Jobs at UNICEF

The purpose of this position is to strengthen UNICEF ESARO’s work to scale up PSEA efforts across the region and provide technical support and guidance to UNICEF country offices (CO) to accelerate PSEA implementation, with a particular focus on humanitarian contexts and the L3 in the Horn of Africa. The Child Protection Specialist (PSEA) will work directly within the UNICEF ESARO Child Protection team and engage collaboratively with UNICEF sections at the regional level, particularly the HACT Specialist responsible for oversight of UNICEF’s implementing partners at CO level, and in COs to enhance efforts to address PSEA including prevention, reporting, response and monitoring of SEA. Under the direct supervision of ESARO CP Specialist for Emergencies, working in close cooperation with the Child Protection Specialist (Gender Based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE)), the Child Protection Specialist (PSEA) will provide technical assistance to strengthen CO capacities to develop access to safe and child sensitive reporting channels, including within community-based complaint mechanisms; scale up survivor assistance; and to support cases investigation, as relevant. The Child Protection Specialist (PSEA) will work directly with PSEA Specialists and focal points and engage with AAP Focal Points in the RO and COs.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Child Protection Specialist (Emergencies), the incumbent will:

Provide strategic and technical support to UNICEF ESARO and COs to scale up efforts to address PSEA

• Contribute to the implementation and roll out of global and regional guidance and strategies to improve efforts to address SEA including survivor assistance, SEA investigations, SEA risk assessments and engagement with government and other partners.
• Contribute to the Roll-Out of the UN Victim Assistance Protocol in ESA and support capacity building across COs and at the inter-agency level. 
• Provide technical support to COs for implementation of survivor assistance to ensure survivors have access to appropriate services i.e. medical, psychosocial, legal and material support, in accordance with the UN Victim Assistance protocol.
• Strengthen COs capacities to develop and improve access to safe, gender and age sensitive reporting channels including community-based complaint mechanisms (CBCM).
• Promote adherence to global procedures for SEA reporting and strengthen understanding among UNICEF staff and partners on UNICEF PSEA policies and reporting procedures.
• Provide technical support to ESARO Senior Management, and quality assurance to COs for receiving, handling, and referring SEA allegations including submitting Significant Incident Reporting (SIR) in line with UNICEF instruction for reporting allegations of SEA and Concerns of Abuse.
• Provide technical support to ESARO Senior Management, and quality assurance for the inclusion of PSEA into programmes (WASH, Health, Nutrition, Education, Emergencies, Social Behaviour Change, etc.).
• Lead initiatives for COs to build capacity of partners for SEA investigations including documentation of reported SEA allegations and taking appropriate measures to ensure safety and confidentiality of survivors, complainants and witnesses.

Strengthen knowledge management and policy development on PSEA for ESARO and COs

• Contribute to the development of new global and regional guidance and strategies of specific relevance including the global government cooperation framework on PSEA.
• Keep abreast of developments with PSEA and child safeguarding and make appropriate recommendations for UNICEF ESARO on enhancing prevention and response strategies.
• Support documentation of good practices, learning exchanges and forums on PSEA interventions and regularly update the SharePoint sites for ESAR staff to access policy and guidance materials studies n PSEA, and child safeguarding.
• Actively monitor financial and human resource capacity to ensure sufficient resources are in place to effectively achieve UNICEF PSEA commitments particularly in emergency settings.
• Promote the inclusion of PSEA into resource mobilization efforts, reports, proposals, ToRs, humanitarian appeal processes, advocacy materials and other relevant documents, as required.
• Monitor progress of PSEA implementation in the region and provide regular updates including briefing notes, programme reports and other documents to inform ESARO senior management.

Work closely with the Programme Specialist for HACT to operationalize the UNICEF Procedure for PSEA Assessments of CSO Implementing Partnerships.

• Support the HACT Specialist in the regional office to monitor quality standards of PSEA Assessments conducted by Cos, advise COs on actions based on partner assessment, and provide technical support to the development of IP Action Plans as needed.
• Strengthen capacity for country offices to conduct partner assessments, including transitioning to the UN common system for assessments, strengthen field monitoring and partner capacity for both CSOs and government, building CO capacity through PSEA Toolkit and Action Plan.

Improve coordination of UNICEF PSEA interventions internally and at the inter-agency level.

• Support UNICEF CO PSEA Focal Points (FPs) and Specialists by organizing regular meetings, providing trainings, enhancing communication and information sharing among COs on PSEA.
• Strengthen implementation of COs PSEA inter-agency initiatives/networks, including the setting-up of in-country PSEA Networks.
• Represent UNICEF on the inter-agency PSEA regional working group and on UNICEF HQ coordination groups and maintain close relationship with PSEA focal points in other regions.
• Regularly support COs capacity building efforts including co-facilitating PSEA training modules for UNICEF and IPs staff as appropriate on international standards on PSEA, roles and responsibilities, and how to submit and receive complaints and strengthening GBV services for survivor assistance.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in  one of the following fields: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.
• A minimum of eight of relevant professional experience in  design, implementation and management of child protection or GBV programming, PSEA and child safeguarding, preferably with the UN and/or international NGO in humanitarian contexts.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Experience in and knowledge of UN and IASC policies and guidance related but not limited to PSEA, AAP, GBV and Centrality of Protection. Familiarity with the latest development in PSEA, interagency PSEA responses and humanitarian cluster systems. IASC PSEA Training for Coordinators will be considered an advantage.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to liaise with people successfully and effectively in a wide range of functions in a multi-cultural environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.
• Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions.
• Excellent facilitation, training, networking and advocacy skills.
• Strong understanding of GBV and Child Protection case management systems and survivor assistance.
• Experience in community engagement and development of community-based complaints and feedback mechanisms.
• Availability to travel frequently in the region.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French or Portuguese an asset.

Deadline: 12 Dec 2022

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The purpose of this position is to support the continued efforts of the regional office and country offices to realise the goals and commitments expressed with the UNICEF Strategic Plan and sector specific frameworks.

Goal and Objective: 

The overall objective of this assignment is to oversee the development and implementation of the regional strategy on MHPSS in line with the Strategic Plan and the Regional Office Management Plan and Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Collaboration for Children (ESAR C4C) to scale-up integrated and cross-sectoral MHPSS programming in both development and emergency settings. In addition, the incumbent will provide support to UNICEF programmes, Government counterparts and/ or other regional institutions (including the African Union and Regional Economic Committees) to include MHPSS into relevant planning and policies in Eastern and Southern Africa. 

Major Duties and Responsibilities

This position will support the Regional Office in 4 main areas of work and will be expected to complete the following tasks: 

Cross-sectoral MHPSS strategy development and implementation

• Acting as the strategic lead for MHPSS and Regional Office MHPSS Working Group, coordinate MHPSS strategic and programmatic priorities across sectors and areas of work at regional level including the development of annual and multi-year workplans.
• Through the regional working group and with programme focal points, develop and implement the regional MHPSS strategy and related workplans in alignment with the Global MHPSS Multi-sectoral Operational Framework.
• Identify strategic technical partnerships within the region and nurture the existing ones.
• Develop and monitor the implementation of a regional Resource Mobilization Strategy for UNICEF Activities.

Coordination and Partnerships

• Coordinate implementation and reporting on 7% set aside funding for MHPSS.
• Facilitate and coordinate multi-sector regional working groups.
• In cooperation with the programmes MHPSS focal persons, support policy level dialogue, field level coordination and advocacy for MHPSS.
• In close liaison with WCARO and WHO Africa, coordinate ESARO contribution and implementation of the 10-year Joint Programme on MHPSS in ESAR including resource mobilisation.

Technical Support, capacity strengthening and representation

• Provide technical support to programme focal points to strengthen the government led MHPSS multi-sectoral coordination structures.
• Facilitate the dissemination of the latest evidence and guidance on the prevention and response of MHPSS for UNICEF staff and partners in the region.
• Set up training and capacity building activities through regular webinars and trainings.
• Provide inputs to any new project design and/or proposal to ensure more systematic integration of MHPSS and for capacity building, as needs be.
• In collaboration with the Regional Office MHPSS focal persons, provide technical support to countries towards development, implementation, and evaluation of multi-sectoral country-level workplans in line with the Global MHPSS Multi-sectoral Operational Framework.
• Provide technical oversight on region Mental Health Global Advocacy Priority (GAP).
• Support the Regional Office management for the development and review of MHPSS outreach material and act as the MHPSS Administrative Agent, as relevant.
• Maintain the list of MHPSS focal persons and national coordination structures; as well as the MHPSS capacity needs assessment for UNICEF staff in the region if needs be.

Knowledge management

• Strengthen the UNICEF MHPSS regional community of practice (support learning exchanges between countries, identify, help document and share good practices, keep the regional SharePoint of MHPSS materials updated with tools and resources, etc.).
• Advise programmes and countries in appropriate data collection and analysis to support evidence generation and sharing for improved programming.
• Maintain communications on MHPSS developments regionally and globally with programmes and Country Offices.
• Develop or provide inputs to case studies, evaluation and research related to MHPSS.
• Highlight needs and solutions related to MHPSS in UNICEF communication products and on relevant regional SitReps or human-interest stories.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields: in social sciences; psychology; international development; public health or similar relevant discipline
• A minimum of eight of relevant professional experience in MHPSS programming, including in humanitarian contexts.
• Solid knowledge and understanding of health and social work systems, humanitarian principles, child safeguarding measures and established international standards on mental health and psychosocial support for children and adolescents.
• Strong coordination, organizational and facilitation skills whether face to face or remotely with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience with multi-sectoral programme design and knowledge management, preferably including remote coordination.
• Comfortable to work independently while coordinating closely with different teams.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another French or Portuguese is an asset

Deadline: 14 Dec 2022