Our final job search was to focus on international agencies
that work with children and families. The first one I came across was on with
UNICEF. For 60 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries
and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The
world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports
child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education
for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence,
exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary
contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
The position the struck me most was within the Child Protective
Services field. The title of the open
position is for a Senior Adviser (Social Welfare and Justice
Systems), P-5, New York. The position requires the following skills,
degrees and considerations:
Purpose of the Position
Under the general guidance of the
Associate Director, Child Protection, the incumbent will:
a) Develop, implement, manage and monitor strategies to strengthen
child protection systems across contexts (including humanitarian), with the aim
of improving protection results for children in line with Outcome 6 of the
2014-2017 Strategic Plan. While the understanding is still evolving, child
protection systems encompass a number of elements ranging from legal and policy
frameworks, provision of services to the provision of human and financial
resources. Well-functioning and resourced systems support improved prevention,
early detection and response to violence, exploitation and abuse. Specific
areas of work include establishing financial benchmarks and costing, support to
those without adequate parental care, children in contact with the law,
children who are migrating and those who are trafficked, and those requiring
birth registration.
b) Actively disseminate successful efforts and work closely with
partners, donors, regional and country offices, to improve systems across
contexts (including humanitarian) and advocacy and technical support such that
protection of children and families is institutionalized in key financing and
coordination mechanisms for children at global and regional level.
c) Provide policy guidance and technical support at organizational level,
to Regional and Country Offices in the following specific areas birth
registration, children without adequate parental care, children in contact with
the law, children who are migrating, financing and costing, and information
management and strengthening systems in humanitarian and transition contexts.
All of these areas take place across contexts, including humanitarian.
d) Support program and administrative coordination in key areas within
the Child Protection Section, other sections in Program Division, and other
divisions other key actors.
Key Expected Results
1. Program Policy Formulation
Based on the 2014-2017 Strategic Plan and 2008 Child Protection strategy,
assist in the formulation, refinement, adaptation and articulation of global
strategies and approaches as they relate to child protection systems across
contexts including humanitarian. Specific emphasis on deepening the
understanding of child protection systems and their results, developing
networks with academics and policy makers, promotion of child protection
systems and strengthening attention to child protection within the agendas of
the international community.
End Result(s):
Solid understanding, based on evidence, of the impact of child protection
systems on children established throughout the organization, and UNICEF
positioned as a leader in this field.
2. Technical Assistance/Support to Program Implementation
Provide technical support, either directly or through staff members or
consultants, to regional offices, country offices, Child protection officers,
Social Protection, Justice, HIV/AIDS, Alternative Care and other related
networks within and beyond UNICEF, as well as, RMTs and country offices for
situation analysis, strategy formulation, project and program development,
assessment of program recommendations and program evaluation.
End Result(s):
Strengthened capacity at country and regional levels to effectively operationalize
the child protection systems aspect of the child protection strategy.
3. Global Partnerships and Advocacy
Strengthen collaboration with key partners of UNICEF at the global level,
including U.N. agencies, the World Bank, regional International Financial
Institutions (IFIs) (e.g. IDB, AfDB, ADB), HCCH, NGOs, academic and for profit
institutions, and work towards increasing understanding and common action
around CP concerns, particularly in the area of CP systems. Provide
information to relevant media, research groups and similar agencies and NGOs in
areas covered by the team. Membership in steering committees of related child
protection actors, and contribution to the section on its promotion and
mainstreaming of child protection.
End Result(s):
Partnerships bring about a mutually reinforcing understanding of child
protection objectives, evidenced through use of multiple agency resources; key
partners are engaged proactively on issues related to protecting children, and
these partnerships and resources are leveraged to achieve greater results for
children.
4. Knowledge Acquisition
Promote partnerships and develop models for collection and analysis of
information with regard to child protection systems and related protection
outcomes for children. Use evidence-base for developing policy positions,
strengthening networks and fostering action at national, regional and global
levels.
End Result(s):
Solid foundation of evidence and tools on social welfare and justice, that can
contribute to robust policy making
5. Leveraging Resources and Financial Management
Provide inputs for the development of project proposals and take other actions
to leverage funds for the areas of responsibility. Manage effectively those
funds under the direct responsibility of the cluster.
End Result(s):
Funds will be leveraged for the team as well as the section as a whole, with
the funds in the social welfare and justice systems team managed effectively
and efficiently.
6. Team Leadership and Supervision
Provide supervision to team staff members, ensuring progress against annual
work plan, fostering professional growth and attainment of results. This
includes participation in the preparation of program reports and other
documents required by Management, the Executive Board, donors, etc. It also
includes participation in overall UNICEF strategy directions and engaging the
team on the same.
End Result(s):
An effective and efficient team, demonstrated through the realization of
activities in line with AWP and timely accomplishment of section tasks.
7. Co-ordination of Scale Up
Contribute to the overall efforts of CP section across teams to contribute to
scaling up of CP approaches at country and regional levels, particularly in
relation to child protection systems.
End Result(s):
Technical advice to senior management will result in heightened advocacy around
the work of child protection systems.
Qualifications of Successful
Candidate
- Advanced university degree in
social sciences, preferably with some specialized training in development
studies, education, social welfare, community development, anthropology, or
international humanitarian law. Knowledge of economics would be an
asset.*
- At least ten years of relevant experience in programming and advisory roles
relevant to Child Protection, with at least 10 years international experience
in developing countries, with UNICEF or other international development
agencies, or NGOs. Background/familiarity with emergency and security.
- Fluency in English and another UN language.
*A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic
qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced
university degree.
Competencies of Successful Candidate
- Has highest-level communication
skills, including engaging and informative formal public speaking.
- Creates and encourages a climate of team-working and collaboration in a
multi-cultural environment.
- Consistently achieves high-level results, managing and delivering projects
on-time and on-budget.
- Has high-level leadership and supervisory skills; provides others with a
clear direction; motivates and empowers others; recruits staff of a high
caliber; provides staff with development opportunities and coaching.
- Sets, develops and revises organizational strategy and develops clear visions
of the organization’s future potential.
- Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data
from a wide range of sources.
- Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups. Actively nurtures good
relationships with people across all organizational levels and boundaries, and with
government leaders and stakeholders.
- Identifies urgent and potentially risky decisions and acts on them promptly;
initiates and generates organization-wide activities.
- Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities.
Another position of interest internationally is with the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development. The mission of the Organization for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is to promote policies that will
improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.
The OECD provides a forum in which governments can work together to share
experiences and seek solutions to common problems. We work with governments to
understand what drives economic, social and environmental change. We measure
productivity and global flows of trade and investment. We analyze and compare
data to predict future trends. We set international standards on a wide range
of things, from agriculture and tax to the safety of chemicals.
We also look at issues that directly affect everyone’s daily life, like how
much people pay in taxes and social security, and how much leisure time they
can take. We compare how different countries’ school systems are readying their
young people for modern life, and how different countries’ pension systems will
look after their citizens in old age.
Drawing on facts and real-life experience, we recommend policies designed to
improve the quality of people's lives. We work with business, through the
Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD, and with labor, through
the Trade Union Advisory Committee. We have active contacts as well with other civil
society organizations. The common thread of our work is a shared commitment to
market economies backed by democratic institutions and focused on the wellbeing
of all citizens. Along the way, we also set out to make life harder for the
terrorists, tax dodgers, crooked businessmen and others whose actions undermine
a fair and open society.
A position within the OECD that I might be qualified for is:
The Thomas J. Alexander Fellowship
Program will support individuals in conducting quantitative, evidence-based
research on education, particularly in emerging economies, and in linking that
research to education policy and practice.
Fellows will be selected among
individuals working at research institutions, government agencies or
professional organizations. Candidates with a doctoral degree, who are familiar
with quantitative research methods and the use of large-scale surveys, and who
have published work in scientific journals are encouraged to apply. Selected
fellows will be invited to work at the OECD headquarters in Paris, typically
for six months. In exceptional cases, proposals of outstanding originality and
promise --which do not fully meet the criteria for a fellowship and residency
in Paris-- may be considered for an innovation award.
Research proposals will be selected
on the basis of their originality, potential and scientific rigor. All
policy-relevant topics will be considered, particularly those focusing on
equality of opportunity.
The program, named after the former
director of the OECD’s Education, Employment, Labour and Social Affairs
department, will provide funding for one year, including time spent at OECD
headquarters in Paris. Fellows will be expected to produce a publishable
research paper or report at the end of their fellowship. Fellows will work in
close collaboration with OECD analysts.
Main responsibilities
Analysis and drafting
- Analyze policy issues related to education. For
example, conducting statistical analysis of large OECD data sets, such as
those from PISA, TALIS and PIAAC, identifying relevant policy issues and
designing appropriate statistical analyses to develop tools to assist
countries in implementing their education policies.
- In collaboration with other fellows, colleagues and
external experts, draft and edit substantive papers, including synthetic
reports, country case studies and analytical papers, where needed.
Collaboration and representation
- Help organize seminars, conferences and workshops in
collaboration with the OECD and partners. Represent the Thomas J.
Alexander Fellowship Program in relevant international and national fora
and deliver presentations and papers.
Candidate’s profile
Academic background
- An advanced university degree in education, psychology,
social sciences, economics or a related field.
Professional background
- Proven experience in public policy analysis in an
academic setting, an international or national agency or research
institute.
- Proven experience in organizing projects in research
and/or policy contexts.
- Contacts within the education policy community would be
an advantage, as would experience with education systems or developments
in OECD countries and/or emerging countries.
Tools
- Sound knowledge of and proven experience in the
application of statistical techniques involving large assessments of
skills and large-scale survey data.
- Experience using statistical analysis software such as
M-plus, R, STATA, SPSS or SAS would be an asset.
Languages
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in one
of the two official languages of the OECD (English or French) and a very
good working knowledge of the other language.
Research proposal
The proposal should address an
important policy topic in education from a novel perspective. It should place
the work within the current policy debate and briefly describe the potential
contribution this research will make to the field of education and to policy
making.
Data and methods
- The proposal should provide a strong rationale for the
use of OECD datasets, such as PISA, TALIS, PIAAC or other elements of the
OECD knowledge base, to meet the proposed research objectives. It should
describe, in detail, the data that will be used to develop the research
project, including which variables (for example, particular PISA variables
or combinations of them) will be used to measure the concepts defined in
the conceptual framework, and which sample(s) will be the focus of the
analysis (e.g. groups used, exclusions to sample).
- The proposal should describe the methods and
statistical procedures that will be used to develop the research project.
The proposed methods should be clearly linked to the conceptual framework
and research question(s).
Resources
- The proposal should outline the resources needed to
achieve the proposed research goals and the proposed timeline.
- The aims of the research proposal should be achievable
within the proposed time and the resources sought.
- The proposal should describe the length, reasons and
expected benefits of carrying out part of the research project at OECD
headquarters in Paris.
Duration
The duration of the fellowship is 1
year. The fellowship is non-renewable.
The final international job vacancy
was with is with UNESCO, United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization, I am not quite sure what position other than general service
staff. I wasn’t able to find a specific position that I would fit into. General
service staff positions require:
General
Service Staff
The functions in the General Service
category include administrative, secretarial and clerical support as well as
specialized technical functions such as printing, security and buildings
maintenance.
General Service staff are recruited
locally in Headquarters or in Field Offices/Institutes.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for competent,
dynamic and flexible persons , who are proactive and responsive. We are
looking for people with strong personal integrity, who are fair, impartial and
respectful of cultural diversity.
General Service staff work to
support activities in the fields of:
- education,
- sciences,
- culture,
- communication and information, and
- administration and management (including human resources, finance and accounting, IT, etc.
)
Do you have the right profile?
Education: graduates of a secondary, technical or vocational
school and, as the case may be, secretarial, business or commercial
qualifications. In certain cases, equivalent experience may be retained.
Languages: Fluent English or French (the two working languages of
UNESCO) and a good working knowledge of the other language.
Knowledge of Arabic, Chinese, Spanish or Russian is an additional asset. (which
actually I have no experience)
Previous experience:
Junior level (G1/G3) - one
to three years of experience
Middle level (G4/G5) - three to
seven years of experience; and
Senior level (G6/G7) - Eight years
and above experience
Values: Integrity, professionalism, respect for diversity and a
strong commitment to the UNESCO mission.
References
OECD.
www.oecd.org
UNICEF.
www.unicef.org
UNESCO.
www.unesco.org
