UNV Programme Officer (Local Governance: knowledge management and Emergency)​​

UN Entity: UNICEF 

Assignment Context:
This 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 description:
Under 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.

Languages
Arabic, Level: Fluent, Required
English, Level: Fluent, Required
French, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable

Required Experience:

- At least 7 years of professional work experience, at the national and/or international level, in local governance, localization/ and local system strengthening or other relevant programmes; experience with DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction / DRM (Disaster Risk Management) system strengthening, emergency preparedness and response, data management, monitoring of activities and quality assurance, experience working in the UN or other international development organization.
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant area, Social Sciences, International Relations, Governance, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Community Development, Knowledge Management engineering, or other relevant disciplines.
- Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
- Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing including data analysis.
- Excellent knowledge and understanding of context within the area.
- Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.
- Excellent teamwork capacities.
- Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
- Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet;
- Solid skill in data management and analysis and use of technology for reporting.
- Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.
- Sound security awareness.
- Have affinity with or interest in children’s rights and youth development volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Area(s) of specialization:
Community development, Elections and governance, Social work.

Inclusivity statement:
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.

Living conditions and remarks
As 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