Child Protection Officer (VAC), NO-B/FT, Quetta IMIS# 41029 (For Pakistan Nationals Only) Req. #

Under the general guidance and supervision of the Chief Field Office-Quetta and the Child Protection Specialist (VAC) NOC at Islamabad for overall technical supervision, the Child Protection Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for child protection programs/projects within the Country Program - with a predominant focus on the violence against children (VAC) mandate - from development planning to delivery of results. The Officer candidate shall prepare, execute, manage and implement a variety of technical and administrative program tasks primarily to facilitate VAC program implementation, program progress monitoring, evaluating and reporting in area of designation in Balochistan.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

For every child, a child

Under the general guidance and supervision of the Chief Field Office-Quetta and the  Child Protection Specialist (VAC) NOC at Islamabad for overall technical supervision, the Child Protection Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for child protection programs/projects within the Country Program - with a predominant focus on the violence against children (VAC) mandate - from development planning to delivery of results. The Officer candidate shall prepare, execute, manage and implement a variety of technical and administrative program tasks primarily to facilitate VAC program implementation, program progress monitoring, evaluating and reporting in area of designation in Balochistan.

To make a difference you will be accountable for the following key duties & tasks:

1. Support to program development and planning

• Conduct/update situation analysis for the program sector/s for development, design and management of child protection-related programs/projects in the area of designation - Balochistan.
• Research and report on development trends and (economic, social, health etc.) data for use in program development, management, monitoring, evaluation and delivery of results.
• Contribute to the development/establishment of child protection sectoral program goals, objectives and strategies and results-based planning through research, collection, analysis and reporting of child protection and other related information for development planning and priority goal setting.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical, program, operational and administrative transactions, preparing related materials/documentation and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support program planning, results based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluating results.
• Prepare required program documentation/materials/data to facilitate the program review and approval process.

2. Responsible for Field Office child protection program management, monitoring and delivery of results and with a priority focus on Violence Against Children (VAC)

• Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decisions. maintain a record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned. 
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with provincial government and other counterparts to assess programs/projects; and report on critical issues/findings to ensure timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Follow-up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution requiring action/interventions at the higher level of program management. 
• Manage, monitor and report on the use of resources (financial, administrative and other assets) allocated to Field Office for implementation of Child Protection program interventions, verify compliance with approved allocation/goals, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity.
• Prepare regular/mandated sectoral program/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of program progress.

3. Technical and operational support to program implementation

• Conduct regular program field visits, and suggest surveys/studies and/or 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 provincial government counterparts, NGO partners and UN system partners on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices on child protection and related issues to support program implementation, operations and delivery of results.

4.Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with provincial government counterparts and stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate program implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve and sustain results on child protection.
• Draft and/or provide inputs for preparation of communication and information materials for program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund-raising efforts for child protection programs.
• Participate in inter-agency meetings/events on programming, as appropriate, to collaborate with partners/colleagues on joint operational planning and preparation of child protection programs/projects, ensuring integration and harmonization with UNICEF position and strategies within the UNDAF development and planning process and UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. 
• Provide information on potential donors in area of designation; draft and or provide inputs for preparation of resource mobilization materials/briefs for advocacy, fund raising and partnership development purposes.

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 practice to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program results. 
• Research and report on best and cutting-edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Participate as resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Education:

A University Degree in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law or other social science field is required.

Experience:

A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in social development planning and management in child protection and/other related areas at the international and/or in a developing country is required. Relevant experience in child protection and related areas, program/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset. Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of another local language is an asset.

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)
• Analyzing (II)
• Applying technical expertise (II)
• Learning and researching (II)
• Planning and organizing (II)

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Interested in finding out more?  

You will have a rewarding experience working with a dynamic, diverse and committed staff who are making a difference in saving lives and building a better future for Every Child in Pakistan.   

To know more about UNICEF’s work in Pakistan, visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan

Videos from Pakistan can be viewed on YouTube and Vimeo  

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 to become a part of our organization. 

Note: HEC verified and attested degrees are a pre-requisite for employment at UNICEF. During the recruitment process candidates will be required to present HEC attested degrees.