Associate Protection Officer (Child)

This vacancy is advertised in the frame of the US JPO Programme and is only open to candidates with US nationality. As of December 2018, women and children made up 86% of the total population of over 151, 000 refugees in the nine refugee camps in the White Nile State. Considered a life-saving priority,it is critical that child protection responses must be established and strengthened their lives and well-being may be put at risk, five years later after the emergency situation in the State.   Despite its two main partners -  Social Welfare Department of the Ministry of Health and Social Development (MOHSD) and Plan International - the office continues to face challenges  ensuring minimum measures and standards are in place  in protecting and advocating against all forms of discrimination; preventing and responding to abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation; ensuring immediate access to immediate services as well as to durable solutions based on best interests of children of concern, including unaccompanied and separated children.

As a key member of the protection team, this position will play a  role in strengthening the protection leadership and coordination role on child protection issues as it relates to children of concern by building capacity of the UNHCR staff , as well as provide guidance, support and capacity to partners, including in COR and other members of the Child Protection Working Group. In addition, the position will ensure operationalisation of  LOU between UNHCR and UNICEF as it relates to areas of mutual interest on child protection and cross-cutting areas of education and SGBV as it affects children of concern.

UNHCR places the highest importance on the provision of effective protection to children and youth of concern, with children and youth representing more than half of the persons falling under its mandate. UNHCR uses a rights and community-based approach, with a strong emphasis on inclusion within national child protection and education systems and services, to address the protection needs of children and youth of concern.  Child protection is recognized as global organizational priority for UNHCR. Dedicated child protection staff positions are needed to provide technical support to improve UNHCR¿s operational capacity to deliver effective protection to children, adolescents and youth of concern.

The Associate Protection Officer (Child Protection) in Kosti will report to the Senior Protection Officer, Senior Protection Officer in Kosti. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for child protection staff. He/she provides functional child protection oversight to information management and programme staff. The incumbent works directly with communities and children of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. The incumbent also acts as an advisor to senior management in designing a child protection strategy that fits within the broader Protection and Solutions Strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with persons of concern, including children, adolescents and youth. The incumbent plans and undertakes quality, timely and effective child protection responses in line with UNHCR¿s Framework for Child Protection, in an age, gender and diversity inclusive manner.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT.

Accountability

- Effective and timely support is provided to the formulation of a clear and coherent child protection strategy as part of the operation¿s broader Protection and Solutions Strategy, which incorporates a thorough age, gender and diversity analysis, identifies the needs and capacities of children of concern and reflects the Organization¿s global, regional and country level priorities.
- The country operation has systems and multi-sectoral programmes in place that address the protection and assistance needs of children of concern, and these are closely linked to SGBV and Education programmes and strategies.
- Protection interventions for individual children are supported by an effective case management system with well-functioning best interests procedures in line with UNHCR Guidelines and supported through country level Standard Operating Procedures.
- The country operation¿s capacity building plan includes a child protection component, and national child protection capacities are improved through direct engagement, research and advocacy with all relevant external interlocutors.
- The participation of children, adolescents and youth of concern is assured through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community based approaches, which inform protection and assistance programming and ensure that UNHCR meets its commitments to accountability to children, adolescents and youth of concern.
- Child protection interventions are effectively mainstreamed in other sectors.
- UNHCR¿s position and priorities in relation to child protection are authoritatively represented in inter-agency fora.

Responsibility

- Contribute to the development of a Child Protection strategy in partnership with Protection and Programme staff as part of the overall Protection and Solutions strategy, with particular emphasis on linkages with SGBV and Education.
- In line with UNHCR¿s Framework for the Protection of Children, design child protection programmes which are aligned with the national child protection system and services, and advocate for inclusion of children of concern in national child protection systems and related services such as birth registration or alternative care for unaccompanied children.
- Establish and/or strengthen strategic and innovative partnerships for Child Protection with community-based, local, national, and international organizations, with a focus on ensuring continuity and sustainability.
- Monitor Child Protection programs implemented by UNHCR and partners and adjust programming as required.
- Ensure through direct action and advocacy with senior management that the necessary resources are allocated to protect children of concern.
- Establish and/or strengthen a core referral mechanism for child protection response services through consultative development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Provide functional guidance to UNHCR and partner staff involved in child protection activities, and develop and implement child protection capacity development plans for UNHCR staff and partners. 
- Ensure that UNHCR procedures, including registration, refugee status determination and solutions, information and awareness-raising campaigns and community-based complaint mechanisms are child-friendly, and integrate an AGD approach.
- In consultation with the Senior Protection Officer or Head of Office, establish/strengthen and/or lead Child Protection coordination mechanisms, and represent UNHCR¿s position on child protection in inter-agency fora.
- Support the participation of children, adolescents and youth in the development and implementation of strategies that address key child protection priorities, including through participatory assessments.
- Ensure that effective case management is in place for children at risk, including best interests procedures and referral systems, follow-up and monitoring.
- Ensure that existing protection monitoring mechanisms adequately capture protection risks facing children, adolescents and youth, and that these are reflected in the protection strategy, planning processes and operations plan.
- Maintain child protection presence through regular field missions and reports, making direct contact with children of concern, their families and communities, as well as local authorities and partners.
- Integrate child protection interventions into other sectors and programmes.   

Authority
 
- Intervene with authorities on child protection issues.
- Enforce compliance of staff and partners with UNHCR's global protection policies and standards related to child protection, the best interests procedure and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Lead and/or represent UNHCR in inter-agency fora related to Child Protection.
- Support planning, programming and monitoring of budget and other resources dedicated to child protection programmes under the supervision of the Senior Protection Officer.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED. 

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION: Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Law, International Law, political Sciences or related field plus minimum 3 years of previous work experience relevant to the function. Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) plus 2 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 1 year of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.

WORK EXPERIENCE: Minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in case of Master's degree or three years in case of Bachelor's degree.

SKILLS: Proven ability to work independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary and multicultural team; Well-developed communication skills to liaise, negotiate and advocate with key stakeholders including with other implementing agencies; Ability to conduct assessment, research, write reports and reviews and conduct presentations by clearly formulating positions on issues and defending recommendations

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES:
Excellent drafting skills
Good IT skills including database management skills.
Proven communication skills, both oral and written. Managerial Competencies

M001: Empowering and Building Trust
M003: Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies

X004: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
X005: Planning and Organizing
X007: Political Awareness LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE

- Essential: English,     
- Desirable: Arabic SUPERVISION: The JPO will be under the direct supervision of the manager indicated under `Supervisor title and position number¿.  The supervisor will be responsible for the performance evaluation of the JPO. The manager will also ensure that the JPO is provided a thorough induction and orientation briefing, followed by on-the-job training as well as continuous guidance for training/learning opportunities throughout the assignment. In support to the manager, the JPO Unit provides the Supervisory Guidelines upon recruitment/reassignment of the JPO. TRAINING COMPONENTS AND LEARNING ELEMENTS

TRAINING COMPONENTS:

Mandatory training courses:
1. Basic Security in the Field (NB: needs to be retaken every 3 years)
2. Advanced Security in the Field  (NB: needs to be retaken every 3 years)
3. Protection Induction Programme (PIP)
4. UN Course on Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority
5.    Orientation to IPSAS

Recommended training courses:
Fundamentals of Fraud and Corruption Awareness
BSAFE
Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
Information Security Awareness Foundation Course


LEARNING ELEMENTS

Write assessment reports;
¿ Assess project proposals;
¿ Draft project budgets according to UN standards;
¿ Monitor progress in addressing trafficking and mixed migration issues and formulate recommendations. LIVING CONDITIONS AT THE DUTY STATION

Housing/accommodation:  Yes, will have to rent his/her housing

Health care:  Yes

Educational facilities:  No

Security: Yes

Other (transports, banks, etc) Bank is available
Air Transport is available
Land Transport is available Please note that the closing date for applications for this position is Sunday 7 April (midnight Geneva time).