Youth and Adolescent Development Specialist

Under the direct supervision of Deputy Director UNRWA Affairs Lebanon and in accordance with established Agency Policy and Procedures, the incumbent as follows:

1.         UNRWA Lebanon youth strategy planning and implementation

Participate and/or conduct/update situation analysis and assessments to establish age and sex disaggregated evidence-based data for UNRWA’s advocacy and development of policies, frameworks and programs to promote adolescent development and participation in the country.

Assess national/regional/international development priorities to identify opportunities and strategies and courses of action to enhance the delivery of services and achievement of objectives on adolescent development and participation. Work in coordination with Protection, Education, Health, Planning, Emergency, Communication and Monitoring & Evaluation to support development of a strategic framework for adolescents, across all sectors.

Lead UNRWA Lebanon’s youth strategy planning, implementation and preparation to provide input, advice and operational support on the integration of cross sectoral policies and framework that promote adolescent development and participation. This includes participation in the processes of UNRWA Lebanon policy formulation. Ensure alignment of adolescent policies, frameworks and interventions with the UNRWA’s Strategic Plans and coherence/integration with the UN Strategic Framework (UNSF), regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.

Establish specific goals, objectives and strategies and implementation plans for adolescent development and participation programs/projects across all sectors using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare relevant documentation for program review and approval.

Work closely and collaboratively with internal/external colleagues and partners and stakeholders to discuss strategies and methodologies that enhance the realization of adolescent rights across all sectors and to promote partnerships and alliances on adolescent development and participation including partnerships with adolescents.

Ensure that the voices of adolescents and children are systematically taken into consideration in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the programme cycle.

2.         Program management, monitoring and delivery of results

Plan and/or collaborate with monitoring and evaluation initiatives to establish age disaggregated benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNRWA/UN system indicators, to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of sustainable results on adolescent development and participation programs and projects.

Participate in major monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to engage stakeholders to take required action/interventions to achieve results for adolescents.

Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and weaknesses in program and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.

Plan, monitor and oversee the use of program resources (financial, human, administrative and other assets) certifying/verifying compliance with organizational rules, regulations and procedures, donor commitments and standards of accountability and integrity.

Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.

Provide technical leadership to generate knowledge on the situation of adolescents, support sector specific analysis of data on adolescents and improve utilization of sex and age disaggregated data within UNRWA monitoring and evaluation tools and among partners.

Submit/prepare proposals, program/project reports to donors and other partners to raise resources for adolescent interventions and keep donors informed on program progress and critical issues.

3.         Advisory services and technical support

Participate in strategic discussions, meetings and other international/national meetings and workshops to provide evidence based papers and inputs on adolescent development and participation to influence policy and agenda setting.

Provide technical advice and guidance to key government officials, NGO, UN system and other country office partners on policies, strategies, best practices and approaches on adolescent development and participation to support program development, conceptualizing, planning, implementation and delivery of results.

Prepare policy papers, briefs and other strategic program materials for management use, information and consideration in development discussion and planning relating to adolescents.

Provide technical advice to internal sectoral staff and external partners on approaches to enhance adolescents’ participation into the policy, programming and humanitarian interventions.

4.         Advocacy, networking and partnership building

Lead advocacy drive for adolescent rights and programming within the country office, with other UN and government and non-government partners based on improved evidence and data.

Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through networking and advocacy with local/national governments, UN system agency partners, donors, internationally recognized institutions, NGOs, funding organization, research institutes, youth led organizations  and private sector to reinforce cooperation and/or pursue opportunities to promote goals and achieve sustainable and broad results on UNRWA’s adolescent development and participation initiatives.

Contribute to the preparation of advocacy and communication strategies and implementation plans and activities for maximum communication impact and outreach to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and to ensure that adolescent development and participation programs and initiatives are adequately resourced and supported.

Participate and/or represent UNRWA in inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on adolescent development and participation to ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNSF development planning and agenda setting process. Collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues the UNSF planning and preparation of programs/projects including emergency preparedness.

5.         Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Promote, document and disseminate critical thinking, innovative approaches and good practices on adolescent development and participation initiatives through advocacy and technical advisory services.

Keep abreast, research, benchmark, introduce and implement best and cutting edge practices on adolescent development related issues. Institutionalize and disseminate best practices and knowledge learned to support development, planning, implementation and scale up.

Contribute to the development of policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices that promote the rights of adolescents and enhances their development and participation as active members of society and their community.

Organize/plan/implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of a wide range of internal and external partners/stakeholders to achieve sustainable results on adolescent development and participation programs and initiatives.