Deadline: May 17, 2024
Applications are open to become a UNODC Youth Peace Champion 2024. 16 Youth Peace Champions will be selected to work with community leaders and civil society organizations at the grassroots level: 8 in Adamawa and 8 in Yobe State.
They will contribute to the validation and dissemination of key messages; resolution of low-level conflict; identification of emerging dynamics; and promotion of peace through effective use of social and traditional media. Out of the 16, 10 Youth Peace Champions will be selected through the online application process. A further 6 will be selected directly from targeted communities to ensure the inclusion and participation of young people at the grassroots level.
What’s the END-VAC Youth-led Awareness-raising Campaign?
For over a decade, the States of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe in Nigeria have experienced significant challenges relating to serious crimes against children in the insecurity context. Children in these regions have been systematically targeted and recruited by these groups; coerced into participation in violent activities; and/or subjected to various forms of exploitation.
In 2024, recognizing the urgent need to address these alarming trends, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) through its End Violence Against Children (ENDVAC) Team, is launching a comprehensive project “Protecting Children From Violence in Contexts of Insecurity, North-East Nigeria” aimed at enhancing child protection measures and accountability mechanisms in the affected areas.
Drawing on the valuable lessons learned from UNODC’s achievements in Nigeria since 2018 in the area of child protection, including through the successful implementation of STRIVE Juvenile, the project is guided by international and national law as well as human rights principles and has a strong focus on preventing recruitment and re-recruitment and promoting the rehabilitation and reintegration of affected children through a whole of government and society approach.
An integral component of the project will be a youth-led awareness-raising campaign in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, that actively engages young people in promoting peace and creating platforms for intergenerational dialogue and cooperation. The campaign aims to build the resilience of children and their communities in targeted local government areas (LGAs) in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States as a key component of support for reconciliation efforts. It will contribute to the:
- Prevention of the recruitment of vulnerable children including re-recruitment of those that have already reintegrated into their communities.
- Acceptance and reduced stigmatisation of reintegrated children.
Benefits
- You will have the opportunity to act as a positive role model and agent of peace in your community.
- You will make a valuable contribution to the dialogue on preventing and responding to terrorism and extremism affecting children.
- You will have the opportunity to network with key stakeholders driving peace and reconciliation in Adamawa and Yobe State and beyond.
- You will benefit from the knowledge and expertise of the UNODC ENDVAC team.
- You will receive branded souvenirs.
- You will be issued a certificate of participation after the successful completion of the programme.
Note that these will be unpaid engagements; and that Youth Peace Champions will not be considered to be staff or personnel of the United Nations.
Eligibility
- You are between the ages of 18 and 29 years old at the time of application.
- You are a resident of Damaturu, Potiskum, Fufore or Yola Local Government Areas of Yobe and Adamawa States.
- You can speak and understand, Kanuri or Hausa. Fluency in English is an advantage.
- You are willing to commit from May 2024 to June 2025.
Application
All successful applicants will be contacted by the end of April and provided with specific details about the project activity timeline and a proposal for their participation.
For more information, visit UNODC Youth Peace Champion.
