Senior Child Protection Specialist (UASC/CM), P-5, TA, Child Protection, PG, NYHQ (364 days)

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

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

The Sr. Child Protection Specialist, Unaccompanied and Separated Children/Case Management (UASC/CM) supports delivery of UNICEF results related to prevention of family separation and response to the needs of UASC in humanitarian situations, as well as delivery of child protection case management for children at risk, for the Child Protection in Humanitarian (CPHA) Unit within the Child Protection Programme Team (CPPT).

How can you make a difference?

The Sr. Child Protection Specialist, (UASC/CM) reports to the Senior Adviser, Child Protection in Humanitarian Action for general guidance and direction. The Sr. Child Protection Specialist, (UASC/CM) is responsible for managing and leading child protection programmes/projects on UASC & CP case management at HQ level, from strategic planning and formulation to achieving concrete and sustainable contributions to UNICEF’s global efforts to create a protective environment for children against all harm and to protect their rights to protection from all forms of violence, exploitation, abuse, and harmful practices as established under UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, international treaties/frameworks and UN intergovernmental bodies.

The Sr. Child Protection Specialist, (UASC/CM) is responsible for leading and managing the UASC/CM workstreams establishing the plans of action to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable programme/project results, according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

Specifically, the key functions of the Sr. Child Protection Specialist, (UASC/CM), will include: 

1. Managerial leadership

• Establish and deliver the CHPA’s annual work plan results related to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations with the child protection programme team; set priorities/targets and performance measurements. Monitor work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.
• Lead strategic global engagement with UNHCR and IOM at senior level as it pertains to child protection in refugee, mixed-migration and IDP contexts respectively, in line with the UNHCR UNICEF Strategic Collaboration Framework, and the IOM UNICEF Strategic Dialogue.
• Manage and mobilize resources to advance UNICEF’s global work on prevention of family separation, protection of UASC, and delivery of case management in complex emergencies. 
• Manage programme partnerships, consultancies, or other contracts as needed to deliver the necessary results, expertise and global goods.

2. Programme development and planning

• Lead the planning and updating of the situation analysis to ensure that current and comprehensive data on issues related to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations is available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy advocacy, intervention and development efforts on child rights and protection, and to set programme priorities, strategies, design and implementation plans.
• Keep abreast of national, regional and international development priorities on child protection and rights in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations, to leverage UNICEF’s position and competencies with donors, national governments, communities and constituents to advocate and promote child protection interventions, policies and social change to achieve goals on child’s rights, protection, survival and wellbeing, as productive members of society.
• Lead, coordinate and supervise the development of child protection programmes/projects in relation to UNICEF’s strategic plan and specifically on UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations. Establish plans of action, programme goals and results, using results-based planning methodology and terminology (RBM).
• Oversee the timely preparation of programme recommendations and related documentation ensuring alignment with overall UNICEF Strategic (Child Protection) Plans, regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Consult and collaborate with national and global colleagues, partners and allies to develop partnership frameworks to address specific needs and to leverage resources for enhancing and scaling up child protection programmes/projects in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations. Ensure synergy, integration, coherence, and harmonization of programmes/projects with UNICEF Strategic Plans and priorities, donors’ development strategies/policies, national priorities/competencies and UN System development interventions/initiatives
• Ensure emergency preparedness is contained in national programmes/projects to ensure the protection and well-being of children in cases of armed conflict, natural disasters and other emergency situations, particularly in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations

3. Programme management, monitoring and quality control of results

• Coordinate, plan and collaborate on monitoring and evaluation initiatives to establish benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators, to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results in child protection programmes related to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations.
• Participate in major monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations as required, to assess progress and to engage stakeholders to take required action and interventions to achieve results.
• Assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths, and/or weaknesses in programme management in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations. Identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Plan, approve, monitor, certify, and control the use of programme resources (financial, human, administrative and other assets) certifying/verifying compliance with organizational rules, regulations and procedures, donor commitments and standards of accountability and integrity. Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Submit and prepare programme/project reports to donors and other partners to keep them informed on programme progress and critical issues.

4. Advisory services and technical support

• Provide technical advice to Member States, civil society, UN system and other partners on strategies and best practices to influence approaches/policies, support social/economic/political/legal development planning & implementation, and to support delivery of results on child protection, human rights and other related issues, in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations.
• Coordinate and ensure the availability of technical experts (with Regional and Country Offices) to ensure timely support throughout all stages of programming/project processes in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations.
• Participate in strategic discussions to influence policy and agenda setting for combating inequities and all forms of discrimination against women/children by advising on and advocating strategies and approaches to promote and catalyze social changes for child survival, development and well being in society, particularly in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations.
• Contribute, as needed to country discussions on child protection emergency preparedness, programming and contingency planning to ensure proactive and appropriate responses are in place to meet onset of emergencies nationally, or in other designated locations in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations.

5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through networking and advocacy with Member States, UN system agency partners, donors, internationally recognized institutions, NGOs, funding organizations, research institutes and private sector to reinforce cooperation and/or pursue opportunities to promote goals and achieve sustainable and results in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations.
• Support country offices as they develop communication strategies and implementation plans and activities for maximum communication impact and outreach to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances for sustainable results and support fund raising for UNICEF and Country Office child protection programmes and emergency interventions in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in inter-agency discussions and planning on child protection and related issues to ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered planning and agenda setting, including the Alliance for Child Protectoin in Humanitairan Action and its UASC Task Force. Support COs to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on UNSDCF planning and preparation of programmes/projects including emergency preparedness.

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable child protection programme/project initiatives in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations, through advocacy and technical advisory services.

• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, introduce, and implement best and cutting edge practices on child protection management and information systems, particularly in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations. Institutionalize and disseminate best practices and knowledge learned.

• Lead the development of global policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.

• Lead, plan and implement global capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders to promote sustainable results on in relation  to programmes/projects on UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations.

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

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.
• A minimum of ten years of professional experience in programme planning and management in child protection related areas, at the international level, is required.
• A minimum of 5 years experience on issues related to unaccompanied and separated children and / or mixed migration is required. Experience on child protection case management an asset
• Experience working in a developing country is required.
• Relevant experience in programme planning and programme management in child protection related areas in a UN system agency or organization is required.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is required.
• Demonstrated experience with coordination and handling of interagency engagement and partnerships at a global level a significant advantage.
• 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 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…

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

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:

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.