational learning and advancing quality secondary education comprehensive reforms. The education programme focusses on accelerating progress and delivering results for children at scale, with a clear focus on impact, inclusion, and quality. UNICEF works to strengthen policy and planning processes, ensuring that education reforms are evidence-based, child-centered and effectively implemented at all levels. It also promotes quality and equitable education by enhancing curriculum relevance, improving teacher education and capacity by integrating digital literacy and life skills. Additionally, UNICEF supports efforts to make schools safer and climate resilient, more engaging and conducive to learning for all children and further facilitate gain knowledge and employability/life skills needed for a brighter and more sustainable future.

Under the direct supervision of Chief of Education and or Education Specialist, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Support to education programme planning and monitoring
• Provide support on planning, implementation and monitoring of education programme; preparing materials and documentation, and complying with the processes and management systems, to support results-based planning (RBM), and monitoring and evaluation of results.
• Design a system for managing programme reviews and annual reviews with the field partners and other counterparts to assess programmes/projects.
• Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues and support in preparation of scalable proposals
• Develop a matrix in monitoring and evaluation exercises, to report on required action and interventions

2. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
• Support the development, and implementation of education section knowledge management, and information sharing strategy and action plan
• Support strategizing, planning, and reporting on strategic advocacy initiatives. Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
• Support documentation of innovative approaches and good practices for implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Research, benchmark, and report on best and cutting-edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

3. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work.

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.