Child Protection Cluster Coordinator, (P-3), Temporary Appointment, #112255, Bangui, Central African Republic, (528432), 364 days

The Child Protection Cluster Coordinator reports to the UNICEF Representative for guidance and general supervision. He/She will work in collaboration with the GBV sub cluster, Child protection cluster and other humanitarian sectors in CAR.

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

The Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. According to the 2020 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), more than half of the country’s population need humanitarian and protection assistance. Some 1.7 million people have acute and immediate humanitarian needs. Civilians are constantly under threat and forced to leave their houses to find protection in internally displaced person (IDP) camps or in host families. As of 30 September 2019, there are 600,000 internally displaced persons of whom 220,000 are living in IDP sites. At least 47% of IDPs in CAR are children.

CAR crisis is foremost a protection crisis. Serious violations and abuses of human rights law and international humanitarian law (including the six grave violations of children’s rights) continue to be perpetrated in a context of impunity. Persistent armed conflicts have a huge humanitarian impact on children’s rights and their access to basic services such as health, nutrition, education, etc. Insecurity and lawlessness throughout most of the country outside the capital have resulted in children being displaced, separated, maimed, abducted, killed, and vulnerable to sexual violence including rape and other forms of gender-based violence. The recruitment and use of children by armed groups is a major risk: thousands of children are still associated with armed groups.

The Child Protection Cluster Coordinator reports to the UNICEF Representative for guidance and general supervision. He/She will work in collaboration with the Gender-based violence (GBV) sub cluster, Child protection cluster and other humanitarian sectors in CAR.

1 - Maintain effective child protection coordination mechanisms at federal level and in States with situations of humanitarian concern.

• Regular updating of Mapping of child protection actors in CAR and related sectors of interventions/capacities (5Ws and local partners including Community Based Child Protection Networks and Community Based Organizations)
• Ensure two-way communication with Child Protection Working Groups in the field and respond to their requests
• In a participatory manner, support implementation of the Child Protection Sub Cluster Work Plan for 2019 and draft the work plan for the subsector for 2020.
• Ensure all Child Protection (CP) relevant actors are engaged as Sub Cluster members and adhere to the Principles of Partnership
• Produce sectoral reports and analysis (e.g. quarterly sectoral reports, CAR Humanitarian Fund (SSHF) reports etc.)

Guarantee effective child protection preparedness and response in emergencies

Promote interagency/inter-sectoral Child Protection (CP) needs assessments, lead and participate in inter

• agency child protection assessments to identify priority child protection issues and advocate for delivery of appropriate response.
• Identify response gaps and promote members’ response (including activation of provider of last resort).
• Develop and regularly update a CP Cluster strategy including objectives and indicators for CP response that are aligned with and support realization of the strategic priorities set out by the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator for the overarching humanitarian response, the Child Protection Minimum Standards, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Support development and updating of Child Protection interagency cluster Contingency State Plans for former 10 states and Transitional Areas
• Coordinate relevant child protection inputs to the Humanitarian Action Plan and the mobilization of resources through humanitarian funding mechanisms in CAR, including Pooled Fund, Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

Ensure that Child Protection standards are promoted among Sub Cluster members and capacities built

• Disseminate Child Protection upcoming tools (assessments, guidelines, technical documents etc) in coordination with the Child Protection Working Group in Geneva and ensure responses are in line with existing policy standards and technical guidelines.
• Map capacity building needs of Sub Cluster and Working Group members and develop an inter-agency Child Protection in Emergency (CPiE) capacity building plan that identifies and prioritizes inter-agency training and capacity building needs of CP staff and
• partners (international, national, and local) to enhance CP coordination and program implementation. In particular, support roll out of the inter-agency Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action by all CP actors and CAR, Introduction and roll out of CPIMS+, Inter-Agency Case Management Guidelines
• Ensure a functioning platform for information sharing and Child Protection library / resources gateway
• Promote the collection of Child Protection data-indicators and relevant analysis at Child Protection Working Group level and possibly with MoEG (advocacy for Government data collection system)

Ensure that child protection concerns, and standards are appropriately reflected in inter-sectoral humanitarian coordination fora.

• Participate in Protection, gender-based violence (GBV) and other relevant Clusters
• Participate in Inter Cluster Coordination Mechanisms and provide Child Protection inputs to the Humanitarian Country Team plans and meetings
• Design a mainstreaming Child Protection matrix and advocate with other clusters for Child Protection issues mainstreaming (in particular work with Education cluster on integrating child protection through Child Friendly Spaces and other community-based initiatives).
• Ensure with Protection Cluster that Child Protection issues are included in multi-sectoral assessments and initiatives
• Promote information sharing with other cluster working groups and with external actors (with the approval of Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) members) to advocate for technical assistance and support
• Develop an advocacy strategy for issues related to child protection that require sensitization of local authorities or donors and contribute to the development of key messages for broader humanitarian advocacy/messaging initiatives of the protection cluster or the office of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in in the Psychology, Social Work, social sciences, law or other relevant fields
  *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years of professional work experience at national and international levels in child protection, including first-hand experiences in cluster coordination, psychosocial support (PSS) and Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR) programs and projects for most vulnerable children including international work experience. Background/familiarity with Emergency
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese,Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Specific Technical Knowledge Required:

• Advanced technical knowledge of child protection om emergencies and humanitarian coordination.
• Advanced technical knowledge of theories, principles and methods in the following areas: Child protection systems strengthening, case management and partner capacity building for protecting children in emergencies.
• Use of data and indicators in child protection
• Knowledge of the global commitment to aid effectiveness, including the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness and the Accra agenda for action.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are...

• Leading and supervising
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts
• Analyzing
• Applying Technical Expertise 
• Planning and Organizing

View our competency framework at

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

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:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.

Please note that this is a non-family duty station. 

Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offer of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service.