Child Protection Specialist, NO-3 (Serbian nationals only)

If you are a committed professional and passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. UNICEF Serbia Country Office seeks a Child Protection Specialist to join our team and lead the Child Protection programme. This is a Fixed-term Appointment, available to Serbian nationals only, with initial duration of the assignment from May 2019 to May 2020.

If you are a committed professional and passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. UNICEF Serbia Country Office seeks a Child Protection Specialist to join our team and lead the Child Protection programme. This is a Fixed-term Appointment, available to Serbian nationals only, with initial duration of the assignment from May 2019 to May 2020.

Job organizational context:

UNICEF in Serbia focuses on supporting the government's efforts to create a better and safer environment for every child in the country. The work particularly focuses on the realization of the rights of the most vulnerable groups of children so they can have the same opportunities as other children and reach their full potential.

UNICEF in Serbia cooperates with government organizations, as well as with civil society organizations, independent human rights institutions, the private sector and the media.

The overall goal of the country programme (2016-2020) is to support the efforts of Serbia to promote and protect the rights of all children and to give all children equal opportunities to reach their full potential.

UNICEF’s work in Serbia focuses on social inclusion. UNICEF concentrates on the most marginalized children and adolescents – those who are being left behind by Serbia’s strong overall progress on child well-being. UNICEF’s work spans from early childhood development, a healthy childhood, inclusive education, child care system reform, justice for children, to addressing violence and giving adolescents who are veering off track a second chance to reach their full potential.

Purpose of the job:

The Child Protection Specialist reports to the Deputy Representative for guidance and general supervision. The Specialist supports the development and preparation of the Child Protection  programs/projects and for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting of progress of child protection programs/projects within the country program. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable UNICEF contribution to national and international efforts to create a protective environment for children against all harm and to protect their rights to survival, development and well being as established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, international treaties/framework and UN intergovernmental bodies.

The Specialist contributes to achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

Summary of key functions and accountabilities:

1. Support to programs/projects development and planning
2. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support to program implementation
4. Networking and partnership building
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Detailed job profile:

1. Support to program/project development and planning

• Support the preparation/design and conduct/update of situation analysis for the child protection programs/projects and/or sector to ensure that current comprehensive and evidence based data on child protection issues are available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy advocacy, intervention and development efforts on child rights and protection and to set program priorities, strategies, design and implementation plans. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance program management, efficiency and delivery.
• Participate in strategic program discussion on the planning of child protection programs/projects. Formulate, design and prepare programs/projects proposal for the sector, ensuring alignment with the overall UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and Country Program and coherence/integration with UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDF), regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives and strategies and implementation plans for the sector/s using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for program review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies and to determine national priorities/competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programs/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.

2. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector in child protection programs.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in program and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programs/projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Monitor and verify the optimum/appropriate use of sectoral program resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity and ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular/mandated program/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of program progress.

3. Technical and operational support to program implementation

• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and country office partners/donors on interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices and approaches on child protection and related issues to support program management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Arrange/coordinate availability of technical experts with Regional Office/HQ to ensure timely/appropriate support throughout the programming/projects process.
• Participate in child protection program meetings including program development and contingency planning discussions on emergency preparedness in the country or other locations designated to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic program materials for management use, information and/or consideration.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors/academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results in child protection.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for child protection programs and emergency interventions.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on child protection and related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNDAF planning and preparation of programs/projects ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF process in development planning and agenda setting.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Apply/introduce innovative approaches and good practice to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program results.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best practices in child protection management and information systems. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programs and projects.
• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results in child protection and related programs/projects.

Required experience and skills:

• Advanced university degree in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law or other field related to social or humanitarian sciences is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in social development planning and management in child protection and/other related areas.
• Relevant experience in child protection and related areas.
• Excellent leadership and supervising skills.
• High level of analytical skills, with the ability to formulate strategies and concepts.
• Very good communication and networking skills.
• Experience with 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.
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in another UN language and/or knowledge of Serbian language will be considered an asset.

The closing date for applications is 5^th March 2019.

Please note that 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.