Child Protection Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, 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.

Context

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, 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. 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.
Half of Afghanistan’s 40 million people are under 18. They are exposed to extreme situations of violence and abuse due to ongoing fighting, displacement, a poor economy, and harmful social norms and practices. The increased number and frequency of conflict-related incidents has caused an alarming rise in child casualties.
Afghan girls face early marriage, honour killings, domestic abuse, and sexual violence. Afghan boys suffer many of the same risks, along with military recruitment into armed conflict, and sexual exploitation. As a result of the effect of the conflict and its associated challenges such a poverty, child igration continues to be n issue and has now been exacerbated since the takeover of the Taliban in August 2021. Both girls and boys are exposed to hazardous labour practices, risks of explosive ordnance death or injuries, and violence at home, in schools and communities. Existing protection services are inadequate, especially in remote and in warring communities: there is widespread failure to promote and protect the rights of children.
UNICEF Zonal Officer in Mazar supports the Departments of Labour, Social Affairs, DoLSAs, Civil Societies Organizations (CSOs) and community based structures in the nine provinces of the North and North East Regions in capacity building, strengthening the social workforce, conducting case management for children who are facing specialized child protection issues and work to strengthen system for child protection in order to prevent and response violence, exploitation, abuse and harmful practices. UNICEF also works with the departments of vital statistics DoVs and Departments of Public Health DoPHs in improving birth registration in the health facilities.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Head of UNICEF Faizabad Outpost and technical guidance from the Child Protection Specialist, the UNV Child Protection Officer will:
1. Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
1.1. Assist UNICEF in working with provincial Child Protection actors toward strengthening Child Protection mechanisms and systems, including supporting the establishment of Child Protection Community Based Structure; Child Protection Case management, enhancement of Social workforce, as well as support to the provision of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support to children affected by conflict, natural disaster, and displacement.
1.2. Contribute to effective management and quality assurance of the child protection programs across the region covered by the Faizabad post office through close monitoring of UNICEF-supported projects and activities. Including collection, preparation, and review of required supporting documents that are essential for financial transactions, and support in monitoring the utilization of funds of child protection supplies by the end users.
1.3. Assist in monitoring the quality of child protection in emergency-related activities, and ensure activities are monitored and reported to the Head of Faizabad outpost and the Child Protection Officer in a timely manner.
1.4. Assist in planning, monitoring, and implementing the children on the move project activities in provinces covered by the Faizabad outpost (Badakhshan, Takhar, and Kunduz).
1.5. Contribute to monitoring, reporting, and verification of cases of children affected by the impact of armed conflict across all provinces covered by Faizabad Outpost (Badakhshan, Kunduz, and Takhar), including monitoring, reporting, and verification of grave violations against children in these provinces (MRM),
1.6. Support child protection service delivery for the prevention and response to violence, exploitation abuse, neglect, and unnecessary family separation).
1.7. Carry out any other tasks given by UNICEF Child Protection Specialist and CP Officer.
2) Contribute to effective management and quality assurance of the Child Protection Programme across the region covered by the UNICEF Faizabad post office:
2.1. Contribute to effective utilization of the Child Protection fund by informing fund distribution and utilization plans based on the humanitarian need in Badakhshan, Kunduz, and Takhar.
2.2. Collect and provide the required documentation for the release and liquidation of funds in line with UNICEF financial and operational procedures.
2.3. Conduct HACT program monitoring visits and ensure trip reports are shared for approval and uploaded in E-tools
2.4. Inform supply distribution plans and ensure supplies released to partners reached end users.
2.5. Collect and provide inputs to donor reports, sitreps, and monthly reports as per office guidelines and internal deadlines.
3) Contribute to the development and management of Child Protection programs across provinces covered by UNICEF Faizabad Outpost (planning, monitoring, implementation, and evaluation)
3.1 Collect required data and provide inputs for program preparation and documentation ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and relevancy of information.
3.2 Provide inputs to the development of sectoral program goals objectives, strategies, and results-based planning through data collection and record keep keepings.
3.3 Support information on CP data and implementation issues, suggest solutions to routine programing, and submit reports to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decisions.
3.4 Keep a record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture lessons learned to inform future programming.
3.5 Contribute to monitoring and evaluation of child protection through the preparation of annual sectoral reviews meetings with de facto authority and key CP partners (i.e., this include organizing required meetings and workshop; taking minutes and producing reports; and following up on action points)
4) Contribute to tracking progress and reporting of program achievements across provinces covered by Faizabad Outpost (Badakhshan, Takhar, and Kunduz)
4.1 contributories to evidence-based generation, and support mission for the undertaking of baseline surveys and research across the above-mentioned provinces;
4.2 Work closely with the Child Protection and Information Officers to support the verification of data reported by partners (i.e. Child Protection Progress Trackers for monitoring HAC indicators and HAC progress reports)
4.3 Support piloting and implementation of Child Protection CPIMS + in support of successful child protection case management.
5) Contribute to establishing and maintaining strong networks and partnerships and support the Child Protection subcluster coordination in provinces covered by the Faizabad outpost
5.1 Assist the child protection team in establishing and strengthening collaborative partnerships with CBOs, INGOs, and UN agencies.
5.2 Support information sharing among key child protection actors including dissemination of standards and funding opportunities among stakeholders in the above-mentioned provinces.
5.3 Assist in the assessment of partner capacity to implement child protection activities and support the end of project evaluation.
5.4 Support strengthening a well-established child protection response; contribute to the mapping of key actors, mapping of child protection activities.
6) Support program innovation and integration between child protection and other sectors
6.1 Assist in identifying and capturing opportunities, best practices, and lesson learned for program innovation.
6.2 Support the mainstreaming of CP in other sector and assist in planning and implementation of the capacity development program for frontline officers in health, education, and WASH.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.