Child Protection Specialist – MHPSS (P-3), FT, PG Child Protection outposted in Nairobi # 129248

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, … a protection

As UNICEF’s MHPSS team within Child Protection in Humanitarian Action continues to expand through new partnerships and projects, this role will: support the operational and technical management of global MHPSS projects and NGO and UN system partnerships, technical support on community based MHPSS and Child Protection programmes and initiatives, and contribute to global MHPSS and Child Protection coordination mechanisms and networks.

The Specialist contributes to the achievement of concrete and sustainable programme/project results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework

How can you make a difference?

Join our team as a Child Protection Specialist – MHPSS and lead efforts in transforming mental health and psychosocial support for children and adolescents in crisis situations. In this role, you’ll oversee the strategic development and implementation of cutting-edge MHPSS interventions, ensuring they align with UNICEF’s core commitments and global standards. Your expertise will directly contribute to shaping and scaling effective MHPSS programs across diverse and challenging humanitarian contexts.

In this role, you will work closely with focal points within the Child Protection Section and other relevant sections at headquarters, such as Supply Division, Human Resources, PPD, Education, Health, and the Office of the Executive Director. You will also engage with key partners, including the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPHA), WHO, IOM, The MHPSS Collaborative, MHPSS.net, subject matter experts, and multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, to ensure that high-quality MHPSS services are effectively scaled up and integrated globally for children, adolescents, and caregivers.

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

Join our team as a Child Protection Specialist – MHPSS and lead efforts in transforming mental health and psychosocial support for children and adolescents in crisis situations. In this role, you’ll oversee the strategic development and implementation of cutting-edge MHPSS interventions, ensuring they align with UNICEF’s core commitments and global standards. Your expertise will directly contribute to shaping and scaling effective MHPSS programs across diverse and challenging humanitarian contexts.

Key responsibilities include developing and managing partnerships with UN entities, humanitarian partners, government institutions, and civil society organizations to advance impactful, evidence-informed projects. The role involves drafting and managing partnership agreements, MOUs, and contracts, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s policies and legal frameworks. The role also provides technical support to NGO and UN partners on UNICEF policies and best practices related to child protection and MHPSS. Coordination involves contributing to global Child Protection and MHPSS networks, co-leading working groups, representing UNICEF in global task forces, and supporting inter-divisional collaborations for MHPSS programming. More details can be found in JD:  JD_FT_P3_CP Specialist MHPSS – 129248.docx

The following minimum requirements:

• An Advanced University degree in psychology, social work, international development or other relevant field is required.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in child protection and MHPSS at national or international levels is required.
• Experience in a humanitarian context is required.
• Relevant experience in programme or project development and management, including budget and partnership management, is required.
• Relevant experience in community based MHPSS and Child Protection Case Management is required.

Desirables:

• Experience in global inter-agency coordination is an asset.
• Experience working in a UN system agency or organization 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.