Child Protection Officer, NOB, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Malaysian Only (Temporary Assignment)

The child protection officer will provide support to the implementation of the child protection interventions as stipulated in the CPAP and work plan 2017/18. In respect to violence against children, while improving the child protection tertiary responses (managing the long-term physical, psychological and social consequences of violence and abuse) will continue, greater attention needs to be paid to primary prevention, (preventing violence and abuse before it happens) and secondary (preventing further violence and abuse in those at risk of it).

The child protection officer will provide support to the implementation of the child protection interventions as stipulated in the CPAP and work plan 2017/18. In respect to violence against children, while improving the child protection tertiary responses (managing the long-term physical, psychological and social consequences of violence and abuse) will continue, greater attention needs to be paid to primary prevention, (preventing violence and abuse before it happens) and secondary (preventing further violence and abuse in those at risk of it).

Primary prevention initiatives will be directed at the community, schools and care institutions to strengthen the overall capacity in caring for children and keeping them safe. This includes activities directed at changing attitudes and social behaviours of different actors (parents, care givers, professionals, religious leaders, community leaders etc.) through advocacy and behaviour change campaigns, strengthening parenting skills, promoting the need for alternative forms of discipline rather than physical punishment, and sensitisation on the impact of violence against children including child marriage. Concerning child justice, the post will support initiatives to address the emerging new area of work on administrative detention of children and alternative to detention (ATD) models, as well as supporting the piloting of the diversion and probation services.

Purpose for the job: The Child Protection Officer reports to the Senior Child Protection Specialist for supervision. He/she supports implementation of the child protection and child Justice work and assists in monitoring, evaluating and reporting of progress and results of the overall child protection components of the country programme.

Key function, accountabilities & related duties/tasks

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

    

Support to program development and planning

a.Violence against children

• Support development of measures for strengthening primary and secondary prevention of violence against children with particular focus on violence at family, and community level, including schools and institutions
• Support multisector stakeholder engagement and partnerships, which includes relevant government agencies, NGOs, academia, the private sector, parliamentarians, religious leaders and the media on work related to violence against children including child marriage, and support piloting of  positive parenting practices to parents and carers in selected location(s) and monitor changes in parental behaviours and practices
• Support training for health workers, teachers, police, local authorities, community leaders, to strengthen their knowledge and skills to identify and respond to child protection risks including referrals of affected children to appropriate care and rehabilitation services
• Support and contribute to advocacy initiatives and  engagement with religious leaders, civil society organisations (CSOs), Parliamentarians, children and young people and other stakeholders on measures to combat child marriage

b. Child Justice

• Support implementation and monitoring of pilot initiatives on diversion and probation.
• Support advocacy on ending detention of children, specifically administrative detention and promotion of alternatives to detention models
• Support the assessment of Department of Social Welfare Institutions for children in conflict with the law

Program management, monitoring and delivery of results.

• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Identify and report on critical issues/findings to ensure timely resolution by management/stakeholders.
• Contribute to preparation of sectoral program/project reports for management, and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.
• Support monitoring and use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures, standards of accountability and integrity and ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources as appropriate

Technical and operational support to program implementation

• Support the child protection team to provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, academia, United Nations system partners and other country office partners on interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices and approaches on child protection to support programme implementation and delivery of results
• Participate in discussions with national partners/stakeholders to promote prevention of violence against children and access to justice for all children
• Contribute to drafting policy papers, position papers, media briefs and queries and other programme materials for advocacy and fulfilment of the normative roles and obligations

Networking and partnership building

• Support child protection team to build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts and other stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate achievement of programme goals
• Build capacity of stakeholders to achieve and sustain results on child protection.
• In collaboration with communication section, prepare communication and information materials for country office programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances for child protection programmes.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Support knowledge development, management, sharing of best practices and contribute to building the capacity of stakeholders in this regard.
• Support/ Apply/ innovative approaches and good practice to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results for children.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best practices in child protection management and information systems.
• Support implementation of capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote sustainable results in child protection, child justice and child rights advocacy

Competencies and level of proficiency

Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication (II)
• Working with people (I)
• Drive for results (I)

Functional Competencies:

• Formulating strategies and concepts (I)
• Analysing (II)
• Applying technical expertise (II)
• Learning and researching (II)
• Planning and organising (II)

Requirements & Qualifications

• A University Degree in law, social work, psychology, sociology, or other social science field is required.
• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in social welfare and child protection and other related areas is required. Relevant experience in program/project development and management in a UN system agency or organisation is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset

   

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization