Background

The work of the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth aims to strengthen the focus on youth in existing UN programmes, policies and strategies at all levels and to engaging and empowering young people across the world, bringing the UN closer to them. The overall priorities of the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth are guided by the priority areas of the World Programme of Action for Youth, ),  adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1995, and the priority areas of the UN System Wide Action Plan on Youth .

Administratively the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth is linked to the Department of Public Information, and within it to the Outreach Division. The Office draws on outreach assistance from DPI, while also closely working with the UN entities that are members of the Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development, UN Regional Commissions, as well as UN Regional and Country Teams.

The workplan of the Envoy’s Office outlines four priority areas. The work-plan corresponds to the growing need for the United Nations to elevate the global youth agenda, increase awareness of youth issues and contribute to the acceleration of a global response that seeks to address the development needs and safeguard the rights of today’s largest generation of young people. Four key pillars underpin the Office’s work-plan: Participation, Advocacy, Partnerships, and Harmonisation, which are cross-cutting with a diverse range of thematic areas, including  Youth and the Sustainable Development;  Youth, Peace and Security; Education and Civic Participation; Decent Jobs for Youth; Human Rights; Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Young Women and Girls; Disaster Risk Reduction, Humanitarian Response and Climate Change.

Supervision

Title of Supervisor:
Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth

Content and methodology of supervision:
Establishment of a Work Plan: During the first month of the assignment, the JPO will work jointly with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed upon work plan. The final work plan will be discussed and mutually agreed to by the JPO  and his/her supervisor.

Evaluation: The United Nations Performance Evaluation System (e-performance) will serve as a primary platform to evaluate of the JPO’s  performance.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Work with range of youth organizations to facilitate the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects;
• Monitor and analyze specific aspects of programme/project development and implementation; review relevant documents and reports; identify issues to be addressed and recommends corrective actions; liaise with relevant parties; identify and track progress on follow-up actions;
• Provide substantive support for policy coordination and evaluation functions, including conducting research, reviewing and analyzing  of emerging issues and trends and participating in evaluations or research activities and studies on specific youth development issues;
• Prepare briefings, concept notes, background materials, as well as statements and talking points for the Envoy as requested;
• Contribute to the organization of the annual ECOSOC Youth Forum, World Youth Skills day, International Youth Day and other special events and activities aimed at engaging partners, and creating visibility and leveraging momentum with Member States and  provide overall support for events planning, management and coordination functions;
• Supports the implementation of OSGEY’s strategy on meaningful youth engagement in the work of the United Nations with particular focus on 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, including contributing to the Global Youth Partnership for the Sustainable Development Goals;
• Represent the OSGEY in select meetings the Interagency Network on Youth Development, or any of its sub-working groups;
• Contribute to liaising with UN country teams, relevant government institutions and other stakeholders;
• Represent, as requested, OSGEY in missions, conferences, workshops, networks, and other key events to give presentations, advocate and promote the UN youth agenda for the purposes of raising awareness and expanding resource mobilization opportunities, partnerships and alliances;
• Any other related duties as requested by the supervisor.

Competencies

• Planning& Organizing:  Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• Communication:  Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Teamwork:  Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Learning Elements
On  completion of the assignment, the JPO will have/be able to:

• Develop expertise on issues of youth policy development and implementation;
• Developed a substantive area of expertise on youth issues in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
• Write background and concept notes, project proposals, assessment reports;
• Plan and organize international events and meetings, including with external stakeholders;
• Increased awareness OSGEY work and mission;
• An understanding of UN rules, procedures and processes.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
Advanced university degree in social sciences, political science, public or business administration, economics or related fields.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of two years of relevant  working experience and proven track record in managing and implementing development programmes.
• Work experience in an international organization will be an added advantage.
• Work experience with youth-related initiatives/programmes is an asset .

Language:

• Fluency in English; fluency in additional UN languages is an asset.

Other skills:

• Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses
• Results-Based Programme Development and Management
• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build alliances
• Takes responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved
• Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals
• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms
• Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
• Understands youth-related issues, in particular in developing countries, including at community level
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments

Disclaimer:

The above position with the UN Secretariat is open in the context of the Junior Programme Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of Kuwait and addressed exclusively to candidates with Kuwaiti citizenship.