Child Protection Specialist

The Child Protection Specialist reports to the Child Protection Specialist who reports to the Chief of Child Protection for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the development and preparation of the GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response programme(s) and is responsible for supporting management, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of the GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response programmes/projects within the country programme. The Specialist provides technical guidance and 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 and their care givers 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 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 function, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks:

• Support to programme/project development and planning
• Support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response programmes/projects to ensure that current and comprehensive data on GBV 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 GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response 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.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to support 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.
• 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 GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response 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.
• Guide partners on reporting, collect reports and ensure regular and mandated programme/project reports to keep track of programme progress

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 GBV programme related issues to support programme management, implementation, and delivery of results.
• Participate in GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response 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.
• Contribute to policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration.

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.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and to support fund raising for GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response programmes and emergency interventions.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency coordination 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.
• 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 partners and stakeholders to promote sustainable results in GBV programming, specially on social norms change (prevention), case management (response) and GBV risk mitigation.

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

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, or another relevant field.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience and demonstrated track record of having undertaken and led substantive programming and research on Gender-Based Violence, Gender, and development in key issue areas that are the focus of UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan and the child protection strategic plan.
• Good analytical and writing skills, and the ability to present the results in a simple language, making use of visual aids (maps, graphs, and other visual tools);
• Experience with the capacity-building field and especially social norm change tools.
• Ability to facilitate training sessions with local authorities and maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/570214