Child Protection Specialist (Programme / Cluster Coordinator) – P4  

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, Hope

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens addressing inequity not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Organizational context:

The Child Protection Specialist (Programme / Cluster Coordinator) (P4) works in the MENARO outpost based in Gaziantep, works for children in Northwest Syria and reports to the Emergency Coordinator.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose for the job:

Under the guidance of the Emergency Coordinator, the Child Protection Specialist (Programme / Cluster Coordinator) will be responsible for supporting both cluster coordination and programme design, development and monitoring of the UNICEF humanitarian response programme for the Child Protection programme in north-west Syria. The post will be managing UNICEF’s Child Protection programme, including the management of implementing partners and capacity development. The specialist post will lead the Child Protection cluster work to ensure a well-coordinated, strategic, and adequate response by all cluster members. The post will lead the Child Protection cluster role and will also facilitate the process to ensure a well-coordinated, strategic, adequate response by all child protection members. The post is responsibility for the child protection cluster at the Gaziantep level covering northwest Syria for the efficient functioning of the work of the cluster members.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Coordination Child Protection Area of Responsibility.
• Response/ Programme development and planning.
• Programme management, monitoring and quality control of results.
• Advocacy, networking and partnership building.
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Vacancy Announcement – Child Protection Specialist (Programme – Cluster Coordinator) [RDM24025].pdf

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

The following minimum requirements:

Education: An Advanced University Degree in social sciences, law, or relevant field. Or

Experience: Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in programme planning, management, and/or research in education at the international level, some of which preferably in a developing country is required. Experience working in the UN system agency or UN organization is an asset. Familiarity with emergency response is an asset.

A first level (Bachelor’s) University Degree in related fields with 10 years professional experience may be acceptable in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language 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. 
• Nurtures, leads, and manages people.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

Technical competencies must be demonstrated in the following areas:

• Good understanding of the overall global development context, including issues such as: poverty, conflict, and the impact of these factors on child protection and vice-versa; and inter-sectoral approaches to address such issues in collaboration with other sectors (including Social Policy, Education, Nutrition, WASH, Health, and Communications within UNICEF).
• Good knowledge of global developments in child protection and international engagement strategies, including the application of child rights and the equity lens and human rights perspectives to programming.
• Advanced, technical knowledge of theories, principles, and methods in the following.
  • Strengthening child protection, systems, and partner capacity for protecting children against violence in emergencies, with respect to harmful traditional practices; in improving justice for children and strengthening social welfare systems. Use of data and indicators in child protection.
  • Knowledge of the global commitment on aid effectiveness, including the Paris Declaration on Aid effectiveness, the Accra Agenda for Action, as well as knowledge of the global programme partnerships (GPPs).
  • Knowledge of global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women Commitments for children in emergencies rights-based and results-based programming in UNICEF.
  • UN guidelines on sexual exploitation and abuse by you and staff and partners, equality, and diversity awareness
  • UNICEF policies and strategy in child protection, including natural, disasters, and recovery Core Commitments for children in emergencies.

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, time off for breastfeeding purposes, 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:

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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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.

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

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

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