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

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has a significant presence in Brazil, with nine nationwide offices. In 2024, UNICEF launched a new Country Program focused on strengthening access to education and opportunities for young people. One of the main objectives of this program is to establish the “One Million Opportunities” (1MiO) initiative as a strategic program within the education sector, fostering access to the job market, professional training, and educational inclusion for Brazilian adolescents and young people in vulnerable situations. The initiative is a multisector alliance that mobilizes companies, civil society, governments, and especially young people to promote opportunities for professional training, civic participation, and decent work for adolescents and young people aged 14 to 29 in vulnerable situations. In four years, 1MiO has brought together over 190 companies, 7 states, 8 urban centers, 1,839 municipalities, and generated more than 670,000 opportunities, fostering: • Positive transition from school to the world of work through its Passport to Earning (P2E) strategy. • (Re)building life projects for the most vulnerable youth through Life Project and the World of Work workshops. • Decent work as a space of protection. • Mobilization and Innovation by fostering the youth participation for co-creating solutions. Under the general supervision of the 1MiO Skills Development Programme Officer, with the overall guidance of the 1MiO Coordinator and Education Chief, the UN Volunteer will support the development and implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) program and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) approach in Brazil, considering the interests of youth. The UN Volunteer will produce pedagogical and communication materials and content, engage with media and donors, liaise with implementing partners and support the 1MiO strategy.

Task Description

Within the delegated authority of the 1MiO Skills Development Programme Officer and under their supervision, the Artificial Intelligence Programme Assistant will be responsible for supporting field colleagues to implement AI and STEAM program in Brazil, providing contributions for 1MiO Training area also visibility requirements according to UNICEF’s commitments and mandate. In this context, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: AI Program in Brazil • Support the development of AI Program in Brazil that will train 20,000 adolescents and young people in two years. • Support the range of activities planned with and for adolescents in the AI Program. • Participate in AI Program planning meetings with UNICEF experts and external partners. • Identify and keep contact with local partners for the engagement of adolescents in the AI Program. • Identify and contact policy makers and key influencers from civil society to implement AI Program. • Ensure strengthening and maintenance of the group of adolescents and young people focused on AI. • Support the implementation of the program in Brazil, considering different states and groups 1 MiO activities in São Paulo, in close cooperation with the national coordination. • Monitor partnerships with civil society organizations; supporting the advocacy axle, reviewing programmatic materials and building adolescent engagement strategies. • Support the process to ensure sustainability of the AI Program in Brazil. Education STEAM Program • Collaborate with STEAM Program in Brazil. • Participate in planning meetings with UNICEF experts and external partners focused on the STEAM program. • Integrate the STEAM and AI programs in Brazil. • Support the Connection of UNICEF STEAM program with states curriculum. 1MiO • Identifying new opportunities for 1 MiO growth in Brazil. • Participating in planning and monitoring meetings with UNICEF and partners. • Contributing with expertise and relevant content to the next steps of 1MiO program in Brazil. • Identifying and contacting relevant partners to be part of the process. • Preparing reports, donor proposals and other relevant documents. Advocacy activities • Provide high quality information, data and critical analyses to support UNICEF advocacy strategies on AI in Brazil. • Identify strategic places where UNICEF should be present to influence public policies for adolescents’ development. • Represent UNICEF in public events. Results/ Expected outputs · As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: · Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment · A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed. · Support UNICEF’s implementing partners: Liaise regularly with implementing partners to ensure visibility and outreach activities are consistent to UNICEF’s mandate, priorities and key messages.

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 a vibrant city, with numerous cultural institutions and rich architecture. The UNICEF office in São Paulo is located in 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. https://www.unv.org/

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements