Internship: Child Protection Intern, Amman, Jordan (Jordanian Nationals only) (6 months)

UNICEF Jordan Country Office is seeking to hire a motivated, dynamic, and collaborative Child Protection intern working in partnership and under the supervision of the Child Protection Officer. The intern will be part of a dynamic team and will be responsible for knowledge management activities, research, and coordination activities.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, safety

During recent years, Jordan has made significant efforts to address child protection issues, through the implementation of national strategies and frameworks, including the 2016 National Framework for Family Protection from Violence. Despite these efforts, concerns regarding the protection of children against violence remain.[1]. To improve the social work education and social work practice in Jordan, the Ministry of Social Development (MOSD) conducted the Social Service Workforce (SSW) Mapping recently.

This mapping aimed to understand the SSW working to prevent and respond to these child protection risks and identify key areas in which SSW strengthening is needed to address these child protection risks. The results of the mapping will shape a national plan for strengthening social services, guaranteeing better quality care for all children and families.

Investing in the social service workforce is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of child protection efforts. Without dedicated and qualified professionals in the field, all other endeavours to improve the child protection system—such as enforcing policies and laws, optimizing case management systems, and enhancing service delivery—will be compromised.[2] The lack of investment in a robust SSW undermines the sustainability of these initiatives.

How can you make a difference? 

One of the main recommendations coming out in the recent SSW mapping is the need to establish an Accredited In-service Training Program for Social Workers affiliated with the MOSD and for the remainder of SSW who are part of the civil community and the workforce that is supporting social workers.

UNICEF will provide technical support through a local consultant working closely with MOSD, and the international consultancy firm supported by UNICEF Regional Office (RO) on developing and approving a short, accredited in-service training program. This training program shall fit the Jordanian context and meet local capacity-building needs. This program once endorsed will form the basis of qualifying existing and future service workers operating in the domain of social work in Jordan.

Amongst the deliverables are also, the development of Roadmap on Enhancing the Social Service Workforce that will bring about the focus and main priorities of enhancing the social service workforce in Jordan and the professionalization of social workers.

Hence, under the supervision of the Child Protection Officer, the intern will assist the Child Protection team of UNICEF Jordan Country Office to accomplish the above-mentioned technical assistance to the Ministry of Social Development (MOSD) and support the Child Protection team in other relevant research and benchmarking activities.

The objectives of this internship are:

1. –       Provide hands-on collecting experience on the social service workforce and the professionalization of social work in Jordan.
2. –       Assist to facilitate coordination work on the road map of enhancing the SSW as well as the short, in-term service training program between the MOSD local consultant and the international consultancy firm supported by the UNICEF RO.
3. –       Assist in organizing and coordinating relevant programmatic meetings and CP events.
4. –       Improve the intern’s understanding of the social work sector and its professional standards.
5. –       Strengthen the intern’s project management and coordination skills.
6. –       Support professional growth of intern through active participation in program activities and networking opportunities.
7. –       Assist in the coordination of partner meetings and CP events.

Supervision and guidance will be provided on a day-to-day basis, and regular meetings will be organized to provide guidance and advice, if necessary. The intern will be exposed to learning and personal development opportunities within UNICEF and with the partners including humanitarian response.

Specific tasks are highlighted below:

• Take part and draft minutes of meetings in the consultation meetings with MOSD to develop the roadmap and the in-service training program.
• Support the local consultant working with MOSD in compiling all locally endorsed training materials from various organizations ensuring all disciplinary areas of social work are included such as Child Protection, Disability, Justice, Gender, etc.
• Participate in a cross-functional capstone project to promote UNICEF operational or programmatic activities.
• Support knowledge management best practices in the child protection team.
• Support reviewing social work training programme package in line with the requirements as part of the TOR.
• Perform minor oral and written translation tasks relevant to the work of supporting the development of the social service workforce.

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

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree, preferably Social Work, Sociology, Psychology or similar Humanitarian Studies and have graduated within the last two years (2022 – 2024); or is currently enrolled in their final year of study in a university degree programme in a relevant field to the internship.

• Good knowledge and proficiency of Microsoft tools (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse people.
• Culture Sensitivity and a good understanding of the local context in rural areas.
• Ability to adapt and remain flexible.
• National of Jordan.
• Good verbal communication, research, and writing skills in English, and Arabic.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3)Drive to achieve results for impact (4)Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6)Thinks and acts strategically (7)Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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 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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.

Remarks:  

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

This internship is full-time, and on-site at the UNICEF Jordan Country Office, Shmeisani.

Interns at UNICEF receive a stipend.

UNICEF Internships are conditional on the successful candidate being able to demonstrate proof of medical insurance. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). 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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.