Program Specialist, (3 posts at Semera, Bahirdar and Mekelle) NO-C

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

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For every child, Opportunity!

Ethiopia has faced severe challenges due to climatic shocks, the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing conflicts, particularly in the northern regions in Afar, Amhara, and Tigray. These crises have caused extensive damage to infrastructure, significant loss of life, and massive displacement, disrupting the lives of millions. The collapse of essential services has severely impacted the physical and psychological well-being of the population, particularly young people. These youths have experienced forced labour, recruitment into armed groups, violence, exploitation, trauma, displacement, and separation from their families. Young women and persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected due to prevailing social norms and limited access to education and economic opportunities. 2

The conflict in Northern Ethiopia has led to the destruction of infrastructure, disruption of production, and displacement of more than 4.5 million people, resulting in considerable social trauma and economic crisis. In response to these challenges, UNICEF and the Mastercard Foundation have partnered to co-design and implement the Biqu Wetat (ብቁ ወጣት) Programme.

This initiative aims to help young people pursue and sustain opportunities in education, skills development, entrepreneurship, and employment. The program is driven by the belief that equipping young people with knowledge, positive attitudes, and relevant skills, including social-emotional, soft, and technical skills through mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), can enable them to rebuild social connectedness, become more resilient, and unlock their potential to create positive and sustainable change in their communities.

The program will be implemented in the conflict-affected regions of Afar, Amhara, and Tigray, targeting 50 economically disadvantaged woredas selected through an iterative prioritization process. The program will focus on youth prioritizing the most vulnerable and marginalized, including women, and persons with disabilities. Building on its human rights mandate and commitment to the “leave no one behind” principle (LNOB), the program will ensure that all youth in the affected areas have access to program-supported opportunities and can fulfil their basic needs and rights, regardless of their background, location, gender, or disability.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of Key Functions and Accountabilities:

 1. Program Management and Coordination

• Lead the planning, implementation, and monitoring of activities across the sectors of education, nutrition, WASH, social policy, protection/MHPSS, and SBCC in Tigray region.
• Ensure effective integration of program components across different sectors, identifying synergies and areas of collaboration, including effective sequencing.
• Develop and manage a detailed workplan and ensure timely implementation of program activities.
• Lead the coordination among UNICEF field office teams, regional implementing partners, and various stakeholders (including the private sector) in Tigray to align objectives and resources.
• Regularly liaise with Program Specialists in Afar and Amhara and program managers and specialists at the country office about program implementation and monitoring.

2. MHPSS, Education and Youth Skilling

• Ensure the delivery of quality MHPSS services for youth in Tigray, including psychosocial support and mental health interventions.
• Oversee regional education system strengthening activities, including formal and non-formal education and skills development programs designed to enhance youth employability, including linkages to existing training programs implemented by MCF partners in Tigray.
• Foster partnerships with regional vocational training institutions, NGOs, and private sector entities to create sustainable skilling and employment opportunities for youth.

3. Livelihoods and Earning Opportunities

• Support design and implementation of interventions for effective earning pathways for youth in Tigray, focusing on entrepreneurship, apprenticeships, and job placement programs in the sectors of nutrition, WASH, education, agriculture, and digital technology.
• Engage with the private sector partners in Tigray to support internships, job training, apprenticeships, and mentorship programs aimed at improving youth employability.
• Engage with the private sector partners in Tigray, including the financial service providers, and other stakeholders to ensure effective provision of financial and non-financial support to entrepreneurship activities among youth.
• Monitor the implementation of employment and self-employment interventions and adjust strategies to maximize effectiveness.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Develop and implement monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks to track the progress and impact of the program.
• Ensure data collection, analysis, and reporting are carried out to assess the performance of each sectoral component and program.
• Prepare regular reports, highlighting achievements, challenges and lessons learned.
• Ensure the program’s interventions are documented comprehensively through case studies, reports, and success stories to inform best practices and programing for subsequent years.

5. Partnership Building and Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage with key government agencies, private sector partners, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders in the region to ensure the successful implementation and sustainability of the program.
• Foster collaboration between international and national NGOs, community-based organizations, and other development partners.

6. Capacity-Building and Technical Support

• Provide technical support to program teams and implementing partners on program design, implementation, and monitoring, ensuring adherence to UNICEF’s guidelines and standards.
• Conduct capacity-building activities for the program implementing partners to ensure sustainability and knowledge transfer.
• Organize and facilitate trainings, workshops, and seminars to strengthen the capacity of the stakeholders involved in the program.
• Lead and support U-Report recruitment working with local youth networks and civil society organizations.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following areas Social Sciences, Development Studies, Economics, or a related field.

Work Experience:

• At least Five (5) years of relevant work experience in in managing multisectoral programs in education, livelihoods, or similar areas, preferably focusing on youth employment.
• Proven experience in managing programs that integrate multiple sectors to achieve holistic outcomes.

Skills:

• Strong leadership, organizational, and coordination skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a wide range of partners, including government, NGOs, and the private sector.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English language is required.

Desirables:

• Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Spanish, Arabic, or Russian), Amharic or the local language is an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (1)

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact (1)

(4) Innovates and embraces change (1)

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

(6) Thinks and acts strategically (1)

(7) Works collaboratively with others (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes[KR5] , and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates and persons with disability are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.