Local Youth Advisory Board Coordinator

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children's rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism.

To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society's most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital.

It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations. UNICEF's Programme in Italy was set up in 2016 to respond to a large influx of unaccompanied minors arriving primarily through the Central Mediterranean route.

Context
Starting in 2020 UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia's National Response in Italy supported the Government of Italy in the establishment the European Child Guarantee to tackle child poverty and social exclusion through evidence generation of child-focused policies and programmes and piloting of innovative approaches, effectively reaching out to disadvantaged children and adolescents. Amongst the models piloted, the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) was set up in December 2021 by UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies (MLSP) and the Department for Family Policies of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers to provide a space for adolescents & young people to be meaningfully involved and participate in all phases of the Child Guarantee in Italy. Following the pilot phase, the MLSP has requested UNICEF to assist in the design and implementation of a youth engagement model at the local, regional, and national levels through a 3 year programme. In line with the principles enshrined in the CRC, particularly Article 12, and the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, this three-year programme aims to strengthen the national YAB and to create YABs at regional and local levels, developing an innovative participatory model connected across three levels of governance (national, regional, and local) in collaboration with local (Municipalities and Regions) and national authorities (MLSP, NAP steering committee, Social Protection and Inclusion Network, managing authorities of the National Programs of the European Social Fund (NP-FSE), and other relevant organizations and bodies. At its core is the shared goal of making a concrete contribution to reducing and preventing child poverty and social exclusion by enhancing the skills of adolescents and young people, promoting their meaningful engagement and creating opportunities that allow them to develop their talents and full potential. This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment is part of the programme to scale this youth engagement model, starting with strengthening of the national YAB and the creation of 6 local YABs with regional representation and then gradually engage institutional partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector for the transfer of costs and management, logistical, and organizational responsibilities, in order to achieve sustainability of the YAB model by the end of the intervention.

Under the guidance of the Adolescent Development Manager, and under the technical supervision of the YAB National Coordinator, the Local YAB Coordinator is responsible for strengthening youth participation at local level in a selected Municipality/"Area Territoriale e Sociale" (ATS) and in supporting the strengthening of youth participation at regional level, in accordance with the 3-year Youth Advisory Board project and in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, the selected local municipality/ATS, CSOs, youth associations and networks, private sector and other relevant organizations and bodies.

Outreach and planning

Supports in the development and implementation of the community outreach strategy at local level: (i)identifying and engaging young people, (ii) identifying and engaging local partners and stakeholders to amplify the outreach, (iii) holding information sessions on the YAB activities and project as required.

In collaboration with the Project manager and the Nationa