Environmental Education Associate Officer

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children. UNICEF insists that the survival, protection and development of children are universal development imperatives that are integral to human progress.

Adolescents and youth in Kosovo face significant challenges in accessing quality education. While the education system plays a critical role, it struggles to provide competency-based learning, leaving students without essential 21st-century skills. Over 70% of 15-year-olds score below proficiency in reading, mathematics, and science (PISA 2022). Despite efforts to reform curricula, weak implementation, inadequate assessments, and insufficient teacher training contribute to a learning crisis—students complete nearly 13 years of schooling, but their effective learning equates to just 7.7 years.

High youth unemployment further highlights systemic gaps. In 2022, 33.7% of young people were not in employment, education, or training (NEET), far above the Western Balkan average. The lack of transferable, digital, and green skills limits their transition into the labor market. Marginalized groups, including children with disabilities, rural girls, non-majority communities, and low-income families, face additional barriers due to inadequate infrastructure, teacher capacity, and funding.

Kosovo is also experiencing a climate crisis, with rising temperatures, extreme air pollution, and water scarcity threatening children’s well-being. Since the 1950s, annual temperatures have risen by 2-3°C and could increase by another 4-8°C by 2100. Air pollution exceeds WHO safe limits by 25 times, contributing to respiratory diseases and lower academic performance. Water scarcity, soil pollution, and frequent wildfires further impact vulnerable communities, particularly children living in poverty.

To address these challenges, UNICEF is supporting Kosovo institutions in investing in environmental education and engaging young people in non-formal settings through advocacy and direct community involvement. UN Volunteers will assist the UNICEF Kosovo office in integrating climate topics into science curricula, developing modules on water conservation, pollution, and sustainability, and promoting hands-on learning experiences. Through this role, the volunteer by supporting the UNICEF team will help equip young people with green skills, empowering them to drive climate action, build sustainable livelihoods, and contribute to a resilient future. Kosovo’s children deserve an education that prepares them to thrive in the world they will inherit.

All references to Kosovo should be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).

Under the direct supervision of Education Specialist at UNICEF Kosovo, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

- Provides effective models and facilitates exchange of best practices for implementing green skills in school settings.
- Supports the development and implementation of pre-service and in-service teacher training modules for green skills integration.
- Assists in integrating green skills into curriculum frameworks and school-based learn-ing activities.
- Facilitates partnerships with institutions, private sector actors, and civil society to pro-mote green skills development.
- Contributes to advocacy efforts, including developing messages and campaigns on environmental protection.
- Supports monitoring and evaluation of youth-led projects and green skills education programs in formal and non-formal settings.
- Identifies and documents innovative approaches to green skills education at local and international levels.
- Organizes and supports capacity-building workshops, study visits, exchange pro-grams, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
- Engages with youth networks and student organizations to promote environmental sustainability and climate action in education.