Social Policy Specialist (Child Protection) NO-C, Chennai, India - (This vacancy is for Indian Nationals only)

The incumbent will be part of a team of experts on child-centered social policy related programming and will work under the guidance and supervision of the Chief Social Policy, NO-D, based in Chennai. This entails supporting the State child protection policy, strategy development, monitoring, data analysis and planning. The focus will be on introducing results-based management and innovations in the child protection portfolio, supporting knowledge management and an analytical monitoring and evaluation tool for equitable access to child protection and learning. The incumbent will work with a wide range of partners linked to State and District governments, academia, private sector, community led organizations and CSOs. 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.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 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. And we never give up!

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For Every Child, AN ADVOCATE:

In an effort to measurably improve UNICEF's ability to deliver better results for children, there is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations. 

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job:  

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, 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. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, child protection and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF recently developed a new Strategic Plan 2018-21 in which one of the pillars is focusing on Child protection to operationalize UNICEF’s equity focus and so ensure that the most disadvantaged communities have access to child protection services for preventive and responsive action. 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 child protection policy approach promotes addressing the multiple deprivations common to children in resource constrained settings. Its main priorities include national and state child protection policies, strategies, plans and budgets; building sub-national capacity for implementation of child protection policies, from state, district to strengthening the community-based approaches and systems to include all children, paving the way towards the relevant Sustainable Development Goal 5,8 and targets.

Job organizational context: The incumbent will be part of a team of experts on child-centered social policy related programming and will work under the guidance and supervision of the Chief Social Policy, NO-D, based in Chennai.

This entails supporting the State child protection policy, strategy development, monitoring, data analysis and planning. The focus will be on introducing results-based management and innovations in the child protection portfolio, supporting knowledge management and an analytical monitoring and evaluation tool for equitable access to child protection and learning. The incumbent will work with a wide range of partners linked to State and District governments, academia, private sector, community led organizations and CSOs. 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. 

Purpose for the job:

Under the guidance of the Chief Social Policy, NO-C, and in close collaboration with the Child protection and Social Policy outcome leads based in Delhi, as well as other relevant senior staff member in India Country Office (ICO), the incumbent will provide policy, technical and programme guidance and support for the design, operationalization and monitoring of evidence-based Child protection strategies that accelerates and sustains child protection outcomes for children. This will include developing, piloting and documenting approaches, methods and tools for capacity development of a child protection cadre at state level, and raising the profile of child protection system approaches within ICO. The incumbent will maintain regular interactions with other programmes and technical clusters within Chennai Office and ICO. This includes the Inclusive Social Policy, Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships (CAP), Education, Child Survival, Disaster Risk Reduction, as well as the Deputy Representative and team. 

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:  

Management:

• Under guidance of Chief Social Policy, NO-D, promote and operationalize the UNICEF Child protection priorities aimed at for improving existing systems for service delivery, prevention and capacity building of workforce in child protection. 
• As part of the Chennai Team, collaborate with Child protection/ Education /Social Policy outcome leads and other sections in ICO to build cross-sectoral linkages for accelerated scale up focusing on cross cutting areas such as early childhood and adolescent development and social protection. 
• Provide strategic direction, guidance, planning and management oversight for the Child Protection Policy related activities in Tamil Nadu and Kerala; in line with UNICEF Country Progamme 2018-22 and regional targets on reducing Child Marriage among others.
• Assist in managing programmes and budgets and submit periodic progress reports to the supervisor and senior management.

Policy and Programme Guidance:

• Provide technical input and guidance on the development of public policies and vision on Child protection and operationalize the development and dissemination of related policies, strategies and programme guidance; serve as UNICEF’s technical/knowledge focal point for Child protection related social policy in Chennai Office.
• Provide guidance and draft child protection policy analysis, monitoring, evaluation and costing of child protection strategies;
• Support development of monitoring and analytical tools for implementation of State child protection policies and plans in line with UNICEF Country Programme priorities. This includes support the use of data, systemic analysis, research and policy to contribute to the equity agenda, in particular for improving child protection for the poorest children.
• Enhance cross-sectoral coordination especially between the Child protection, Social Policy, Education and other areas on adolescent development and gender.
• Provide technical assistance on child protection system strengthening;
• Support prevention and response mechanisms to reduce sexual abuse and exploitation of children as well as for children in contact/conflict with the law.
• Support strengthening of child friendly juvenile justice provisions;
• Follow and guide on the development and quality assurance of methods, approaches and tools on equity and bottleneck analysis, strategy prioritization, evidence-based planning and budgeting, and routine performance monitoring and capacity development to accelerate the scale up of child protection policies and interventions.
• Provide technical input to adapt and successfully apply Child protection approaches and tools during emergencies, in line with UNICEF EPP guidance and CCC.    
• Provide input to generate evidence and to strengthen data and knowledge management on children in need of protection and care through modeling of innovative approaches, documentation of best practices, operational research and evaluation.

Partnerships and fundraising and resources:

• Establish / strengthen strategic partnerships with key partners to support the implementation of child protection policies to accelerate progress in line with the UNICEF Strategic Plan and ICO Country Programme.
• Identify opportunities to leverage resources for the development and implementation of Child protection strategies, methods, approaches, and tools. This can include plans for resource mobilization in collaboration with Public Private Sector Engagement teams and other appropriate units in UNICEF;

Monitoring and reporting:

• In close collaboration with the Child Protection outcome lead and network, provide input to monitoring and analysis of programmes linked to child protection and related policies to ensure programme quality and determine the contribution to specific State and national child protection goals;
• Contribute to monitoring programmes and budgets and submit periodic progress reports to the supervisor and senior management. 

Impact of Results:

The incumbent’s work will contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of UNICEF’s role and visibility in Child protection as a key programme strategy in India. It will influence further strategic outlook and strategy of ICO on children in need of protection and care and preventive child protection policies and programmes. It will also have positive effects on cross-sectoral work on adolescent development, ECD, communication & advocacy, and child protection interventions linked to other sectors such as education, health and nutrition. This will increase UNICEF’s credibility and leverage partnerships to support the Government of India and UNICEF’s agenda for all children to be protected from violence, abuse and exploitation.  

Competencies and level of proficiency required:

Core Values:

• Commitment
• Diversity and inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies:

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

Functional Competencies:

• Analyzing (II)
• Leading and supervising (II)
• Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Persuading and influencing (II)
• Creating and innovating (II)

Education:

Advanced university degree in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or other relevant disciplines.

Experience:

At least 5 (five) years of relevant professional work experience in Child protection/Social Policy that involves substantive and relevant experience in child protection policy and system strengthening.

Language Requirements:

Speaks, reads and write fluently in English. Mastery of another UN language is desired.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

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

 Remarks:  

• Selected applicant will have an initial two (2) year fixed-term contract, with possibility of extension, subject to satisfactory performance.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNICEF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process including application, interview, meeting, traveling, processing, training etc. UNICEF is a nonsmoking working environment. 

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