Mission and objectivesPakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges. UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among others things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilisers, communities and families, and of course the children and adolescents themselves. In particular, UNICEF will work so that: Every child survives and thrives -- being in good health, immunised, protected from polio and accessing nutritious food. Every child learns. Every child is protected from violence and exploitation, and registered at birth. Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.
ContextThe fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does โ in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to childrenโs rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life โ in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions โ her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, nutrition, education, and protection of a societyโs most disadvantaged citizens โ addressing inequity โ not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. Hence, the focus on equity is so vital, it accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations. The outcome of the Child Nutrition and Development Program is: By the end 2027, Children, adolescents, and women in Pakistan, especially the most vulnerable and deprived, access, and utilize, quality, equitable, gender-responsive and sustainable evidence-based services and adopt appropriate nutritional behaviors and care practices to address all forms of malnutrition, thereby contribute for optimal growth and development. The Child Nutrition and Development Program has three strategic areas. 1) Governance, Functional Multisectoral Coordination and Stronger Systems for Nutrition and ECD: aims to strengthen governance and implementation of policies, programmes and guidelines to address the protracted and triple burden of malnutrition and early childhood developmental challenges. 2) Early Childhood Nutrition: Prioritize age groups 0-5 years with programmes that improve the diet services and practices for survival, optimal growth and development, including in the humanitarian contexts. 3) Middle Childhood, Adolescent and Maternal Nutrition: strengthening nutrition services and practices for middle childhood, adolescents and mothers
Task DescriptionThe UNV will be responsible for the following: 1. Support to programme development, coordination and planning: The UNV is required to support the ECD Manager in Pakistan by supporting and assisting in coordinating the activities of Early Childhood Development and Nutrition. This includes organizing regular ECD technical working group meetings, ensuring effective communication among other section colleagues (Education, CP, Health & WASH), and supporting them with nutrition with ECD & Multisectoral nutrition-related decision-making processes. 2. Technical and operational support for programme implementation: UNV is required to assist with activities pertinent to ECD & Multisectoral Nutrition. This includes preparing regular reports, maintaining records. In emergencies, the UNV may help coordinate rapid ECD response efforts. This includes assessing needs and supporting the timely and effective delivery of services. 3. Programme monitoring support: The UNV would support the nutrition and child development programs monitoring for the delivery of results. This includes collecting and analyzing data, information management. 4. Assist in partnership building: The UNV will support the team in partnership building with alliances, networks, CSOs, Academia & researchers for nutrition and child development at the Islamabad level. 5. Support in knowledge management and capacity building: The UNV would support in building the capacity of local partners and stakeholders on parenting-ECD. This includes providing training and supporting the development of local expertise in child development. The UNV will support the ECD Manager in convergence programming initiatives by documenting the key achievements and lessons learns. He/she will contribute to the learning and innovative agenda on nutrition and child development.
Competencies and valuesโข Accountability โข Adaptability and flexibility โข Creativity โข Judgement and decision-making โข Planning and organizing โข Professionalism โข Self-management
Living conditions and remarksAs this is a national UNV assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. UNV Field Unit will help you open a Pak rupee bank account with Standard Chartered Bank or any other local bank at your duty station. Remarks: This is a national UNV assignment, and a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) of PKR 105,097 is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.