Child Protection Specialist – Female Genital Mutilation (P-4), FT, PG Child Protection, outposted in Nairobi – Kenya # 00019596

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For every child, … protection

The Child Protection Specialist (Female Genital Mutilation) will be part of the Prevention of Harmful Practices Unit within the context of supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, UNICEF Strategic Plan and UNICEF Child Protection Strategy, the Child Protection Specialist (FGM) provides overall support to the Child Protection Section with a focus on the prevention of harmful practices – in particular efforts around accelerating abandonment of FGM. The incumbent will develop global goods, partnerships, provide thought leadership and technical guidance to support the work on accelerating abandonment of FGM, including a key focus on the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on FGM, which cover 17 countries respectively and will be delivered together with UNFPA and UNICEF from 2024 to 2030. This will be done in collaboration with all clusters/divisions/sections at HQ and country and regional offices as well as with external partners and UN agencies, in particular UNFPA. This work contributes to SDG target 5.3, which aims to eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting. 

How can you make a difference?

We are seeking a highly motivated Child Protection Specialist (FGM) to join our team in Nairobi. This role involves developing and supporting efforts to prevent harmful practices, with a specific focus on accelerating the abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). As part of this role, you will supervise the Child Protection Specialist (FGM L-3) and collaborate closely with various focal points within the Child Protection Section, as well as key partners across UNICEF’s programme and policy sections, government, academia, research institutions, NGOs/CSOs, and international development agencies.

Your contributions will be essential to ensuring that the prevention of harmful practices, especially FGM, is effectively integrated into relevant work streams. The position requires frequent international travel to regional and country offices, as well as participation in international conferences, workshops, and seminars.

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

The Child Protection Specialist (FGM) will play a crucial role in the development, planning, and management of programs focused on preventing harmful practices, especially accelerating the abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This includes crafting program proposals, leveraging funding, and creating tools for monitoring and tracking results. You will align global child protection initiatives with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan and international standards, participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, and prepare detailed program reports. Your responsibilities also include setting specific goals, objectives, and strategies for the sector and ensuring compliance with results-based planning methodologies.

In addition to program management, the Specialist will provide thought leadership and strategic direction for UNICEF’s global initiatives on FGM elimination. You will develop and strengthen inter-agency guidelines and tools, provide technical advice to management, and contribute to global strategies and policies. This role involves building and maintaining strategic partnerships, representing UNICEF in global forums, and managing innovation-related mechanisms to support UNICEF’s work. You will also advance research, promote innovative approaches, and support capacity building by disseminating best practices and ensuring research informs program design and implementation. More details on this role can be found in JD: JD_P4 Child Protection Specialist FGM position July2024 19596 – for VA.doc

The following minimum requirements:

An Advanced University degree or higher in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, social work, gender, international law or other social science field is required.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible professional experience at national and international levels related to FGM prevention and response programming, some of which were served in a developing country, is required.
• Experience in gender transformative programming is a requirement.

Desirables/Assets:

• Demonstrated strong communication, presentation and writing skills, including report writing, oral presentations and development of technical documents is desired.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of the latest developments and issues related to FGM and gender is desired.
• Relevant experience in child protection and/or related areas, programme/project development and management in a UN agency or international development organization is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, budget management and monitoring of programme results is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset..

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

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

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.