Child Protection Specialist (Prevention of Harmful Practices), International Consultancy, (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

UNICEF is looking for a seasoned professional who will be responsible for the overall coordination and management of implementation of the AUC (Africa Union Commission) components of the Spotlight Africa Regional Programme. The position will ensure coordination, planning, communication and experience sharing between the AUC and UN technical team; and contribute to working with the Social Welfare- Harmful Practices team. If you have the required profile, you are highly encouraged to apply. Taking up this assignment is motivating and rewarding.

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, Hope

Purpose: to ensure coordination, planning, communication and experience sharing between the AUC and UN technical team; and contribute to working with the Social Welfare- Harmful Practices team.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of results-based key functions/accountabilities: 

1. Management and advisory support:

• • Provide advice to the Head of Division Social Affairs, Vulnerable Groups, Drug Control and Crime Prevention and End Child Marriage Programme Manager, in establishing the annual work plan relating to End Child Marriage and FGM under Spotlight. This includes developing strategies and determining priorities/targets and performance measurements. 

• • Coordinate work progress monitoring across both workstreams Child marriage and FGM and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards and report critical issues to supervisors for timely action.

• • Provide advice to the Head of Division Social Affairs, Vulnerable Groups, Drug Control and Crime Prevention and End Child Marriage Programme Manager on ensuring proper communication and coordination between the Regional Component and the Spotlight Secretariat specifically from the AU side.

2. Program development, planning and management

• • Set clear targets to ensure that gender transformative change is reflected in project documents and reports of the ECM and FGM strategies 

• • Lead the development of tools and policies to strengthen AU accountability and monitoring frameworks on Member State commitment to deliver on ending Gender Based Violence particularly against harmful practices.

• • Work closely with the Spotlight Initiative’s Steering Committee to ensure programme coherence among Stream I, Stream II FGM and Stream II Child Marriage by fulfilling the following roles and responsibilities: 
• by aligning the priorities of AU ECM and FGM Campaigns with the priorities and dynamics of the region and of the Spotlight Africa Investment Plan
• ensure the Committee’s political oversight leads to building linkages and synergies and avoid duplication amongst Stream I, Stream II FGM and Stream II Child Marriage;

• • Participate in major monitoring and evaluation exercises to assess progress at the continental level and to engage stakeholders to take required actions to achieve results; identify lessons learned and facilitate strategic use of knowledge gained.

• • Prepare programme and project reports, as required, for AUC management and the Spotlight Secretariat.

3. Advisory services and technical support
   •  Provide technical support to AU MS as required in the planning and implementation of all stages of programming for the protection of children from harmful practices within the context of the Spotlight initiative. 
   •  Provide technical support or advice to AU senior management and other AU Department as required on issues related to the implementation of the Spotlight Initiative.
   •  Participate in strategic discussions to influence policy and agenda setting for the protection of child from harmful practices within the AUC  

4. Advocacy, networking and partnership building
   • Develop plans to strengthen and leverage existing AU initiatives within different AU Departments, notably Saleema Initiative to end FGM, the ECM, Gender is My Agenda Campaign, the AU Gender Strategy

• • Develop concept notes, programme and project proposals, briefing papers and take other actions to leverage funds and visibility of the AU actions in the areas of elimination of harmful practices

• • Establish network of focal persons in relevant Ministries to mobilize political commitment from Member State towards end ECM and FGM 

• • Build partnerships with key actors in FGM/C especially the Civil Society Regional Reference Group to increase community-based engagement, UN agencies, academic institutions and the private sector in order to leverage these partnerships to achieve greater results for children

• • Build partnerships with other AU Organs notably the ACERWC, PAP to ensure their full participation in the spotlight activities.
  • Keep abreast with key partners such as UNICEF on their work with Governments to support development, budgeting, and implementation of national action plans on child marriage and advocate for legislative shifts, in conjunction with local civil society and government.

5. Prepares and submits to UNICEF monthly report on the task performed  rectified

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in ( public health, social sciences, human rights/law, development studies, sociology, social work, or other social science field is required.
• A minimum of Eight[8] years of of progressively responsible professional experience at national and international levels related to violence prevention and response programming, some of which were served in a developing country is required.  
• Demonstrated strong communication, presentation and writing skills, including report writing, oral presentations and development of technical documents is essential. 
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of the latest developments and issues related to violence against children and gender are essential. 
• Specialized training in statistics an asset.
• Experience in excel and standard software programmes is essential and statistical software packages an asset.
• Relevant experience in child protection and/or related areas, programme/project development and management in a UN agency or international development organization is an asset. 
• Demonstrated experience in design, implementation, budget management and monitoring of programme results an asset. 
• Publication record related to violence prevention and response, gender and child protection issues more broadly an asset. 
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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...

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.