UNICEF New and Emerging Talent Initiative (NETI) 2016

Publish Date: Jul 08, 2016

About program

The New and Emerging Talent Initiative is a two year programme for candidates who have successfully passed the NETI recruitment process and have been selected and appointed for a regular P-2/P-3 position.

NETI participants are given an initial one-year work appointment with a one or two-week Induction at UNICEF’s New York Headquarters (NYHQ). During the induction, NETI participants familiarize themselves with UNICEF and meet HQ colleagues from the functional areas in which they will work during their assignment. Participants then return to their respective duty stations/offices for the remainder of their appointment. During their assignments, the NETI participants receive dedicated support for their development at the Induction in New York Headquarters and through the mentoring and coaching components, which help develop their personal and professional skills and maximize their performance.

Since merit and performance are the key features of the NETI Programme, a continuous and rigorous assessment takes place throughout their assignments. At the end of the first year and based on a performance review outcome, NETI participants are extended for a second year in their specific duty station or, if necessary, separated from the NETI Programme.

Interested candidates must share the United Nations values and ideals as well as be able to listen to and understand the ideas and concerns of the people UNICEF serves. Similarly, interested candidates must be able to communicate and work strategically and effectively with others to achieve results. Additionally, it is critical for candidates to be geographically mobile and willing to serve in emergency and hardship duty stations.

What Does NETI Offer?

Training and Development Opportunities

NETI participants have the opportunity to go through a unique learning and development path, beginning with an Induction at UNICEF’s New York Headquarters (NYHQ). As part of the Induction, participants attend learning sessions to further increase their familiarity with the processes of the organisation.

Each participant has the opportunity to work with a personal coach to develop his/her competencies. In addition, a variety of other learning resources are available to strengthen his/her skills and knowledge. Under the NETI Programme’s mentoring scheme, participants have the opportunity to choose a mentor - a more experienced UNICEF staff member - who will be available to provide them with advice and organisational support.

Overall, each NETI participant’s learning is monitored closely to ensure that they are exposed to opportunities that will facilitate their career development.

Insight into HQ Operations and International Placement

During the Induction at UNICEF’s New York Headquarters, NETI participants get an overview of the organisation’s strategies, initiatives and challenges. NETI participants are also provided with networking opportunities with New York Headquarters’ staff, in order to better understand the functional areas they will be working in during their field assignment.

UNICEF is the leading advocate for children’s rights, active in 190 countries through country programmes and National Committees. NETI participants are expected to be geographically mobile and willing to serve in emergency and hardship duty stations based on the needs of the Organisation.

Mentoring, Coaching & Support

During their work appointments, NETI participants receive dedicated support for their development at the Induction and through the mentoring and external coaching components, which help develop their personal and professional skills and maximize their performance. In addition, continuous support is provided by each participant’s respective supervisor in his/her assigned duty station.

Mentoring

As part of the NETI Programme mentoring scheme, participants have the opportunity to choose a mentor - a knowledgeable and experienced UNICEF staff member who will be able to:

  • Increase awareness and integration of cross-cutting issues to programming/operations work;
  • Identify the most relevant information/documentation from sources inside and outside UNICEF;
  • Provide a broader perspective on the challenges facing the Organization, a region, and/or a country office;
  • Offer insight to the culture and informal communication lines of the Organization;
  • Explain how UNICEF works in partnership with other UN agencies and key stakeholders.

Coaching

Each NETI participant will work with an external coach. Based on a mutually agreed learning plan, the coach provides support to the participant’s development in line with the NETI Programme’s competencies and assigned work goals. Each coach also provides the participant with examples of self-learning materials and other available resources.

Supervisor Support

Each NETI participant will work closely with his/her supervisor in the respective duty station. The supervisor will be responsible for evaluating and reporting performance, as well as provide support to the NETI participant by guiding him/her on specific development needs, in which the participant shall develop with his/her coach or mentor. Supervisors are strongly encouraged to provide ongoing and continuous feedback on the NETI participant’s performance.

Eligibility

The following candidates are eligible to apply to the NETI Programme:

  • UNICEF National Professional Officers and General Service staff;
  • UNICEF staff members holding a temporary appointment;
  • UNICEF Junior Professional Officers (JPOs) who have completed at least 15 months of the JPO Programme;
  • External candidates from outside UNICEF.

Please Note: National Professional Officers and General Service staff who are selected to participate in the NETI Programme will be offered a fixed-term appointment that replaces their previous letter of appointment, including any permanent or continuing appointment. They will not have the right to return to their previous post in UNICEF.

Candidates from all nationalities are welcome to apply.

IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the United Nations staff rules, a person who has permanent residence status in a country other than that of his/her own nationality must relinquish such permanent residence status in order to be eligible for UNICEF appointment to the Professional and higher categories of staff, subject to a few exceptions.

Requirements

Minimum requirements

  • Have completed an advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) at the time of application. Any number of years of relevant professional experience is not substitute for the required educational qualifications. Please see below for important information on education requirements.
  • Be fluent (C1 or C2) in English and at an intermediate level (working knowledge) in another official language of the United Nations i.e., Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish.
  • Be ready to be assigned to any UNICEF office worldwide, including hardship duty stations.
  • Have at least two years of relevant work experience for functions at the P-2 level, and at least five years of relevant work experience for functions at the P-3 level. Relevant experience should include work in developing countries and in multicultural environments.

Preference will be given to candidates under 35 years of age.

Educational Requirements

The expectation of UNICEF as an employer is that university degrees presented by applicants satisfy the required level of education and come from bona fide (accredited) academic institutions. Only degrees from accredited institutions are considered legitimate for purposes of recruitment and selection for posts at UNICEF. Degrees requiring little or no actual course work, degrees awarded for payment of fees only, and degrees granting substantial credits for “lifetime achievements” or “life/work experience” will normally not be recognized by UNICEF.

When determining whether a degree is recognized, UNICEF is guided by the International Association of Universities’ (IAU) listing of higher education institutions recognized or otherwise approved by competent authorities in participating countries. UNICEF will normally recognize only degrees obtained from institutions on the IAU list, however, the validity of other degrees submitted by applicants under consideration would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Incomplete degrees are unacceptable to UNICEF as proof of academic qualification, regardless of whether they are associated with a recognized higher education institution.

NETI Competencies

The competencies for the NETI Programme reflect the organisation’s core values and the effective work behavior competencies shared by all UNICEF staff, and aim to achieve excellent performance. The UNICEF Core Values and Competencies specific to the NETI Programme are listed below.

UNICEF Core Values

  • Diversity and Inclusion: Treats all people with dignity and respect; shows respect and sensitivity towards cultural and religious differences; challenges prejudice, biases and intolerance in the workplace; encourages diversity wherever possible.
  • Integrity: Maintains high ethical standards; takes clear ethical stands; keeps promises; immediately addresses untrustworthy or dishonest behavior; resists political pressure in decision-making; does not abuse power or authority.
  • Commitment: Demonstrates commitment to the organisation and UNICEF’s mission; demonstrates UNICEF’s values in daily activities and behaviors; seeks out new challenges, assignments and responsibilities; promotes UNICEF’s cause.

NETI Competencies

  • Communication: Speaks fluently; expresses opinions, information and key points of an argument clearly; makes presentations and undertakes public speaking with skill and confidence; responds quickly to the needs of an audience and to their reactions and feedback; projects credibility; structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience; presents information in a well-structured and logical way.
  • Working with People: Shows respect for the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy; listens, supports and cares for others; consults others and shares information and expertise with them; builds team spirit and reconciles conflict; adapts to the team and fits in well.
  • Drive for Results: Sets high standards for quality and quantity; monitors and maintains quality and productivity; works in a systematic, methodical and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals; focuses on the needs and satisfaction of internal/external clients; accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm.
  • Formulating Strategies and Concepts: Works strategically to realize UNICEF’s goals; sets and develops strategies; identifies and develops positive and compelling visions of the organisation’s future potential; takes account of a wide range of issues across and related to UNICEF.
  • Relating and Networking: Easily establishes good relationships with external partners and staff; builds wide and effective networks of contacts inside and outside UNICEF; relates well to people at all levels; manages conflict; uses humor appropriately to enhance relationships with others.
  • Creating and Innovating: Produces new ideas, approaches, or insights; creates innovative ways of designing projects or outputs in own work area; produces a range of solutions to problems.
  • Adapting and Responding to Change: Adapts to changing circumstances including emergencies and other crises; tolerates ambiguity; accepts new ideas and change initiatives; adapts interpersonal style to suit different people and situations; shows an interest in new experiences.
  • Leading and Supervising: Provides others with a clear direction; motivates and empowers others; recruits staff of a high caliber; provides staff with development opportunities and coaching; sets appropriate standards of behavior.

You will find application form by clicking the original link.

Further Official Information

Link to Original

Similar Opportunities


Disciplines

Cultural Diversity

Human Rights

Eligible Countries

International