The Child Protection Officer (GBV) reports to the Child Protection Specialist (GBV) at Level P3. The Child Protection Officer (GBV) provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for child protection and Gender Based Violence programmes/projects within the Country Programme from development planning to delivery of results.

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For every child, the right to hope

 UNICEF Ukraine

How can you make a difference? 

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, 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.

As a lead agency in addressing Gender-based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE) as well as violence against children,  UNICEF has expanded its on-the-ground programming in recent years and made prevention of and response to GBV one its targeted priorities in its Gender Action Plan (GAP). The GAP is integrally linked to UNICEF’s Strategic Plan (SP) and provides a clear programmatic focus on the gender-equitable results that UNICEF aims to achieve across all areas of its SP.

UNICEF is increasingly focusing on the gender dynamics of violence against children and the intersection between GBV and violence against children (VAC), recognising that many of the structural drivers, risk factors and consequences of violence are shared. This strategic shift reflects the organization’s commitment to advancing integrated, survivor-centred and system-based responses that address violence in all its forms — across the humanitarian, transition and recovery continuum.

UNICEF is also a leading agency in the development of programming and tools related to GBViE, including supporting the development of the Call to Action Roadmap,  the implementation of multi-country GBViE evaluations, the implementation of the revised IASC GBV Guidelines (2015), the revision of the GBV Coordination Handbook (2016) and the development of the UNICEF GBViE Programme Resource Pack.

Within this context, the Child Protection Officer (GBV)  contributes to strengthening national and subnational capacities to integrate GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response within child-protection and broader social systems, while maintaining UNICEF’s focus in GBViE. The position focuses on enhancing technical support, monitoring of program implementation, and strengthening national and local partnerships in gender-based violence (GBV) and violence against children (VAC) prevention and response as a core component of the child protection program.

Job organizational context

The Child Protection Officer (GBV) will be based in the UNICEF Country Office in Kyiv, Ukraine, and will undertake regular travel to UNICEF field offices, including Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Lviv, to provide technical support, monitor program implementation, and strengthen local partnerships.

The Officer will support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of GBV-related interventions with strong linkages to VAC-related child protection program. The role requires technical expertise in GBV programming, including prevention and response strategies, capacity strengthening skills, and experience in program management within both development and humanitarian contexts. The role includes fostering stronger integration within GBV–VAC systems. The Officer will work closely with government counterparts, civil society organizations, and UN partners (particularly UNFPA, UN Women, and UNHCR) to ensure coordinated, survivor-centered, and child-sensitive GBV interventions.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to programme development and planning
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation
4. Networking and partnership building
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

1. Support to programme development and planning

• Conduct and update the situation analysis for the development, design, and management of gender-based violence- and violence against children-related programmes/projects. Research and report on development trends (e.g., economic, social, health) and data for use in programme development, management, monitoring, evaluation, and delivery of results.
• Contribute to developing and establishing sectoral programme goals, objectives, strategies, and results-based planning through research, analysis, and reporting of GBV and VAC, and other related information for development planning and priority and goal setting.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing and administering a variety of technical, programme, operational, and administrative transactions, preparing related materials and documentation, and complying with organizational processes and management systems to support programme planning, results-based planning (RBM), and monitoring and evaluating results.
• Prepare required programme documentation, materials, and data to facilitate the programme review and approval process.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues. Implementing partners, and government counterparts to discuss implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations and/or to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level interventions and/or decisions. Keep records 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 government and other counterparts to assess programmes/projects, and to report on required action/interventions at the higher level of programme management.
• Monitor and report on the use of GBV programme resources (financial, administrative, and other assets), verifying compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations, procedures, donor commitments, and standards of accountability and integrity. Report on critical issues and findings to ensure timely resolution by management and stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare regular and mandated sectoral programme/project reports for management, donors, and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Conduct regular programme field visits and surveys, and exchange information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support. Take appropriate action to resolve issues 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, NGO partners, UN system partners (particularly UNFPA, UN Women, and UNHCR), and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices in child protection, to support programme implementation.
• Provide technical support and coordination efforts to the child protection officers/specialists in the field offices across Ukraine in accordance with the Annual work plans and program objectives.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain close working partnerships with government counterparts, national and sub-national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build stakeholders' capacity to achieve and sustain results on child protection.
• Participate in inter-agency meetings/events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF operational planning and preparation of child protection programmes/projects and integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with UNDAF development and planning processes. This includes actively presenting UNICEF in coordination meetings such as GBVAOR, MOSP GBV, Social Service and Social service workforce taskforce meetings etc., as required and requested.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fundraising and partnership development purposes.
• Draft communication and information materials for the CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support fundraising for child protection and GBV-VAC 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 implementing and delivering concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Research 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 UNICEF staff, implementing partners, and other stakeholders.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:  A university degree in one of the following fields is required: social work, gender studies, international development/political science, human rights, psychology, sociology, or another relevant social science field.

Work Experience: A minimum of two years of professional experience in social development planning and management in gender-based violence-related areas is required. 

Language Requirements: Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required.

Desirables: Experience working as a trainer and capacity strengthening is an asset. Relevant experience in programme development and management in child protection and gender-based violence-related areas within a UN agency, INGO, or similar organization is considered an asset. Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage. 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…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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.

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

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.

UNICEF staff members holding fixed-term, continuing, or permanent appointments who are considered to be on abolished post status may apply for this temporary position and, if selected with a start date before 31 December 2025, may take it up as a temporary assignment, in line with UNICEF guidance on separation due to the abolition of posts or staff reduction. They will retain their fixed-term entitlements but will not hold a lien to their abolished post. For other scenarios where a Temporary Assignment may be possible, please refer to Additional guidance on IP to IP temporary assignments after completion of the full TOD.pdf (accessible to internal staff only).

The conditions of a temporary assignment, including relocation entitlements, will depend on the status of the staff member’s original appointment and may be limited in accordance with applicable UNICEF policies, procedures, and practices in force.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

This position is based in Kyiv and the incumbent will be expected be work on-site. However, depending on the security conditions and advisory, s/he will be required to relocate within Ukraine.