Mission and objectives

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children’s rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been present in Brazil since 1950, supporting the most important changes in childhood and adolescence in the country. UNICEF participated in major immunization and breastfeeding campaigns; the mobilization that resulted in the approval of Article 227 of the Federal Constitution and the drafting of the Child and Adolescent Statute; the movement for universal access to education; programmes to combat child labour; among other great advances in guaranteeing the rights of Brazilian girls and boys. In recent decades, Brazil has promoted a strong process of inclusion of children and adolescents in public policies. However, a significant portion of the population remains excluded. Therefore, in its cooperation programme with the Brazilian Government for the period 2024-2028, UNICEF focuses its efforts on the most vulnerable and excluded girls and boys, with a special focus on children and adolescents who are victims of extreme forms of violence. These children and adolescents in situations of greater vulnerability are spread throughout Brazil, but they are more concentrated in the Amazon, in the Northeast and in large urban centers. Through the UNICEF Seal, UNICEF promotes commitments to guarantee the rights of children and adolescents in the Northeast and in the Amazon regions in Brazil. In large cities, UNICEF works with a focus on reducing intra-municipal inequalities, through the #AgendaCidadeUNICEF.

Context

Brazil has not yet guaranteed to all children and adolescents the basic right to education. It is observed through available indicators the worsening of the situation of Brazilian public education in the last two years, due to the pandemic. Considering that, UNICEF works in the country to ensure that (i) all children and adolescents are at school, protected and learning at the right age; (ii) they develop all their skills, based on an integrated and protective approach; and (iii) every young people make a positive transition from education to work. The UN Volunteer will serve as a central facilitator, aligning the needs of platform users (1 Million Opportunities, Busca Ativa Escolar (BAE), Trajetórias de Sucesso Escolar (TSE), and other platforms) with the initiatives’ objectives and technical execution. The UN Volunteer will ensure that these platforms are effective and sustainable and contribute to positive social impact. This role encompasses strategic and operational responsibilities, aiming to maximize each platform’s potential to benefit children, adolescents, and young people, particularly those in vulnerable situations. In this capacity, the work combines the strategic application of data, digitalization, and innovation to advance inclusive and accessible education through digital platforms. Data should be leveraged intelligently, transforming raw information into actionable insights that inform decision-making and amplify the impact of interventions. Digitalization should enhance efficiency and collaboration, while innovation should drive the development of an adaptable environment that fosters creative solutions. These pillars—data, digitalization, and innovation—fortify the platforms, promoting inclusive, safe, and technologically advanced learning environments in alignment with the “Quintet of Change” framework of UN 2.0. The UN Volunteer’s approach to these platforms should be designed to provide a learning experience tailored to each child and adolescent’s needs, contributing to digital inclusion and sustainable development. This strategy supports expanding access to quality education, developing digital competencies, and promoting employability in low- and middle-income regions, aligning with the mission of Technology for Development (T4D) and UNICEF’s core values.

Task Description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief of Education or her designated mandated representative(s), and in close collaboration with the national Goal Area 02, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following functions: • Monitor the functionalities of the 1MiO, BAE, TSE, and other educational platforms, ensuring they are safe, welcoming, and conducive environments for the learning and protection of children, adolescents, and youth. • Track the performance of the platforms using relevant key performance indicators KPIs (number of users, engagement, opportunities generated, success rate, etc.). • Monitor quality control and versioning systems, including regular code reviews, automated and manual testing, as well as validation of functionalities through tools like Bitbucket or GitHub, promoting a satisfactory and secure user experience. • Support, alongside the technical team, the implementation of new functionalities, resolution of technical problems, and improvement of the usability of digital platforms. • Analyze collected data to identify trends, behavior patterns, and opportunities for improvement in the user experience, promoting a personalized experience better adapted to user needs. • Support in monitoring the application of the General Data Protection Law (LGPD), ensuring the protection of privacy and rights of children and adolescents, in accordance with the ethical and legal standards established by UNICEF’s global digital governance guidelines. • Follow, monitor and provide technical assistance to partners, municipal and state governments, partner civil society organizations (CSOs), and UN system partners in the application and understanding of UNICEF’s digital education strategies, promoting practices adapted to each territorial context. • Ensure that digital platforms are aligned with collaborative work with local governments, aiming at the implementation of access policies adapted to their specific contexts and realities.

Competencies and values

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS). The UNICEF competencies required and expected for this post are: • Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness • Works Collaboratively with others • Builds and Maintains Partnerships • Innovates and Embraces Change • Thinks and Acts Strategically • Drive to achieve impactful results • Manages ambiguity and complexity

Living conditions and remarks

The municipality of São Paulo will be the duty station for this UNV assignment. São Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil, with more than 12,4 million people. It is a place marked by inequalities, mixing rich and poor areas. São Paulo is vibrant city, with numerous cultural institutions and a rich architecture. The UNICEF office in São Paulo is in the neighbourhood of Vila Clementino, next to the AACD metro station, several restaurants and Congonhas airport. It is generally an expensive city to live in São Paulo, but it offers different housing options depending on the region chosen. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. United Nations Department of Safety and Security UNDSS Brazil advises to exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to high levels of serious and violent crime, particularly in major cities. Violent crime as muggings, armed robbery, kidnappings, and sexual assault, is very high. Avoid shanty towns (favelas) in the big cities and if you are attacked or robbed, do not resist. Demonstrations can occur at any time and may turn violent with little or no warning. All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment in Brazil. For missions in rural areas or indigenous reservations, special procedures may apply; UN personnel should consult with the local DSS office in advance. São Paulo is a unique city and it provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential. Information on entitlements at the duty station is available at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements