Child Protection Specialist

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Description

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• 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, including mapping and assessment of needs of the most vulnerable refugee children and families, with particular focus on Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC), 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 and contribute 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 Office workplans, as well as coherence and integration with the 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.

• 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 the implementation of the signed Workplans with the line Ministries and state authorities, as well as with the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Implementing Partners (IPs) to ensure quality monitoring of undertaken initiatives, provide pertinent information on program updates, and align activities with UNICEF rules and procedures, in coordination with cross-sectoral efforts across the office.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field and program monitoring visits, relevant reports, 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 adequate management of planned resources.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

• 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.
• Provide technical expertise to enhance the protection of Unaccompanied and Separated children through assessing needs and improving service provision by CSOs, in conjunction with the statutory services provided by the state.
• Ensure the integration and mainstreaming of community based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) components across all child protection programs and foster cross-sectoral collaboration in alignment with regional and global approaches and guidance.
• Coordinate and ensure timely and quality provision of technical support regarding information system management for social services.
• Arrange and coordinate availability of technical experts with UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO) 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 Czech Republic , 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.

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, including Ministries and other national stakeholders, CSOs, 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 for the most vulnerable children and families.
• Prepare communication and information materials for the UNICEF Refugee Response Office programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and to support fund raising for child protection programmes and emergency interventions.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning on child protection related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues.

• 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
• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders, as well as strengthening institutional capacities of partner state and non-state organizations to promote sustainable results in child protection in emergencies and related programmes/projects.

• 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 is required.
• A minimum of [5] five years of relevant professional experience in social development planning and management in child protection related areas is required.
• Relevant experience in programme development in child protection related areas in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Proven track record in leading complex multistakeholder initiatives
• Experience in policy dialogue and advocacy with the government and other partners
• Knowledge and Experience in Information Systems Management is considered as an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English and Czech is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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