Child Protection Officer, TA-P2, Niamey, NIGER

UNICEF Niger has been requested by UNHCR to provide temporary care for child Asylum seekers from Eritrea and Somalia as part of an response to find durable solutions for asylum seekers that have been in detention in Libya. UNICEF in partnership with the child protection directorate is currently hosting these children in a transit facility and is seeking a Tigrinya speaking Child protection officer to coordinate the response.

For every child, an advocate...

The movement of migrants through the Sahara Desert continues to have a devastating toll on human life with many dying on their way across the desert  a journey which entails severe risks, such as extra judicial killings, death through dehydration and starvation, extortion, torture, sexual violence and exploitation, and forced labor. Approximately 60% of all migrants arriving in Europe are from West Africa, almost all of them undertaking this perilous journey to Europe transit through Niger before reaching Libya and then Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. The remainder are from other countries including Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, Syria and Afghanistan. Children account for close to 10% of irregular migrants. During the journey, children often spend long periods in transit which limits enormously their access to education, health and other basic social services and exposes them to more exploitation, violence and abuse.

From January to October 2017, The International Organization for Migration (IOM) flow monitoring has recorded 3,800 children under 18 years transiting through Niger with the intention of eventually entering Europe. The actual number of child migrants is certainly much more, considering those who evade local authorities by using unofficial routes.

There are approximately 46,730 refugees and asylum seekers registered by UNHCR in Libya, some of whom are eligible for resettlement. Since 2014, few embassies have been operational in Libya which has negatively impacted the processing of refugees for relocation. Following the 2017 EU-Africa Summit, The UNHCR has committed to evacuate 3,800 additional refugees (including 20-25% UAC) in 2018 to Niger and 2,500 directly to Italy via a humanitarian corridor - at least 162 refugees from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen have been evacuated directly from Libya to Italy in December 2017. By June 2019, UNHCR is expected to resettle about 2,200 refugees from the discussions they have had with Member States who are offering quotas of refugees they will take for resettlement. There are 872 refugees and asylum seekers evacuated to Niger’s different Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM). The majority are Eritreans (74%) and Somalis (21 %). Out of the 320 children, 290 are unaccompanied minors (91% are unaccompanied). Children comprise of 33% of the total migrants.

UNICEF Niger is currently providing temporary care for  62 children in three different transition and orientation centers in Niamey. It is evident that almost all children are severely tortured, and abused by notorious human traffickers while on transit in Sahara and in Libya. UNICEF is working for an urgent psychosocial support while a durable solution worked out.

How can you make a difference?

Support the child protection team to ensure the transit and orientation centers are taking care of the refugees children in transit from Libya and awaiting durable solutions in respect of the CP standards.

The main responsibilities of the Child Protection Officer are the following:

• Assist the Ministry of Child Protection/DRPE to ensure the transit and orientation centers are taking care of refugees children in transit from Libya and awaiting resettlement in respect of the CP standards.
• Accompany the supervision team as well as the staff of the centers to facilitate the communication with the children and ensure the functioning of the three centres and the respect of the centres rules.
• Provide support in translation to the staff of the centres for their daily work as well as specific trainers/facilitators who have an activity with the children in order to improve the interaction with children and accompany them.
• Accompany the psychologists in their work and help with documenting the stories of the children per file respecting the confidentiality of information.
• Provide technical guidance and advise to the staff working in order the centres to reinforce their capacities in management and in dealing with the children.
• Work with the Regional Child Protection Directorate to facilitate the coordination and management of the centers.
• Provide information to the child protection specialist (focal point) through regular meetings.
• Prepare a draft report on the situation on weekly basis to be shared with the management .
• Participate in weekly technical meetings with UNHCR and COOPI as well as in the BID panel.

Specfic tasks include:

1. Support the management of the transit and orientation centers

1.1 Support the coordinators of the centers with the planning of the activities and staff management

1.2 Support the coordinators through the daily management of the centers and specific needs and costs

2. Training, supervision and support to the staff

2.1 Assist in  specific trainings to the staff in the centers, capacity building as well as continuous advice and support

2.2 Support the coordinator of the centers with orientations on specific situations

3. Follow up on the activities in the centers

3.1 Support the staff, animators and trainers with translation from Tigrinya to English

3.2 Support and accompany the health agent of the DRPE and the psychologists of COOPI through the translation when necessary

3.2 Ensure the relevance of activities offered in the centers and offer guidance and recommendations to the partners

4. Reporting and participation in meetings

4.1 Share information on a daily basis with the CPIE specialist (focal point on the project)

4.2 Report on a weekly basis to the Chief Child protection through the writing of a weekly update

4.3 Participate in weekly/bimonthly technical meetings with UNHCR and COOPI, writes minutes and share with the UNICEF focal points

4.4 Participate in bimonthly meetings with the DRPE and keep the supervisor posted

4.5 Participation in BID panel meetings, review the interviews and offer adequate recommendations for the best interest of the child

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...

• University degree in social sciences, law, or other related field;
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience in child protection. Emergency experience in protection response  is desirable;
• Fluency in Tigrinya required ; fluncy in English; French will be an asset;
• Skilled in team work and quickly adapt to new environment.

For every Child, you demonstrate... 

Core Values

• Commitment 
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Integrity 

Core Competencies

• Communication 
• Working with People 
• Drive for Results 

Functional Competencies 

• Analyzing
• Relating and Networking
• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Applying Technical Expertise

Supervision:

The staff will work under the direct supervision of the Child Protection In Emergency Specialist (CPIE).

Reporting also to the Chief Child Protection.

Duty Station:

Niamey, Niger

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.