Disability Inclusion and Youth Participation Assistant

UNICEF is the only organization mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to safeguard the rights of all children everywhere. That mandate is rooted in the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which sets out universal and indivisible rights.

UNICEF has been working in Cambodia since 1952 to protect the rights of children

UNICEF promotes the rights and well-being of every child in everything it does. Together with our partners, we work to translate this commitment into practical action, with a dedicated effort to reach the most vulnerable and excluded girls and boys in urban and rural poor areas of Cambodia. We focus on equity, so our achievements benefit all children.

UNICEF’s vision is that by 2030 children and adolescents/youth with disabilities live in inclusive communities where they get the support and services to help meet their basic needs, and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential and effective participation. The following goals are in the centre of this approach:

• Government and other stakeholders invest in strengthened enabling environment where children and youth with disabilities have opportunities to realize their full potential (policies, coordination, etc).
• Children/Youth with disabilities, their families and caregivers are supported by inclusive services at local level (health, education, social protection)
• Children and Youth with Disabilities build their skills, participate fully in their communities and influence a decision-making process
• System Strengthening by cross-sectoral programme coordination and policy frame-work development.

The Youth Volunteer will support UNICEF Cambodia in enforcing the general disability inclusion agenda as part of all UNICEF sectors. A specific focus will be to integrate the Youth Participation Agenda into the ongoing Disability Inclusion activities. Furthermore, the Youth Volunteer will support UNICEF Cambodia in its advocacy efforts towards.

The Disability Inclusion and Youth Participation Assistant will support and coordinate multi-sectoral activities of UNICEF Cambodia, with a focus on disability inclusion and youth participation. This will include working with all sections of Social Policy, Health and Nutrition, WASH, Climate & Environment, Education, Child Protection on Disability Inclusive activities, as well as supporting in coordinating the Disability Inclusion Partners Group which is co-chaired by UNICEF.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Social Policy and Disability Focal Point as well as the Adolescent Development and Gender Specialist, the UN Youth Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
– Support overall coordination and expansion of the disability-inclusion and Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) portfolio of UNICEF Cambodia and also work linking to children on the move.
– Support coordination of and participate in the Disability Inclusion Partners Group and Gender and Adolescent Task Force with a focus on contributing with topics related to Meaningful Youth Participation and Empowerment.
– Support the Social Policy and Health section in advocacy measures and coordination meetings with Government on the integration of disability inclusion and youth empowerment elements into the roll-out of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) roadmap, which is planned to be initiated in early 2025.