Batch Vacancy: Child Protection Specialists (P-4), Child Protection Section, PD - New York HQ

Prevention and response to violence against children is encompassed within UNICEF’s 2014-2017 Strategic Plan. It is also a global target (16.2) in the Sustainable Development Goals. In order to achieve these goals, Child Protection Section is looking for two posts at the P-4 Level.

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, a childhood…….

UNICEF focuses on preventing violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect through a holistic “systems” approach to child protection that addresses the full spectrum of risk factors and underlying vulnerabilities in the lives of children and their families. The organization focuses on the complex interaction between social norms, policies and legislation to work with lawmakers and opinion-shapers at the international and national level while also working downstream, with key actors at the community level. UNICEF also carries a leading role in child protection in emergencies as well as in the children and armed conflict agenda. Given the inter-sectoral nature of child protection, emphasis is put on the importance of the roles of other sectors such as health, education, social protection and cross cutting areas such as early childhood and adolescent development. Continued investment in research and institutional strengthening remains crucial for better results in child protection. Through the #End violence against children initiative, UNICEF has joined the growing global movement to shine a light on this issue and “make the invisible visible”. Over the course of the Strategic Plan (2014-2017), UNICEF seeks to mobilize US$ 1.777 billion for child protection. For more details please visit our website Here

Prevention and response to violence against children is encompassed within UNICEF’s 2014-2017 Strategic Plan. It is also a global target (16.2) in the Sustainable Development Goals. In order to achieve these goals, Child Protection Section is looking for two posts at the P-4 Level.

1. Child Protection Specialist (Prevention and response to violence and exploitation) # 19595
2. Child Protection Specialist (Gender-based Violence in Emergencies) # 63794

How can you make a difference?

Child Protection Specialist (Prevention and response to violence and exploitation), P4 Level, number 19595

• In collaboration with UNICEF Regional Offices, other sections in Programme Division, other divisions and partners, provide remote and direct field technical support, expertise and capacity building around programmes to address violence, sexual abuse and exploitation of Country and Regional offices to strengthen programme planning and implementation, cost-effectiveness/Value for Money analyses, and programme scale-up. Provide technical support for the development of methods and tools for programming to prevent and respond to sexual violence and exploitation of children in the context of a systemic approach to child protection and in line with international standards.
• Support implementation and monitoring of UNICEF’s global efforts to respond and prevent sexual violence and exploitation as part of the overall support for programming to address violence, exploitation and abuse.
• Working with the Planning and Evidence Building Team in the Child Protection Section, collaborate with internal and external partners (including UNICEF Headquarters Sections, Regional and Country Offices) to develop and implement monitoring frameworks, UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for programming to prevent and respond to violence against children in line with UNICEF’s 2014-2017 Strategic Plan and Results Based Management (RBM) principles and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets related to violence against children with particular attention to targets and indicators on sexual violence.
• Liaise with the Data and Analytics specialists to strengthen and support the development of methodologies, tools and guidance for outcome and impact monitoring related to violence against children.
• Contribute to the establishment and strengthening of strategic partnerships at international level for the programmatic follow up to the SDGs and related Global Programmes in particular related to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. This includes ensuring close coordination with the Office of the Special Representative of Secretary-General on Violence against Children, and the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography as well as other relevant partners including UN agencies, governmental actors, NGOs and the private sector to ensure a coordinated follow up to the SDGs.

Child Protection Specialist (Gender-based Violence in Emergencies), P4, number 63794

• In collaboration with UNICEF Regional Offices, other sections in Programme Division, other divisions and partners, provide remote and direct field technical support, expertise and capacity building on Gender-based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE) programmes of Country and Regional offices to strengthen programme planning and implementation, cost-effectiveness/Value for Money analyses, and programme scale-up.
• Strengthen capacity at country and regional levels by developing inter-agency standard-setting guidance and tools to support work to prevent and respond to gender based violence in emergencies.
• Coordinate and direct organizational contribution to the GBV Area of Responsibility (AoR), Child Protection AoR and/or Protection Cluster to ensure effective response to emergencies. Lead and guide UNICEF’s engagement on GBViE with stakeholders working in emergencies and fragile states.
• Participate in the development of joint policies and technical guidelines for appropriate provision of GBV response in emergencies, in coordination with the OSRSG-Sexual Violence in Conflict, other UN agencies, GBV AoR, Child Protection AoR, and relevant NGOs and institutions through sector/cluster coordination mechanisms.
• Proactively build and strengthen strategic partnerships through networking and advocacy with governments, the OSRSG-Sexual Violence in Conflict, UN system agency partners, donors, internationally recognized institutions, NGOs, funding organizations, research institutes and the private sector to leverage these partnerships to achieve greater results for children.
  Advance research and identify research gaps with key partners, which would lead to the formulation of policy and good practice around the GBViE agenda. 
• Develop programme proposals and take other actions to leverage funds, reflecting priorities for the area of preventing and responding to gender based violence in emergencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies and implementation plans for the sector using results-based planning terminology and methodology. Prepare required documentation for programme review and approval.
• Provide support to the team (unit) lead in establishing the Child Protection Section’s Annual Work Plan in the area of GBViE programmes. This will include developing strategies; setting priorities, targets and performance measurement indicators; and monitoring progress and results achieved according to performance standards.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• An advanced university degree (Master’s) in public health, social sciences, human rights/law, development studies, sociology, social work, gender studies, social anthropology, or law and women’s rights, or other related field.
• A minimum 8 (eight) years of progressively responsible professional experience at national and international levels related to violence prevention and response programming, some of which were served in a developing country is required.
• Demonstrated strong communication, presentation and writing skills, including report writing, oral presentations and development of technical documents is essential.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of the latest developments and issues related to violence against children and gender are essential.
• Relevant experience in child protection and/or related areas, programme/project development and management in a UN agency or international development organization is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in design, implementation, budget management and monitoring of programme results an asset.
• Publication record related to violence prevention and response, gender and child protection issues more broadly an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Additional requirement for the Child Protection Specialist (GViE) Post, 63794, P4 level

• Experience in training and capacity building related to addressing GBVE is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework Here

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.