Switzerland/Belgium/Italy/Germany: Child and Youth Participation Advisor - Environment and Climate (Possibility to be Home-based)

Location: Geneva/Switzerland, Brussels/Belgium, Italy or Germany (possibility to be home-based)

Contract: 80% – 100% depending on location. 18-months contract with possibility of extension

Start date: October 2024

Other: Regular travel to Geneva and Brussels, costs will be covered

About Terre des Hommes International Federation: 

Terre des Hommes International Federation (TDHIF) is a leading child-focused independent non-profit global network, composed of nine Member Organisations in Europe.

TDHIF thrives to guarantee that every child has a safe and enjoyable childhood, that every young person feels empowered and that every community we work with is engaged. Together with children, we fight to ensure that child rights are respected in full and implemented, leaving no one behind, and we engage to influence political agendas and strategies that affect children and young people. We do that through our 890 projects in 68 countries, as well as through global, regional and national advocacy and campaigns, run for and with children and young people.

TDHIF is supported by an International Secretariat with a team of 6 people located in Brussels and Geneva, focussing on essential advocacy, representation and coordination.

Context:

TDHIF achieved an important milestone on the pathway to recognising and implementing children’s environmental rights with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s General Comment No.26 (GC26) published in 2023. The support of strong child participation in the process resulted in more than 16,000 contributions of children from across 121 countries.

TDHIF seeks to expand its work connecting child and youth participation to children’s environmental rights, by enhancing coordination between TDHIF’s members and contributing to relevant global movements. TDHIF’s priorities focuses on supporting children and youth to participate and have a voice in campaigning and communication opportunities, as well as raising awareness of children and youth’s important work and initiatives on the environment.

Purpose of the Role:

As Child & Youth Participation Advisor you will support the implementation of the Federation’s Advocacy Strategy on Children’s Right to a Healthy Environment, in particular the child and youth participation strand. This Strategy is led by the TDHIF Advocacy Task Force on Children’s Rights and the Environment and includes International Secretariat’s team members and experts from TDH Member Organisations.

You will provide expert advice on the development of, and lead on the implementation of child and youth participation components of the Strategy at global level.

Key Responsibilities: 

Supporting Child and Youth Participation: 

• Develop the plan for the child and youth participation strand of the Advocacy Strategy on Children’s Rights and the Environment
• Lead on documenting existing experience, capacities and learning from within TDHIF on child and youth participation and the environment, including the GC26 process.
• Support and facilitate the participation of children and young people in advocacy opportunities in line with the Strategy, overseeing the process to ensure their safe and meaningful participation.
• Develop guidance and tools for TDHIF to partner with children and youth as part of the Strategy. Build capacity of TDHIF colleagues in this regard.

Advocating for Child and Youth Participation: 

• Support the advocacy strand of the Strategy, including by contributing to the development of communications and advocacy outputs and materials.
• Advocate at different levels for spaces and support for safe and meaningful participation of children and youth.
• Engage with external stakeholders and coalitions working in relevant fields: UN institutions, NGOs, networks, and foundations.

Fundraising and Communications:

• Support the development of TDHIF fundraising proposals to fund the advocacy strategy and the child and youth participation implementation plan.
• Work with communications colleagues to ensure visibility of TDHIF’s work to support and promote child and youth participation.

General: 

• Participate in TDHIF meetings, including of the Advocacy Task Force on Children’s Rights and the Environment and the Child and Youth Participation Task Force.
• Comply with TDHIF’s internal systems, processes and policies, including around child and youth safeguarding.

Profile: 

Education: 

• A university degree or equivalent professional experience in relevant field.

Experience and Skills: 

• About 3 years-experience in working with children and young people and designing and implementing child and youth participation advocacy activities. Ability to advise colleagues and partners on designing and delivering effective engagement with children and young people.
• Previous experience in advocacy and/or campaigning specifically in the areas of child rights and/or environmental protection, as well as experience in fundraising.
• Knowledge and understanding of the UN system and international decision-making processes and how they may be influenced.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to communicate efficiently with different audiences, especially with children and young people.
• Good facilitation skills and knowledge of participatory approaches, particularly with children and young people (online and in person).
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Being an effective networker and team player.
• Capacity to work autonomously, following deadlines and focusing on results.
• Working proficiency in French and/or Spanish are welcome.

Child Safeguarding: 

The Child and Youth Participation Advisor must commit to Terre des Hommes‘ Child Safeguarding Policy.

General Conditions: 

• The contract will be established in line with the labour laws of the country where the role will be located.
• Applicants to this position need to be eligible to work in Switzerland (EU/EFTA nationals or in possession of a valid work permit), or in the EU.
• This position is open to hybrid working.

How to Apply: 

As this position is reposted, previous applicants need not apply. 

Please send your CV and a cover letter (no more than 500 words) to jobs@tdh.de by 6th August 2024. Interviews will be conducted in August.

We will only contact shortlisted candidates. Due to the large number of applications, we unfortunately cannot provide personal follow-up to the larger candidate pool. We thank you for your understanding.