Child Protection Officer (Refugee and Migration), (NO-1), Sofia, Bulgaria, #119962 (open for Bulgarian nationals only)

The Child Protection Officer (Refugee and Migration) provides professional, technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the interventions related to child protection through the application of theoretical and technical skills in researching, collecting, analyzing, and presenting technical programme information while learning organizational rules, regulations and procedures to support the development and implementation of the Bulgaria Country Programme for the period 2023 - 2027.

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, protection.

The Country Programme of UNICEF Bulgaria for 2023 – 2027 aims to ensure that every child has the best start in life, feels safer and receives better support to develop their full potential. The Child Protection Officer (Refugee and Migration) contributes to achieving results in Outcome 1 (in the area of Child Protection) and Outcome 3 (in the area of Child Rights Monitoring) of the CPD for the period 2023 – 2027.

Bulgaria CO is the only CO in ECA region responding to both the Refugee and Migrant Response on the Mediterranean and Western Balkan Routes since 2013 and to the Ukraine Refugee Response since March 2022.

How can you make a difference?

The Child Protection Officer (Refugee and Migration) provides professional, technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for the interventions related to child protection through the application of theoretical and technical skills in researching, collecting, analyzing, and presenting technical programme information while learning organizational rules, regulations and procedures to support the development and implementation of the Bulgaria Country Programme for the period 2023 - 2027. 

The Child Protection Officer (Refugee and Migration) will be responsible for supporting the technical and operational work needed to establish, develop, and monitor the country office child protection programme interventions including through preparation and monitoring of programme documents and programme co-operation agreements, memorandums of understanding, undertaking field visits, documenting programmatic visits, etc. as well as providing technical assistance and input to relevant working groups and stakeholders. H/She will contribute to the collection and analyses of data and information from the national stakeholders and the field, as well as provide inputs to internal and external reporting processes and multi-sectoral co-ordination.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Support to programme development and planning

• Research and analyze regional and national political, protection, social and economic development trends.
• Collect, analyze, verify, and synthesize information to facilitate programme development, design, and preparation.
• Prepare technical reports and inputs for programme preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and relevancy of information.
• Facilitate the development and establishment of child protection programme goals, objectives, strategies, and results-based planning through research, collection, analysis and reporting of child protection programmes and other related information for development planning and priority and goal setting.
• Provide technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programmingprocesses by executing and administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials and documentations, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results-based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluation of results.
• Prepare required documentations and materials to facilitate the programme review and approval process.
• Support co-ordination with program sections staff and other stakeholders and preparation of inputs for appeals and updates related to the regular programme work and the humanitarian responses for both Ukraine and non-Ukraine refugee and migrant children.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.

• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to collect, analyze and share information on implementation issues, suggest solutions on routine programme implementation and submit reports to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher level intervention and/or decisions. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with the government and other counterparts and prepare minutes/reports on results for follow up action by higher management and other stakeholders.
• Monitor and report on the use of programme resources related to child protection work with refugee and migrant children (financial, administrative, and other assets), verifying compliance with approved allocation, goals, organizational rules, regulations, procedures, donor commitments, and standards of accountability and integrity.
• Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management and stakeholders.
• Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare inputs for programme and donor reporting.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation.

• Undertake field visits and surveys and collect and share reports with partners and stakeholders.
• Assess progress and provide technical support and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution.
• Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, local and regional authorities, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices in child protection and working with refugee and migrant children, to support programme implementation.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve and sustain results on programme work related to refugee and migrant children.
• Participate in inter-agency meetings/events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF operational planning and preparation of refugee and migrant related programmes/projects, and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with UNDAF development and planning processes.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.
• Draft communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for refugee and migrant programmes.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Research, benchmark and report on best and cutting-edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of service users and stakeholders.

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

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.
• A minimum of one year of professional experience in planning and management of programmes related to refugee and migrant populations, especially children and women, is required.
• Knowledge of the national reception and child protection systems, with a special focus on asylum - seeking children, refugee children and children affected by migration.
  Experience in development and provision of family-based alternative care for unaccompanied and separated children is considered as an asset.

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

• Fluency in Bulgarian and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) 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

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 checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 

Remarks:

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

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