Assistant Child Protection Officer_ Temporary Appointment

This position is advertised open to internal and external applicants. Assistant Child Protection Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
UNHCR is committed to the effective protection to children of concern, with children representing more than half of the persons falling under its mandate. UNHCR adopts a rights and community-based approach to address the protection needs of children, with a strong emphasis on inclusion within national child protection, child friendly procedures and working with other sectors to protect children including education.  Child protection is recognized as global organizational priority for UNHCR. Dedicated child protection 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 Assistant Child Protection Officer normally reports to a Protection Officer. The incumbent is expected to: support quality, timely and effective child protection responses to the needs of populations of concern; and support mainstreaming of child protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. S/he contributes to identifying key child protection issues, implementation of child protection programmes and supports child protection partnerships and coordination as guided by the supervisor. The Assistant Child Protection Officer also works to involve children, adolescent youth and their families to participate with UNHCR in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent builds and maintains effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners.  

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
Needs Identification, Strategy and Advocacy
- Support in the formulation of the child protection key considerations in in multi-sectoral and protection specific assessments.
- Contribute to the formulation of child protection strategy as part of the operation's broader Protection and Solutions Strategy, which incorporates age, gender and diversity analysis, identifies the protection needs and capacities of children of concern, communities and services and reflects UNHCR's policies, standards and priorities, including the Framework for the Protection of Children.
- Ensure compliance with UNHCR's child protection policy, priorities and commitments, as well as other aligned policies on age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP), GBV, gender equality, disability and youth empowerment.
- Participate in defining context - appropriate approaches for a meaningful participation of children, adolescents and youth in the development and implementation of strategies that address key child protection priorities.
- Support the analysis of the national systems and ensure that child protection programmes complement national child protection systems and work towards the inclusion of children of concern into national child protection laws, policies and services.

Programme planning and implementation
- Assist in the designing of child protection programmes, including multi-sectoral activities, and monitoring framework based on identified needs and in line with Child Protection Strategy and UNHCR's global, regional and national policies and standards, including the Framework for the Protection of Children and the Best Interests Procedure.
- Support in implementing quality child protection programmes, including multi-sectoral activities, in collaboration with partners and key stakeholders.
- Contribute to the effective implementation of Best Interests Procedure by UNHCR and partners for timely support for children at heightened risk including supervision of UNHCR case management staff in line with UNHCR Best Interests Procedures Guidelines.
- Work with the team to ensure that Best Interests Determination panels are carried out in a timely manner and recommendations are implemented as planned.
- Implement and monitor the application of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for child protection.
- Support UNHCR and partners' case workers to ensure that child protection information management is maintained in accordance with UNHCR's Policy and procedure as well as data sharing protocols.
- Support partners and communities in strengthening/ establishing community-based child protection programming.
- Support the monitoring of child protection partners' programmes in line with relevant partnerships-agreements to ensure all children at risk are identified and supported.
- Support protection and programme teams in identifying gaps and needs for the child protection and other related partners, participating closely in the annual programme cycle and partnerships revision.
- Provide functional guidance to UNHCR and partner staff involved in child protection activities.

Partnership and coordination
- Assist in strengthening strategic and innovative partnerships for Child Protection with community-based, local, national, and international organizations, with a focus on ensuring continuity and sustainability.
- Work with partners to ensure statistics and reporting on children at risk are provided on a regular basis.
- Support coordination among CP relevant stakeholders at the local level.
- Contribute to mainstreaming and integrating child protection considerations into other sectors.
- Contribute to interagency monitoring and reporting on child protection issues and programmes.
- Ensure CP issues are mainstreamed by working closely with other sectors.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
- Assist in identifying training needs of UNHCR, Government and partner staff in the area of child protection, and development of learning plans.
- Participate in initiatives to build capacity of authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Assist in providing functional guidance to UNHCR and partner staff involved in child protection activities
- Identify and document lessons learnt and good practices.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
International Law         Human Rights International Development
International Relations Anthropology Social Work
Gender Studies Political Science Social Science
or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
- Experience in the field of protection of children, broader protection or social work involving children and youth, with knowledge of issues relating to child protection, education, gender, humanitarian and development issues, and GBV prevention and response.
- Applied experience in child protection prevention and response.
- Skills and experience in interviewing and working with children and families including on child protection case management.
Desirable
- Knowledge of protection in forced displacement settings and knowledge and demonstrated use of UNHCR and Interagency child protection tools and Guidance.
- Knowledge of the international legal and policy framework governing refugees, asylum seekers and returnees and IDPs
- Knowledge and good understanding of the UNHCR Best Interests Procedures Guidelines
- Experience in working with children, adolescents and youth and participatory child friendly approaches.
- Experience implementing child protection case management and/or implementation of best interests procedures.
- Experience working with partners.

Functional Skills
PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
IT-Computer Literacy
CO-Cross-cultural communication
TR-Training - Virtual and face to face
PR-Child Protection Information Management System
*PR-Child Protection Prevention and Response Programming
PR-Child Protection Case Management and Best Interests Procedures
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation



Managerial Competencies
Empowering and Building Trust

Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Planning and Organizing


Language Requirements

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.


All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. Competencies as defined in Job Profile Knowledge of "English" is essential. Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).

An eliminatory or complementary written test for shortlisted candidates may be conducted which will be followed by competency-based interview.

Female Candidates are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must be nationals of, and be locally recruited within the country of their employment.
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== .Nature of the Position

Since 2013, Gambella Regional State has been impacted by the conflict in neighbouring Republic of South Sudan, leading to several refugee influxes. As of 31st December 2021, it was hosting 356,925 South Sudanese refugees in seven camps and a settlement. 66% of concerned refugees are children. Owing to their age, refugee children are at greater risks than adults of experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence. The disruption of protection mechanisms such as family and community in displacement situations can have a significant effect on children. By the end of 2021, 16,466 refugee children in Gambella Regional State had been identified as being at heightened risk, including unaccompanied and separated children as well as other vulnerable children. In line with its 2021-2025 Refugee Child Protection Strategy, UNHCR Ethiopia and its partners support child protection prevention and response programmes in the concerned region. While the Child Protection Sub-Sector has reached a number of achievements over the past years, it also faces some challenges and gaps, including the need to continue enhancing the information management system in place to strengthen child protection interventions.

The Assistant Protection Officer (Child) will be based in UNHCR Sub-Office Gambella. He/She will be a member of the Protection Section¿s Child Protection & Education Unit and report to the Child Protection Officer. He/She will mainly focus his/her activities on the knowledge and data component of the child protection system in place and provide quality, timely and effective support to UNHCR and its partners through capacity development, technical assistance to ensure the interoperability between the Child Protection Information Management System Plus (CPIMS+) and UNHCR proGres v.4 database, the documentation of lessons learned and data analysis relating to the CPIMS+ and proGres v4, etc. Tasks undertaken by the Assistant Protection Officer (Child) are expected to lead to the production of quality child protection data which will inform child protection programmes, fundraising and advocacy efforts.

The Assistant Protection Officer (Child) will liaise with local authorities and other partners on child protection issues as guided by the supervisor. He/She will also ensure that refugees are equally consulted and involved in decisions affecting their lives as appropriate.To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities as well as with partners in child protection and other relevant sectors.

Living and Working Conditions

Gambella is a non-family duty station. Ordinary guesthouses for staff are provided with plans to expand accommodation with modern facilities (Subject to availability). There are limited banking and medical facilities. There are daily commercial flights between Addis Ababa and Gambella. 

The diversity of topography in Ethiopia has resulted in a wide variety of climate in the country. The climate in Gambella is classified as tropical. The hottest season of the region is in March/April and temperature may rise to 45°C, followed by a long rainy season. Road network within the region is often affected by the heavy rainfall during the rainy season. The average annual temperature in Gambella is 27.6°C. The average annual rainfall is 1148 mm. Remoteness, isolation, and lack of entertainment in social life are the factors to be also considered prior to applying.

Security Considerations

Gambella is a non-family duty station and is currently at Security Level 3 - Moderate. The security situation in Gambella region has seen a significant deterioration in early 2016. The current security situation in the entire Gambella region is calm but remains unpredictable. There is an increase of criminality in Gambella town due to the economic challenges posed by COVID-19. Police have been reporting house breaking and street robbery related criminal activities.

The restriction of movement (curfew) is imposed on staff and occasionally on the activities in the field, depending on the development of the security situation. The security situation is expected to remain the same with no major changes according to the current reading of the situation. Road accidents are very common in Ethiopia due to dangerous driving and non-enforcement of traffic laws. The closing date for Submission of Applications is Thursday 02 June 2022 Mid Night Ethiopia Time.