Programme Specialist (Parenting), NO-C, TA, (364 days), Manila Post no. 00109445

Join our dedicated team and contribute to support the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the programmes for the 8th country programme (CP 2019-2023). UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. 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.

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 fair chance

UNICEF has been an active partner of the Government of the Philippines and civil society in realizing the rights of every Filipino child, in line with priorities to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. UNICEF efforts have been focused on the most vulnerable regions identified by the Government of the Philippines Development Plan, particularly in the regions of Visayas and Mindanao. To ensure that interventions are sustainable and scaled up, UNICEF will support primarily local government units (LGUs) as the main instruments of delivering services and building systems. The level of engagement with government institutions will take into account capacities, economies of scale and sector issues.

It has a field office in Cotabato City, the second largest city in Mindanao, southern Philippines, with some 300,000 population. The city is the regional administrative centre of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and over 80 percent of the population is Muslim. Mindanao is both conflict-affected and prone to frequent earthquakes and typhoon storms. 

Visit this link for more information on Philippine Country Office: https://www.unicef.org/philippines/

How can you make a difference?

The Programme Specialist (Parenting) will primarily take the lead in supporting UNICEF’s programme on parenting. The position will have a multi-sectoral contribution to programmes, in the areas of Child Protection, Education, Health and Nutrition, WASH and DRR.

The post is responsible for the planning, management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the output in Holistic Parenting which aims for the Government to have strengthened coordination mechanisms and approaches to enhance the capacities of parents and caregivers to practice behaviors and demonstrate attitudes which help children and adolescents to learn, thrive and be protected from violence. The following are the key results:

1. Existence of an evidence-based holistic national parenting framework relevant to the context of the Filipino family across the life cycle of the child with special focus on the early years and adolescence, and other special circumstances that amplify child deprivation e.g. disability, gender, indigenous identity, geographic location etc.
2. A comprehensive, integrated, responsive, national government parenting program (harmonizing all existing government programs on parenting) that is in line with the national parenting framework.
3. Integration of Masayang Pamilyang Pilipino (MaPa) standards/processes in the implementation of the  Philippine Plan of Action to End Violence Against Children (PPAEVAC) programming in respective parenting programmes, including targeting teen-parents.
4. Research on social norms around parenting practices is conducted with the government
5. Inter-Agency Coordinating mechanism is created  and  action plan for implementation formulated.
6. UNICEF’s Parenting Task Team contributed in the development of the framework and has provided  technical assistance  to the study on social norms around parenting practices.

Under the supervision of the Child Protection Chief, the Programme Specialist (Parenting) shall undertake the following:

1. Supports the development of the national parenting framework and ensure that UNICEF’s parenting programs/projects/activities are in line with the framework.

Provide strategic direction to the following programs and convergence work in programming relevant to parenting.

Manage and monitor the conduct of the study on social norms around parenting practices in different contexts. Including providing technical assistance and strategic guidance to the implementing partner, government, and other partners.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.

2. Technical and operational support to the Country Programme implementation. This includes spearheading/initiating/participating in internal collaboration activities to ensure cohesion of related actions of all contributory program areas towards the collective achievement of intended results in the output area.

Support results teams and coordination mechanisms, including Early Moments Matter and Adolescent Task Teams ensuring a coherent and consistent approach to parenting across all relevant result areas, as well as providing good.

Mainstreams emergency preparedness or DRR in Holistic Parenting programming. Coordinates with the DRR specialist on developing a mainstreaming plan  highlighting inter-sectoralvulnerability  such as childhood disability gender and geographical locations.

3. Networking and partnership building both internal and external

Specialist will collaborate externally with all relevant line agencies, community leaders, UN, and bilateral agencies and NGOs in organizing activities, operational research, advocacy and exchange of information and ideas supportive of programme communication goals and strategies.

Advises government and other partners in the design, planning, documentation, and organization of consultation and planning workshops, capacity building activities (if needed), and training materials.

4. Innovation, knowledge management, and capacity building

Advises government and other partners in the design, planning, documentation, and organization of consultation and planning workshops, capacity building activities (if needed), and training materials.

Support the UNICEF Philippine Country Office (PCO) on building evidence, knowledge management, and learning on parenting, noting that this a new area in the Region.

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

• An *advanced university degree in the social/behavioural sciences, (Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Health Education,Social Work) with emphasis on children’s rights, child development, behaviour development, social mobilization, participatory communication, and research OR equivalent experience; qualitative research background desirable.

*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 8 years of professional experience particularly on social work, social sciences, psychology, may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

• Minimum five years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the development, planning and management of social development programmes, including several years in developing countries, with practical experience in the adaptation and application of communication planning processes to specific programmes.
• At least 5-years-experience in parenting and family development programmes.
• Familiarity with government parenting programmes an advantage.
• Fluency in English and the local working language of the duty station.

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.

The competencies required for this post are:

• Leading and Supervising [ I ]
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts [ II ]
• Relating and Networking [ II ]
• Persuading and Influencing [ II ]
• Applying Technical Expertise [ II ]
• Entrepreneurial Thinking [ II ]

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

How to Apply

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an online candidate profile in http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ by 31 October 2019.  Only applications sent through the e-recruitment portal under Job Number: 527190 will be considered.

All candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, Curriculum Vitae indicating three (3) previous supervisors.

By applying through our Talent Management System (TMS) you agree to our privacy statement which is in line with the Philippines’ Data Privacy Act. You are strongly advised to read carefully through the privacy statement before submitting your application.

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.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

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.