YELL Project Associate

UNICEF works in the world's toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere.

YELL is a joint programme by UNDP and UNICEF in Malaysia, in collaboration with Amanah Lestari Alam (ALAM), the European Union (EU) and OSK Foundation. YELL aims to create opportunities for young people in Malaysia to play an effective role in actions on climate related and environmental issues. For more information on YELL, please refer to the https://yell.my/ website.

UNICEF Malaysia would like to engage one UN Volunteer to support the YELL project team in ensuring effective project planning and implementation. The UN Volunteer will work in a cross-portfolio team comprising UNDP and UNICEF personnel and will be expected to engage diverse entities across Malaysia’s environment, education and entrepreneurship sectors, and beyond.

Under the delegated authority and the supervision of the Programme Specialist (NOC #114103), and with technical guidance and support from the YELL Project Manager, YELL Coordinator Consultant, the UNV Youth-Project Associate will assist the YELL Project team in its efforts related to youth policy, programming, advocacy, innovation, and outreach.

The UNV will be expected to:

Support the project team to ensure effective project planning and implementation
• Assist in compiling and summarizing information and data for the formulation of project work plans. In consultation with project team, draft annual/quarterly budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements, and on other specific project related topics or issues;
• Ensure compliance of project business processes with UNICEF policies and procedures.
When necessary, provide guidance to project staff on business processes, administrative and other requirements and procedures;
• Support mainstreaming gender equality in the project implementation, including in data collection and compilation. Prepare gender equality background materials for use in discussions, briefings, and correspondence;
• Provide administrative and logistical support to ensure successful project delivery that includes organizing/coordinating project events and selecting appropriate venues, coordinating project procurement procedures, maintaining project records and files, recruiting project team members, and supporting contracting activities.

Support partnerships and resource mobilization
• Establish and maintain contacts and cooperation with the relevant UN Agencies, government institutions, NGOs, tertiary institutions, partners, and other relevant stakeholders. Provide support in updating the database of the relevant public and development partners, and other stakeholders who are counterparts for the project.
• Undertake horizon scanning and explore opportunities for resource mobilization in consultation with direct supervisor;

Provide support to the effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on progress of project implementation.
• Support implementation of the project monitoring system in alignment with its Monitoring and Evaluation framework to ensure effective information sharing, provision of feedback, and elaboration of high-quality progress reports;
• Assist in the organization of field and study visits, missions, workshops, and conferences within the project, including event management and administrative and logistical support;
• Assist in implementation of effective risk management for the project with a well documented risk mitigation plan in place. Support monitoring of previously identified and
emerging risks;
• Prepare and consolidate required project reports on a timely basis and in line with monitoring and reporting guidelines and donor requirements;

Support knowledge building, knowledge sharing and capacity building relevant to the assigned project.
• Provide support in the dissemination and sharing of relevant data and lessons learned. Keep pulse on emerging best practices nationally, regionally, and internationally that relate to the work of the assigned project.
• Participate in UNICEF activities, meetings, and events to develop understanding of UNICEF work.

Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. 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. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:
• 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.

Results/expected outputs:

As a committed, active and professional member of the YELL Project team, efficient, timely, and high-quality support rendered on:
• Supporting the YELL project and other integrated youth initiatives in Malaysia, focusing on policy, programming, advocacy, innovation, and outreach efforts, including areas of work on nature and environment, biodiversity conservation, climate change and local and indigenous knowledge.
• Identifying opportunities for policy and programme interventions to address gaps and challenges in existing programmes from a youth and inclusion perspective;
• Development of innovative solutions, including strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement and meaningful youth participation, to address complex development challenges;
• Communications, Advocacy and Knowledge Management initiatives by being a Youth Advocate with a continued focus on ‘working out loud’ (blogging, social media engagement,
etc.). Whilst supporting UNICEF in its work, UNVs should ensure that their assignment is a constructive learning journey that will enhance their leadership skills and potential.
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment;
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.