Youth Employability Assistant

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all qualified candidates, irrespective of nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, gender identity and sexual orientation, as well as persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNICEF’s office is accessible to a certain extent, and employees are entitled to reasonable accommodations that are needed for ensuring equitable working conditions.

UNICEF Serbia seeks a Youth Employability Assistant, an individual contractor to provide full-time support to the implementation of the internship programme at the premises of the National Employment Service.

The economic growth and progress Serbia had made in recent years improved the position of the young people to a certain extent. Unemployment decreased in the period 2015-2019. Despite this, finding a job remains one of the biggest challenges for young people in Serbia as they usually have less experience than unemployed adults. As per the latest Labour Force Survey (2019), the youth (15-24 years) unemployment rate was 27.5% in 2019 and the inactivity rate was 70.4%. Young people in Serbia are facing worse prospects on the labour market than their peers in the EU, where in 2018 the youth unemployment rate was 15.2%, and the NEET rate was 10.2%.

An integrated support system to foster young people’s competitiveness and employability is needed to better prepare the work force of the future. In line with the joint work plan for Youth and Adolescent Development signed between UNICEF and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as well as the Ministry of Labour, Veterans, Economy, and Social Affairs as part of the Country Programme of Cooperation 2021 – 2025, UNICEF Serbia and partners will contribute to the Government’s efforts towards building the skills of its young workforce in line with the market demands and create opportunities for youth, including the most marginalized ones.

A high quality internship programme is developed and will be implemented resulting in higher employability of young people, especially those from the most vulnerable and marginalized groups (youth with disabilities, Roma youth, youth living in remote and rural areas, youth who dropped out of school, youth without qualifications). Promoting Youth Employability through Internships (the Youth Employability Programme) programme will be a strategic approach to create opportunities for young persons and provide skills development and increase their employability.

Work Assignment Overview:

In order to support the implementation of the internship programme, the contractor will work in close cooperation with the National Employment Service (NES), at their premises, to facilitate communication and cooperation between the various programme partners. Under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Youth & Adolescent Development Specialist and the NES focal point, the incumbent will be responsible for supporting NES engagement and ensure timely implementation of envisaged activities as per programme action plan. Therefore, the contractor will work on the development of the communication and outreach plan, assessment of the needs of NES job counsellors, and enhance NES engagement in project implementation and engagement in the Advisory Board.

Duration of the assignment: November 2021 – December 2022 (full-time, office-based)

Detailed task description:

Task 1: Provide support to the National Employment Service (NES) during the entire duration of the program activities

• Support NES in the development and design of the internship programme action plan and campaign aiming to inform and involve higher number of potential beneficiaries of the program
• Support NES in the implementation of the action plan and campaign
• Ensure program beneficiaries’ outreach
• Facilitate the organization and implementation of training for NES employees by providing support in identifying the needs of employees as well as provide them information related to training in cooperation with Youth Employability Enhancement Consultant
• Assist in selecting employees who would undergo training on reaching young people from NEET category

Task 2: Provide support in coordinating the work of partners (UNICEF and NES with their collaborating organizations)

• Monitor the progress of the cooperation plan between the NES and UNICEF, which identifies and logically builds on the necessary activities to successfully implement the project
• Analyse the schedule of activities with the project team in order to coordinate activities; monitor the implementation of planned activities and proposes possible changes to the schedule if necessary.
• Timely reporting on any challenges or bottlenecks encountered to mitigate potential delays

Task 3: Participate in the development of the visibility plan and communication activities

• Work on the development of the communication plan in cooperation with the project team and partners
• Regularly share the project progress update with all relevant stakeholders (external and internal) to ensure transparency and successful implementation of planned and future joint activities
• Actively work on disseminating information and raising awareness about the program with a focus on less developed municipalities and particularly vulnerable categories of young people by using the available communication channels in NES and other available resources

Task 4: Support the functioning of the Advisory Board

• Provide support to a project team for organizing the meetings
• Keeping minutes and writing reports from meetings

Task 5: Reporting

• Prepares regular monthly reports on activities and responsibilities (reports to be verified by the National Employment Service)

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• University degree in social, legal, human, economics or other related sciences.
• At least 5 years of work experience in a relevant field.
• Extensive experience in working with national institutions on employment related issues.
• Experience in working with national and international stakeholders (civil society, public administration, social partners, local organizations, etc.).
• Knowledge of strategic, legal and institutional framework of youth employment, with a focus on different types of employment (work practices, internships, volunteering, etc.) will be considered an advantage.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Good analytical, writing and reporting skills.
• Excellent computer literacy.
• Excellent knowledge of both Serbian and English.

How to apply:

The application must include a financial proposal in RSD as a separate document, providing the following information:

1. Daily rate (all costs included, e.g. health insurance, pension, usage of mobile phone).

 

Important notes:

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

For every child, you must demonstrate UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.