Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF

Job Description:

The Child Protection Specialist (Migration) will work closely with Child Protection in Emergencies, Violence Against Children and Child Protection Systems Specialists in the Child Protection section as well as with key sections such as Humanitarian Action Resilience and Peace Building (HARP), Education, Adolescents and Gender ones and Country Offices staff, to ensure that migration issues are effectively considered and coherently integrated into appropriate work streams.

The Child Protection Specialist will direct, lead and manage the work of the office on children on the move, including support to strengthen cross-border child protection mechanisms and inclusion of children on the move in existing national systems in the region.

 Responsibilities: 

• Programme Development, planning and managementResponsible for the development of programme proposals and other actions to leverage funds for the areas of responsibilities, reflecting priorities for the area of migration and children on the move, including a key focus on the efficient and effective development of protection-focused migration and refugee policy and programming. Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated. Certifies disbursement of funds, monitors and submits financial status reports to management in compliance with regulation and guidelines.
• Advisory services and technical supportStrengthen capacity at country and regional levels by developing inter-agency standard-setting guidance and tools to support work on protection focused migration and refugee issues. This will take place though strategizing with country and regional offices and partners to raise awareness of the guidelines, informed by a collected body of knowledge that can be shared and replicated across countries. Provide technical assistance to country offices for the design and implementation of child protection programmes related to children on the move. Provide quality assurance of interventions across countries, including coordination of cross-border activities and programmes related to children on the move.
• Advocacy, networking and partners buildingDevelop and maintain inter-agency relationships with external partners and UN agencies, such as UNHCR, IOM, the African Union and Regional Economic Communities, supporting the development of enhanced policy frameworks to advance the protection of children on the move.
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity buildingKeep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best practices in child protection management and information systems related to children on the move. Promote knowledge management/sharing and technical input or recommendations on major programme direction and on introduction of new initiatives.

Impact of Results

• The strategic and effective advocacy, planning and formulation of child protection programme/projects and the achievements of sustainable results contributes to the achievement of goals and objective to create a protective environment for children on the move against harm and all forms of violent and ensures their survival, development and well-being in society. Achievement in child protection programme and projects in turn contribute to maintaining/enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide programme services for mothers and children that promote greater social equality in the country.
• The decision of the incumbent directly affects UNICEF’s leadership role in the area of children on the move, migration and protection; effectiveness of country programmes and regional interventions; and timely recruitment of technical consultant for effective programme response.
• The recommendation of the incumbent will affect the direction of programming approaches; strategic planning and the development of future policies; and programmes and projects related to children on the move, migration and protection.

Qualifications:

• Advanced University degree in International Relations, Public Administration/Public Policy, Humanitarian Affairs, Development, Social Sciences, or a related technical field.
• Five years professional work experience at national and international levels in humanitarian response. Preferred experience in preparedness, complex emergencies, including experience in early recovery in the East and southern Africa region.
• Excellent written reporting skills
• Fluency in both written and spoken English, and another UN language as a strong asset