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Child Protection Specialist (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation & Abuse (PSEA)), Temporary Appointment (364 days), P-4, Nairobi, Kenya, Eastern & Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO)

Nairobi

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Nairobi
  • Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Women's Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming
    • Children's rights (health and protection)
    • Protection Officer (Refugee)
    • Gender-based violence
    • Drugs, Anti-Money Laundering, Terrorism and Human Trafficking
  • Closing Date: Closed

UNICEF ESARO is looking for a dynamic and talented professional to support the 21 countries across the region in the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation (PSEA). If you believe you have the skills and experience to lead in this portfolio, we would like for you to submit your application.

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, protection. 

Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)  is at the core of UNICEF’s mandate. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated by UNICEF personnel and by personnel and sub-contractors of UNICEF Implementing Partners. SEA constitutes the most serious breach of accountability by the humanitarian sector. Consequently, the PSEA is distinctly linked to accountability to affected populations (AAP), with a high profile and a strong set of specific commitments. In December 2018, under the IASC Championship of UNICEF Executive Director, the IASC Principals laid out three main priorities to prevent and respond to SEA, namely: 1) safe and accessible reporting that is gender and child sensitive; 2) quality SEA survivor assistance; and 3) enhanced accountability, including through prompt and respectful investigations. UNICEF is also committed to work in collaboration with other UN agencies in implementing the Strategy of the Secretary-General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection From Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13); the IASC Plan for Accelerating Protection from SEA in humanitarian response and in rolling out the UN Victim Assistance Protocol, Technical Note and Training Package which UNICEF is leading globally.

Across East and Southern Africa (ESA), risks of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) are high and become even more severe in humanitarian settings including armed conflicts, natural disasters and public health emergencies.  UNICEF East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) has been scaling up efforts to address PSEA in all 21 countries in the region. This includes support to increase access to survivor assistance through GBV and Child Protection specialised programming, developing safe and accessible reporting mechanisms that is gender and age sensitive, building capacity among staff and implementing partners on PSEA and strengthening SEA investigation capacity.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this position is to strengthen UNICEF ESARO’s work to scale up PSEA efforts across the region and provide technical support and guidance to UNICEF country offices (CO) to accelerate PSEA implementation, with a particular focus on humanitarian contexts and the L3 in the Horn of Africa. The Child Protection Specialist (PSEA) will work directly within the UNICEF ESARO Child Protection team and engage collaboratively with UNICEF sections at the regional level, particularly the HACT Specialist responsible for oversight of UNICEF’s implementing partners at CO level, and in COs to enhance efforts to address PSEA including prevention, reporting, response and monitoring of SEA. Under the direct supervision of ESARO CP Specialist for Emergencies, working in close cooperation with the Child Protection Specialist (Gender Based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE)), the Child Protection Specialist (PSEA) will provide technical assistance to strengthen CO capacities to develop access to safe and child sensitive reporting channels, including within community-based complaint mechanisms; scale up survivor assistance; and to support cases investigation, as relevant. The Child Protection Specialist (PSEA) will work directly with PSEA Specialists and focal points and engage with AAP Focal Points in the RO and COs.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Child Protection Specialist (Emergencies), the incumbent will:

  1. Provide strategic and technical support to UNICEF ESARO and COs to scale up efforts to address PSEA
  • Contribute to the implementation and roll out of global and regional guidance and strategies to improve efforts to address SEA including survivor assistance, SEA investigations, SEA risk assessments and engagement with government and other partners.
  • Contribute to the Roll-Out of the UN Victim Assistance Protocol in ESA and support capacity building across COs and at the inter-agency level. 
  • Provide technical support to COs for implementation of survivor assistance to ensure survivors have access to appropriate services i.e. medical, psychosocial, legal and material support, in accordance with the UN Victim Assistance protocol.
  • Strengthen COs capacities to develop and improve access to safe, gender and age sensitive reporting channels including community-based complaint mechanisms (CBCM).
  • Promote adherence to global procedures for SEA reporting and strengthen understanding among UNICEF staff and partners on UNICEF PSEA policies and reporting procedures.
  • Provide technical support to ESARO Senior Management, and quality assurance to COs for receiving, handling, and referring SEA allegations including submitting Significant Incident Reporting (SIR) in line with UNICEF instruction for reporting allegations of SEA and Concerns of Abuse.
  • Provide technical support to ESARO Senior Management, and quality assurance for the inclusion of PSEA into programmes (WASH, Health, Nutrition, Education, Emergencies, Social Behaviour Change, etc.).
  • Lead initiatives for COs to build capacity of partners for SEA investigations including documentation of reported SEA allegations and taking appropriate measures to ensure safety and confidentiality of survivors, complainants and witnesses.
  1. Strengthen knowledge management and policy development on PSEA for ESARO and COs
  • Contribute to the development of new global and regional guidance and strategies of specific relevance including the global government cooperation framework on PSEA.
  • Keep abreast of developments with PSEA and child safeguarding and make appropriate recommendations for UNICEF ESARO on enhancing prevention and response strategies.
  • Support documentation of good practices, learning exchanges and forums on PSEA interventions and regularly update the SharePoint sites for ESAR staff to access policy and guidance materials studies n PSEA, and child safeguarding.
  • Actively monitor financial and human resource capacity to ensure sufficient resources are in place to effectively achieve UNICEF PSEA commitments particularly in emergency settings.
  • Promote the inclusion of PSEA into resource mobilization efforts, reports, proposals, ToRs, humanitarian appeal processes, advocacy materials and other relevant documents, as required.
  • Monitor progress of PSEA implementation in the region and provide regular updates including briefing notes, programme reports and other documents to inform ESARO senior management.
  1. Work closely with the Programme Specialist for HACT to operationalize the UNICEF Procedure for PSEA Assessments of CSO Implementing Partnerships.
  • Support the HACT Specialist in the regional office to monitor quality standards of PSEA Assessments conducted by Cos, advise COs on actions based on partner assessment, and provide technical support to the development of IP Action Plans as needed.
  • Strengthen capacity for country offices to conduct partner assessments, including transitioning to the UN common system for assessments, strengthen field monitoring and partner capacity for both CSOs and government, building CO capacity through PSEA Toolkit and Action Plan.
  1. Improve coordination of UNICEF PSEA interventions internally and at the inter-agency level.
  • Support UNICEF CO PSEA Focal Points (FPs) and Specialists by organizing regular meetings, providing trainings, enhancing communication and information sharing among COs on PSEA.
  • Strengthen implementation of COs PSEA inter-agency initiatives/networks, including the setting-up of in-country PSEA Networks.
  • Represent UNICEF on the inter-agency PSEA regional working group and on UNICEF HQ coordination groups and maintain close relationship with PSEA focal points in other regions.
  • Regularly support COs capacity building efforts including co-facilitating PSEA training modules for UNICEF and IPs staff as appropriate on international standards on PSEA, roles and responsibilities, and how to submit and receive complaints and strengthening GBV services for survivor assistance.

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

  • An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in  one of the following fields: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.
  • A minimum of eight of relevant professional experience in  design, implementation and management of child protection or GBV programming, PSEA and child safeguarding, preferably with the UN and/or international NGO in humanitarian contexts.
  • Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
  • Experience in and knowledge of UN and IASC policies and guidance related but not limited to PSEA, AAP, GBV and Centrality of Protection. Familiarity with the latest development in PSEA, interagency PSEA responses and humanitarian cluster systems. IASC PSEA Training for Coordinators will be considered an advantage.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to liaise with people successfully and effectively in a wide range of functions in a multi-cultural environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.
  • Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions.
  • Excellent facilitation, training, networking and advocacy skills.
  • Strong understanding of GBV and Child Protection case management systems and survivor assistance.
  • Experience in community engagement and development of community-based complaints and feedback mechanisms.
  • Availability to travel frequently in the region.
  • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French or Portuguese an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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:

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either: a role with direct contact with children, works directly with child, is a safeguarding response role or has been assessed as an elevated risk role for child safeguarding. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) applies.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. 

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

This vacancy is now closed.
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