Child Protection Specialist (CPiE), P-3, Beira, Mozambique, Temporary Appointment 6 months Full Time

How can you make a difference?

The Child Protection Specialist reports to the Chief, Child Protection for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the development and preparation of the Child Protection programme(s) with particular emphasis for Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE) and is responsible for the management, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of the child protection programmes/projects within the country programme. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes. H/She facilitates the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable contributions to national and international efforts to create a protective environment for children against all harm, and to protect their rights to survival, development and well being as established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, international treaties/frameworks and UN intergovernmental bodies.

The UNICEF Country Office is scaling up its Child Protection component in response to the emergency, and technical management is required. Oversight to ensure adherence to the CCCs for Humanitarian Action by the country office is a critical function during an emergency response. Therefore, under the direction and guidance of the MCO Chief, Child Protection, and with support from the national Child Protection Sub-Cluster Coordinator, the specialist will provide overall support to the government in their emergency response by assuming overall responsibility for Co-ordination of the Beira sub-national Child Protection Sub-Cluster and by facilitating a transition to government led coordination.

The Specialist contributes to the achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

key functions/accountabilities:

• Support to programme/project development and planning
• Support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the child protection programmes/projects to ensure that current and comprehensive data on child protection issues is available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy advocacy, intervention and development efforts on child rights and protection, and to set programme priorities, strategies, and design and implementation plans. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of child protection programmes/projects. Formulate, design and prepare programme/project proposals for the sector, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s overall Strategic Plans and the Country Programme, as well as coherence and integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans for the sector using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national priorities and competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Plan and collaborate with colleagues and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurements, to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector in child protection programmes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required actions and interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in programme management. Identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits, surveys and exchange of information with partners to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems. Take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations, procedures, donor commitments, as well as standards of accountability and integrity. Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners and donors on the interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, best practices, and approaches on child protection related issues to support programme management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Arrange and coordinate availability of technical experts with Regional Office/HQ to ensure timely and appropriate support throughout the programming process.
• Participate in child protection programme meetings, including programme development and contingency planning discussions on emergency preparedness in the country or other locations designated, to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration.

4. Coordination

• Assume leadership of the Beira sub-national Child Protection Sub-Cluster, through proper engagement in the humanitarian coordination process. Promote and facilitate active participation from key child protection actors, including government, to assess the needs, coordinate and oversee inter-agency needs assessment about child protection issues to map out priority protection gaps and identify key resources and assets, including existing child protection systems (both formal and informal). Facilitate the development of or update an agreed interagency child protection response strategy, based on current response axes, integrating the ongoing resettlement exercise.
• Establish links to other cluster/sector coordination mechanisms on critical inter-sectoral issues. Work with the Protection Cluster, GBV Sub-Cluster, MHPSS Sub-Cluster, PSEA Network, OCHA, ICCG and other Clusters: identify opportunities to mainstream child protection into other protection and other sector activities; to ensure that CP and GBV actors work together to meet the comprehensive GBV-related needs of children; to avoid duplication; and to prevent unintentional harm to children as a result of inappropriate humanitarian assistance. Collaborate with the Protection Cluster lead and OCHA to ensure that child protection concerns and analyses are reflected in all humanitarian documents and initiatives.
• Work with IMO to ensure continued monitoring of the situation and the response, through the 5Ws and generate and disseminated reports, dash boards etc.
• Promote and support adherence to agreed, interagency Child Protection Minimum Standards.
• Establish results-oriented, two-way communication channels between Provincial level, national level and district Child Protection coordinator groups (as relevant), to promote, upgrade and strengthen a more standardized child protection response across all affected areas.
• Networking and partnership building
• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders, global partners, allies, donors, and academia – through active networking, advocacy and effective communication – to build capacity, exchange knowledge and expertise, and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results in child protection.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on child protection related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF planning and preparation of programmes/projects. Ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process for development planning and agenda setting.

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders, and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best practices in child protection management and information systems. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.
• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders to promote sustainable results in child protection and related programmes/projects.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in social development planning and management in child protection related areas is required.
• Experience in child protection in humanitarian contexts is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in programme development in child protection related areas in a UN system agency or organizationis considered as an asset.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is considered as an added advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language, especially Spanish, or of Portuguese, is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are:

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core competencies

• Communication (II)
• Working with people (II)
• Drive for results (II)

Functional Competencies:

• Leading and supervising (I)
• Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
• Analyzing (III)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Deciding and Initiating action (II)
• Applying technical expertise (III)

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Tagged as: Protection and Human Rights