Child Protection Emergency Coordinator

UNICEF in Serbia is seeking an Emergency (child protection) specialist for the formulation, design, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF supported emergency programming, with a focus on child protection. This work will be undertaken within the context of the broader UNICEF response to the refugee and migrant crisis work. The Emergency (child protection) Specialist will also support the coordination of other emergency programming (health and nutrition, education) as relevant within the UNICEF response to the refugee and migrant crisis work. The duration of the assignment is 8,5 months, from 15 October 2017 to 30 June 2018.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Despite the de-facto closure of the Balkan route in early March 2016, a continuous stream of refugees and migrants continued to arrive to Serbia from Bulgaria and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (tfYROM), with strong support from international smuggling networks. After it became clear that borders would not re-open for transit, refugees and migrants began approaching the waiting areas outside Hungarian transit zones in significant numbers in early April. By this time, the capacity for entry to Hungary had dropped to 30 persons per day at each site, then subsequently to 15 and 10 currently. As a result, most refugees and migrants continued to travel towards Western Europe by irregular routes. There are currently over 4,500 refugees and migrants in the country, over 50% of them being children and women (40% and 12% respectively).

The dispersion of refugees and migrants population among many different asylum centres and refugee reception centres (currently 18) has also created additional challenges to ensure minimum child protection/gender-based violence (GBV) standards are met by the different partners working on child protection. Many of these organizations sometimes have limited capacities in child protection and GBV related issues, and as such require additional support.

UNICEF is working closely with partners to respond to the rising needs of refugee and migrant children and families. In collaboration with the Government, UNICEF has been continuously providing support to enhance the capacity of the national protection system, both from state and non-state actors. UNICEF continues to implement a two pronged approach, whereby humanitarian assistance supports the enhancing of national response systems for the medium and longer term ; thus reinforcing the humanitarian- development nexus. This provides a unique opportunity to “build back better” through investing in strengthening existing systems in the areas of child protection, health, nutrition and education, that will benefit the overall Serbian children and parents’ population in the longer-term.

The Emergency (child protection) specialist will be accountable for the formulation, design, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF supported emergency programming, with a focus on child protection. This work will be undertaken within the context of the broader UNICEF response to the refugee and migrant crisis work. The Emergency (child protection) Specialist will also support the coordination of other emergency programming (health and nutrition, education) as relevant within the UNICEF response to the refugee and migrant crisis work.

Start Date:  15th October 2017  

End Date: 30th June 2018            

Number of working days/months 8,5 months

Work Assignment Overview

Task:

Leads the preparation of ongoing situation reports, periodic updates and analyses, by compiling and analysing data, and related information on overall refugees and migrant crisis, with a specific focus on child protection, and prepare written inputs accordingly to inform effective program planning, development and management. Support efforts to ensure gender/sex disaggregated data and inputs relevant to the UNICEF supported-emergency programme are collected, analyzed and reported on in a regular manner.   Coordinates with staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensuring proper and timely UNICEF and government accountability.

Undertakes field visits to project areas, to assess local conditions and monitor progress. Establishes contact with community groups and partners to keep abreast of emergency situation. Collect information, identify problems and constraints in order to ensure effective project delivery.

Design, prepare, monitor and evaluate projects in the child protection (CP) sector in partnership with civil society and government actors. This includes working with existing UNICEF partners to strengthen CP components of ongoing work and identifying new partners to take forward an expanded portfolio of UNICEF’s work on CP. Monitor, analyse and evaluate project results to ensure achievement of objectives and take corrective action when necessary.  

Assist in development of appropriate public communication and information strategies and materials to support and advocate for children rights in support of UNICEF’s response to the refugee and migrant crisis.

Establish effective leadership for the child protection sub-working group, map existing activities and undertake protection gap analysis, support the elaboration of Standard Operation Procedures and standardized tools, promote data collection and management, build capacity among partners

Through advocacy and policy dialogue, including through Child Protection coordination framework, work to facilitate the understanding of the importance of addressing child protection by all stakeholders, including through national and local level planning and investment frameworks.  Ensure application of standards, guidelines and good practices for child protection in emergency related activities. Participate in meetings with relevant state authorities, other actors and donors to discuss and represent UNICEF’s work.

Promote knowledge management including through drafting/finalizing inputs into UNICEF sectoral programme documents and reports, including donor reports, sharing good practices, lessons learned, and knowledge/information exchange with all partners on UNICEF and response, and harnessing knowledge institutions resources and partnerships as appropriate.

Deliverables:  The consultant is expected to submit monthly reports on activities implemented to complete the tasks described below.  Monthly priorities will be determined at the beginning of each month and monthly report will be submitted accordingly.

Timeframe: 15th October 2017 to 30th June 2018

Minimum Qualifications required:           

Masters in Social/humanitarian sciences Social Work, or other field related         

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

•             At least 5 years of experience in social development planning and management in child protection, including with refugee and migrant populations in displacement and integration contexts.

•             Relevant experience in child protection and related areas, program/project development and management is required.

•             Knowledge and experience in application of international technical guidelines and standards in Child Protection.

•             Demonstrated flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.

•             Excellent oral and written English skills required; Serbian is also an asset

•             Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment

•             Sound judgement is required in follow-up on requests; high degree of accuracy is important. Ability to meet tight deadlines through excellent time management, organization and multi-tasking skills.

The application must include the following:

1. Daily rate (all costs to be included e.g. accommodation, transport costs to Belgrade if applicable, health insurance, pension, usage of mobile phone etc.)
2. Daily allowance cost for travel within Serbia (for overnight)

3. Daily allowance cost for travel within Serbia (without overnight, for more than 8 hours trip)

    

Important note: Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply.