Child Protection Specialist

Under the general supervision and guidance of the Chief Child Protection #68521, the Child Protection Specialist will provide strategic leadership on the area of alternative care in the UNICEF Malaysia Country Office, improve the evidence base for systemic reform of the alternative care system in Malaysia, and will engage in dialogue for sustainable programme development, advocacy, partnership and coalition building.

The Temporary Assignment incumbent will be responsible for:

Strengthen partnerships and build new coalitions:

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with relevant Government and NGO/CSOs counterparts;
• Potentially identify a champion state and cultivate strong relations to model a comprehensive approach to care reform in one state;
• Sensitize the business community on the harms of supporting institutional care and mobilize them to strengthen families, working closely with UNICEF’s Business for Results Specialist, the Communications Section and the Private Sector and Fundraising Section (PFP).

Strategy Development:

• Drawing on national, regional and international expertise, develop a 5-year strategy on Care Reform to be included in UNICEF Malaysia’s current and next Country Programme;
• Lead on consultations within the UNICEF Country Office, drawing on the expertise of relevant programme sections, Communications and PFP to develop a comprehensive and evidence-based strategy with a strong focus on prevention;
• Pending Government agreement, support the Government in developing a comprehensive Care Reform Agenda;
• Lead on consultations with Government counterparts as well as the CSO/NGO community.

Provide technical support:

• Drawing on national, regional and international expertise, provide technical support to Government on a comprehensive Care Reform Agenda or elements of it, such as the evidence-based expansion of the existing family-based care pilot or fast-tracking registration and monitoring of unregistered institutional care;
• Promote regional and global standards, as relevant, in the Malaysian context; including UN Minimum Standards on Alternative Care;
• Facilitate learning from other relevant contexts that have implemented a comprehensive Care Reform Agenda.

Address the data gap on children living in institutional care:

• Support identification of, and/or work with survey and data collection agency/institute to carry out the UNICEF’s Survey of Children Living in Residential Care
• Supervise and/or collaborate with said survey and data collection agency/institute to test and implement adapted research protocol for training; finalize sampling design, obtain ethical approval, carry out data collection and analysis;
• Facilitate/moderate/coordinate a Technical Working Group, noting that the TWG composition include government ministries, Malaysian Association of Social Workers, and UNICEF as well as other key agency partners;
• Co-develop draft report and/or coordinate its review and provision of inputs by TWG and UNICEF
• Upon request of supervisor, support on other areas of programming, such as social service workforce strengthening.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An Advance University Degree in social sciences, social work, or similar field.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Child Protection or Social Policy, with a focus on the area of alternative care, family strengthening and/or social work.
• Candidate with 8 years or more experience is highly desired.
• Experience engaging in diplomatic and strategic advocacy in Malaysia or outside
• Proven track record of Partnership and Convening skills.
• Excellent oral and written skills, including presentation skills
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Team worker that brings positive energy

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Bahasa Malaysia is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is considered as an asset

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/575589