Programme Officer (Local Governance: knowledge management and Emergency)

Mission and objectivesWorking in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child, UNICEF has spent 70 years improving the lives of children and their families. UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. In all of its work, UNICEF takes a life-cycle based approach, recognizing the particular importance of early childhood development and adolescence. UNICEF programmes focus on the most disadvantaged children, including those living in fragile contexts, those with disabilities, those who are affected by rapid urbanization and those affected by environmental degradation. UNICEF was created with a distinct purpose in mind: to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child's path. We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life because proper care at the youngest age forms the most robust foundation for a person's future. We promote girls’ education – ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum – because it benefits all children, both girls and boys. Girls who are educated grow up to become better thinkers, better citizens, and better parents to their own children. We act so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished: no child should suffer or die from a preventable illness. We work to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people because it is right to keep them from harm and enable them to protect others. We help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to live their lives with dignity. We are UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.

ContextThis UNV assignment is part of UNICEF’s programming initiative with field presence and local engagement in Lebanon. For over 75 years, UNICEF has operated in Lebanon to support children's survival, protection, and development. UNICEF provides assistance related to child health and nutrition, water and sanitation, basic education, and the protection of children and youth from violence and exploitation. Supervised by the Chief Field Office (CFO) at the North and Akkar (NAA) field office, the Programme Officer (Local Governance: knowledge management and Emergency) will deliver technical assistance and support for programme design, planning, and implementation, including data analysis and progress reporting, in accordance with the Lebanon country program and sectoral work plans. UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

Task DescriptionUnder the supervision of the Chief Field Office (CFO) in North and Akkar Lebanon (NAA), or their delegate, the UNV Programme Officer (Local Governance: knowledge management and Emergency) will support the local governance agenda of Lebanon Country Office and the implementation of the joint initiative with UN-Habitat and UN Women, funded by the UN Human Security Trust Fund for 2025-2026. The goal of this initiative is to develop a practical toolkit based on six years of experience implementing the human security approach in Lebanon, helping local communities identify needs, engage authorities, and build resilience—especially in conflict-affected areas. The programme, guided by the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, draws on the expertise of UN-Habitat, UN Women, and UNICEF, focusing on marginalized groups such as women, youth, and children facing heightened vulnerabilities due to economic and ongoing instability. Inspired by successful centers like the Abjad and Markazouna in Tripoli, it promotes participatory planning, local resource use, and collaboration among communities, government, NGOs, academia, and the private sector, aiming to empower local actors to address human security challenges with sustainable, context-driven solutions. The main role of Programme Officer (Local Governance: knowledge management and Emergency) in North and Akkar is to support the development process of the toolkit by collaborating with local stakeholders in planning, piloting, and implementation. The first phase (2025) is to review current practices, gather tools and resources, document feedback, and share insights with the technical group for drafting. The second step (Q1-Q2 of 2026) is to test and validate tools, refining the toolkit for community use. - The main tasks of the Programme Officer (Local Governance: knowledge management and Emergency) involve engaging locally with various stakeholders for advocacy and programming related to development, recovery, and emergency preparedness and response: - Coordination for local and area-based work: under the guidance of the CFO, collaborate with other actors and join efforts such as UNDP, UN-HABITAT, IOM, UNHCR, DRM, LRC, etc to maximize results and impact for children in local authorities and communities in North and Akkar Governorates. Act as technical focal point for the joint program UN habitat, Un women and Unicef for the development of toolkit for promoting localized human security approaches funded by the UNHSTF. - Sensitization and capacity support: dialogues, sensitize, and capacitate the selected municipalities, unions and governors on local governance, child wellbeing and rights, social accountability, disaster risk reduction, multidimensional vulnerabilities, challenges as well as opportunities and initiatives at local level to deal with them in North and Akkar Governorates. - Local data and evidence: support the identification and update of children related findings on issues and priorities in the municipal level through local data generated in coordination with UNICEF planning, monitoring, and evaluation (PME), sections, and other agencies/partners (e.g., municipal snapshots, neighbourhood profiling, Governorate profiles, MICS report specific to NAA, surveys), workshops, community consultations, etc. - Local policies, plans, and budgets: support the process of developing child-friendly local plans and programmes with municipalities and community groups, with the support of UNICEF sections to enhance children’s access to services. - Programme quality and relevance: closely work with UNICEF programme officers in North and Akkar Field Office and CFO to align implementing partners’ plans and activities to contribute to the local area ones of municipalities and unions. (e.g. child friendly spaces, Makani, PSEAH mechanisms, inclusion, Accountability to Affected People, Qudwa initiatives, Disaster Risk Reduction strategies and plans with schools etc) in North and Akkar Governorates. - Community engagement and Participation in local decision-making: support the selected municipalities and unions in North and Akkar Governorates to empower their communities through enhanced participation and sharing of information, including during emergencies, and establish sustainable feedback platform with technical supports from the CFO and Programme Specialist – Local Governance at Country Office and Social behavioral Change section. - Contribute to Field Operations-Local Governance efforts in evidence generation, documentations, monitoring, piloting of projects and initiatives, planning, mid and year end reviews of the field rolling workplan and provide the needed inputs for North and Akkar Governorates. - Contribute to emergency preparedness and response plan for the North and Akkar office in line with the inter-agency planning and office EPP, security situation analysis and capacities of local actors and partners. - Support the planning and monitoring of the response to the new arrivals in North and Akkar and working closely with CFO and UNICEF sub-national sector programme officers to report on the distribution and the community engagement pillars.

Competencies and values- Care - Respect - Integrity - Trust - Accountability - Sustainability - Adaptability and flexibility - Creativity - Judgement and decision-making - Planning and organising - Professionalism - Self-management

Living conditions and remarksAs this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. This position is based in Beirut. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. National UN Volunteers are expected to be culturally sensitive and adjust to the prevailing culture and traditions. Benefits Package: • Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) USD 1,606.58 • Monthly Expertise Differential (40% of VLA) USD 642.63 • Annual and learning leaves • Medical and life Insurance • Free access to different learning platforms. For more information on UN Volunteer benefits, entitlements and support, please visit: https://www.unv.org/volunteer-your-country-conditions-service