Programme Coordinator 
Vacancy Notice: PC_01_GR/24_18

Job title: Programme Coordinator
Location: Home-based with regular meetings at the Institute of Educational Policy, the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sport, and the UNICEF Greece Country Office
Type of contract: ICMC (Coordinator)
Starting date: 10 September 2024
Closing date for applications: 31 August 2024
Contract duration: 12 months 

About ICMC 
 
The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) is an international non-governmental organization, whose mission is to protect and serve children as well as uprooted people, including refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people, victims of human trafficking, and migrants - regardless of faith, race, ethnicity, or nationality.  
     
ICMC started a partnership with UNICEF in Greece in order to deploy a highly qualified affiliated workforce to assist UNICEF Greece Country Office.  

Scope of work

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programme, 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 fulfil 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 became operational in Greece in early 2016 as an outposted team from the Regional Office of Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) to respond to the significant influx of refugee and migrant children and their families at that time. Following several years of engagement with national stakeholders, UNICEF and the Government of Greece made a decision in January 2020 to formalize the agency’s presence in the country as a full-fledged Country Office. The office falls under the auspices of the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia located in Geneva, which supports the work of 22 Country Offices within its geographical scope, reporting in turn to global headquarters in New York. Within the framework of a mandate for all children in Greece, UNICEF and Greece are now working to address the needs of all vulnerable, marginalized and left-behind children in the country. 
In the context of the Country Programme for Greece (2022-2026) approved by the UNICEF Executive Board in February 2022, UNICEF and the Government of Greece have agreed on national targets for children, concerning health, education, social protection, child protection, justice and youth employability. 
Under the guidance of the UNICEF Programme team, the incumbent will provide support in the framework of the National Action Against Childhood Obesity in Greece. This will include support for the design, implementation, dissemination, and monitoring of education-related interventions, including at school-level, aimed to improve knowledge and skills among children, adolescents, their families and educators, on healthy eating and physical activity, and to reinforce the role of nutrition and physical education in the primary and secondary education curriculum. 

Responsibilities

The incumbent will be assigned contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following duties:  

• Support the UNICEF Programme team, the Ministry of Health (MoH) in the design and implementation of a school-based intervention programme (4-17 years old) for the primary prevention of obesity, aimed to promote healthy eating, water consumption and physical activity within the school environment, with the active engagement of students, families and educators. 
• Liaise with the scientific community, and support the planning and coordination for the development, piloting and continuous updating of tool boxes containing educational, experiential and interactive material on matters of nutrition and physical activity for children/students based on the review of past successful school programmes on nutrition, exercise and health promotion in Greece. 
• Support the coordination with the Institute of Educational Policy and the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sport, for the relevant counterparts’ involvement throughout the project implementation. 
• Support the drafting of working papers, concept notes, proposals, presentations and translation of documents.
• Provide assistance in preparing viable recommendations on toolbox dissemination and implementation, alternative approaches, new initiatives and optimal utilization of resources that contribute effectively to the programme results.  
• Liaise with academic partners and MOERAs staff at the regional level to support educators’ capacity building activities and monitor efforts to implement activities at the school and community level.
• Support analysis of programme related issues and policies from a children's rights perspective. 
• Support communication to promote the organization goals of UNICEF and facilitate partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate data and information, exchange information on programme status.  

Requirements

1. Education
A university degree in education, public health, nutrition or a related field.
2. Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional work experience providing support to programme/project management
• Experience in the area of public health education is an asset. 
• Experience in learning material development is an asset.
• Experience in the area of supporting schools and teachers is an asset.

3. Language Requirements
Fluency in English and Greek is required. 

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit a detailed CV of maximum four pages in English, a motivation letter and two professional references with full and up to date contact details via email, to:
Mr. Akis Papakonstantinou, ICMC HR Officer

The closing date for receipt of applications is 31 August 2024

The Vacancy Notice number PC_01_GR/24_18 and the applicant’s full name must be quoted in the email subject line. 

Applications will be evaluated upon reception and interviews with shortlisted candidates may be conducted before the closing date. Referees may be contacted prior to the interviewing stage. 

Data protection

By submitting an application, you agree that ICMC collects and manages the information that you provide. You also agree that your data may be shared with UNICEF. Your personal information will be used for recruitment purposes only. Your application will be treated with strict confidentiality.

Owing to the volume of applications, ICMC regrets that only applicants short-listed for an interview will be notified.

ICMC is committed to equal employment opportunities for all applicants. ICMC does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, national origin, religion, physical or mental ability, marital status and age. Applications will be treated with strict confidentiality.

ICMC is committed to a Zero-Tolerance Policy toward sexual exploitation, abuses and all forms of unlawful harassment, including but not limited to sexual harassment. Screening of applications includes the vetting for records of prior misconduct and reference checking. By submitting your application, you declare your consent for your former employer to disclose any details concerning criminal convictions or misconduct.  ICMC can take other necessary measures to ensure that people involved in substantiated cases of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment are not recruited.