Child Protection Officer

E (most hardship)Non Family with Residential LocationNon Family with Residential LocationNairobi (CO), KenyaPR3Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular AssignmentNo2023-01-27-08:00February 16, 2023Child 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 Child Protection Officer is a member of the protection team in a Country or Sub-Office. S/he may report to a Senior Child Protection Officer, Senior (Community-Based) Protection Officer, Head of Sub-Office or to the Assistant Representative for Protection. In smaller Offices, the post may report directly to the Representative. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for child protection staff. S/he provides functional child protection oversight to information management and programme staff. The incumbent works directly with communities and children of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. The incumbent also acts as an advisor to senior management in designing a child protection strategy that fits within the broader Protection and Solutions Strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with persons of concern, including children, adolescents and youth. The incumbent plans and undertakes quality, timely and effective child protection responses in line with UNHCR's Framework for Child Protection, in an age, gender and diversity inclusive manner. The Child Protection Officer will maintain a close working relationship with the Bureau and the Division of International Protection for system-wide coherence. 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 timely assessment, monitoring, reporting of child protection issues including through multi-sectoral and protection specific assessments and monitoring including the meaningful participation of children, adolescents and youth and lead the analysis of child protection related findings. - Monitor the implementation of UNHCR's Child Protection strategy within the overall Protection and Solutions strategy. - 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. - In collaboration with partners, assess the capacity of national child protection system and services, work towards the inclusion of children of concern into national child protection laws, policies and services and build the capacity of the national child protection system to provide quality support to children of concern. - Oversee child protection data and evidence collection, analysis and dissemination within UNHCR and partners. - Support the participation of children, adolescents and youth of concern to inform protection and assistance programming, support their engagement in protection solutions and ensure that UNHCR meets its commitments to accountability to children, adolescents and youth of concern. - Ensure that existing protection monitoring mechanisms adequately capture protection risks facing children, adolescents and youth. - Support evidence-based advocacy with UNHCR senior management, authorities and other actors on child protection. Programme planning and implementation - Design and monitor the implementation of UNHCR's child protection programme, including multi-sectoral activities to address the protection needs of children of concern. - Establish/enhance and oversee Best Interests Procedures for children at risk including referral systems, follow-up and monitoring in line with UNHCR Best Interests Procedures Guidelines. - Establish/update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for child protection services in collaboration with partners. - Ensure UNHCR and partners' child protection information management systems are functioning in accordance with UNHCR's Policy and procedure as well as interagency data sharing protocols and standards. - Strengthen community-based child protection programmes and approaches in collaboration with communities and community-based protection colleagues. - In collaboration with UNHCR colleagues, ensure that UNHCR procedures, including registration, refugee status determination, solutions and accountability mechanisms are child-friendly and are in line with AGD approach. - Provide technical support to UNHCR colleagues to effectively mainstream child protection in UNHCR's overall response. - Monitor and refine child protection programs implemented by UNHCR and partners. - Support the integration of child protection in the operation's planning, reporting, communication and fund raising. - Provide functional guidance to UNHCR and partner staff involved in child protection activities. - Advise UNHCR programme and senior management to ensure that the necessary human and financial resources are allocated to protect children of concern. Partnership and coordination - Establish and/or strengthen partnerships for Child Protection with community-based, local, national, and international organizations, with a focus on ensuring continuity and sustainability. - Establish, strengthen and where appropriate lead Child Protection coordination mechanisms, within the broader protection working group/cluster and in consultation with the Senior Protection Officer or Head of Office. - Represent UNHCR's position and priorities in relation to child protection in inter-agency fora. - Contribute to interagency monitoring and reporting on child protection issues and programmes. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building - In collaboration with partners, assess learning needs on child protection for UNHCR teams, partners and government counterparts. - Develop and implement child protection capacity development plan and activities for UNHCR staff and partners, supports relevant interagency capacity building and integrates child protection within broader UNHCR capacity building plans and initiatives. - Provide child protection technical guidance to UNHCR and partner staff in protection, education, health and other relevant sectors. - Introduce innovative approaches, document and disseminate lessons learnt and good practices in child protection and apply relevant knowledge on effective child protection programming to the operation/region. - Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree Field(s) of Education International Law, Human Rights, International Development, International Relations, Anthropology, Social Work, 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 At least 4 years of progressively responsible 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. Demonstrated knowledge of and implementation of multi-sectorial child protection prevention and response programming. Knowledge of protection in forced displacement settings, knowledge and demonstrated use of UNHCR and Interagency child protection tools and guidance. Strong experience in interacting with and building partnerships and synergies with UN agencies, NGOs and civil society organizations. Skills and experience in interviewing and working with children and families and supervising staff on case management of at risk children. Desirable Knowledge of the international legal and policy framework governing refugees, asylum seekers and returnees and IDPs. Demonstrated knowledge of community communication and engagement approaches including community-based child protection. Extensive experience in working with children, adolescents and youth and participatory child friendly approaches. Demonstrated coordination and consensus building skills to manage multiple stakeholder consultation processes. Experience managing child protection case management programmes, including implementation of best interests procedures. Demonstrated understanding of critical issues around child protection data and knowledge of safe and ethical data collection analysis and conducting assessments. Experience using ProGres, CPIMS or other protection data management systems. Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of position and/or interagency child protection learning programme. Demonstrated knowledge of engagement with child protection Interagency humanitarian architecture, experience in interagency coordination and strong skills in working with partners Functional Skills *PR-Child Protection Prevention and Response Programming IT-Computer Literacy DM-Data Management CO-Drafting and Documentation TR-Training - Virtual and face to face PR-Child Protection Case Management and Best Interests Procedures PR-Child Protection Information Management System CO-Cross-cultural communication CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate) (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English. 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. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.The desired candidate should have experience of work in a camp setting. The candidate is expected to have a strong experience in managing Child Protection Sector in a camp setting by leading the Sector as well as design and monitor the implementation of UNHCR’s child protection programme, including multi-sectoral activities to address the protection needs of refugee children. Strong background in case management is also necessary. The candidate will be expected to design and implement Child Protection related capacity building activities for authorities, partners and staff, provide on the job training for the team members and provide technical advice. The candidate is expected to have experience in managing GBV and Youth related projects and activities. The Child Protection Officer will be expected to supervise GBV and Youth teams, support them in design of relevant projects and interventions. Strong experience in drafting UNHCR’s Child Protection strategy, SOPs and guidance notes in coordination with authorities and partners is required.

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

UNHCR Sub-Office Kakuma covers two main areas of operation: Kakuma refugee camp and Kalobeyei integrated settlement. Kakuma refugee camp is located in the North-western region of Kenya, about 720.4 Km from Nairobi. Kakuma camp and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement have a total population of over 219,000 registered refugees and asylum-seekers at the end December 2022.
Apart from UNHCR 's main role of protecting the refugees and asylum seekers, other services provided by UN agency for refugees and other humanitarian agencies include: food, water, shelter, sanitation, education, healthcare, and protection and livelihood programs. Core protection activities include registration, prevention and response to child protection and GBV, refugee status determination (RSD), durable solutions, and delivery of legal and physical protection.

The Child Protection Officer will report directly to the Snr Protection Officer. S/He will lead the Unit which oversees Child protection as well as GBV teams. S/He will be working closely with different protection teams, staff in the office and relevant Partners to establish multi-sectorial Child Protection prevention and response mechanisms as well as overall GBV response in Kakuma and Kalobeyei. This will require overseeing and setting a strategic direction for UNHCR 's overall child protection and GBV response in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, as part of UNHCR 's broader protection programme. It entails provision of technical support and guidance to ensure that the programmatic content of the Child Protection and GBV response is sound, based on evidence and results-oriented. S/He should have managerial skills.

S/He will be leading the Inter-Agency Child Protection Working Group in Sub-County level and working closely with national authorities, UN agencies and partners. The Child Protection Officer will also oversee working group on GBV, liaise with relevant Partners and community to resolve GBV related challenges.

Living and Working Conditions:

All international staff reside on UNHCR compound which is 5 minutes drive from the Kakuma airstrip. The compound houses both offices and residences. Residential rooms have bathrooms and are equipped with basic necessities such as bed, wardrobe, TV, AC, refrigerators and gas stove (in most houses). Staff provide his/her own linen (bedsheets, towels,etc) and toiletries. The rooms are cleaned daily from Monday to Friday by cleaning company. Laundry is done separately at extra cost. There is a cafeteria and bar run by a private company, where three meals are provided daily for a fee. There is a gym within the compound and a basketball court at the outer perimeter of the compound
Kakuma town has shops selling toiletries such as soap, lotion, toothpaste, food items such as rice, unga flour, beans, bread, sugar, coffee or vegetables such as tomato, potato, capsicum, onion, garlic and meat produce such as poultry, beef and goat meat. There are several churches and several mosques in the town. Equity Bank is the only bank available in the area. The ATM machine accepts some credit and debit cards, dispensing local currency - Kenyan Shillings.
Turkana County is generally characterized by high temperatures (average 35 degrees Celsius/95 Fahrenheit) and is relatively humid. November-December is the short rainy season. Long rains start in mid-March and end in June. Movement to the camp/settlement and neighbouring towns becomes limited when the numerous seasonal rivers get flooded. The risk of malaria is high.
Kakuma Sub Office is a Security Level 3 (moderate). The overall security situation in the Kakuma operation area has been calm and stable over the past few months. While UNHCR operations in Kakuma camp and Kalobeyei settlement have not been directly affected by insecurity, humanitarian operations and program delivery modalities are constantly reviewed and the security posture is adjusted in order to mitigate the risks.
Movement in and out of the UNHCR Compound of UN personnel, partners and visitors is restricted from 22:00Hrs to 05:00Hrs. In Kakuma Camp and Kalobeyei, staff are expected to return from refugee camps and integrated settlement to the UNHCR compound by 18:00 hrs.
The security of the UNHCR compound is provided by UN Security and Safety Service (UNDSS), also a private guard company as well as the Kenya Police Service. Staff are expected to always cooperate with security personnel and keep ID badge/visitors pass visible at all times while in the compound.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

MG-Workplace coaching, PR-Child marriage prevention and response, PR-Child Protection Advocacy and awareness-raising, PR-Child protection capacity development, PR-Child Protection Community-based mechanisms/ approaches, PR-Child Protection Inter-Agency Coordination and Information Management, PR-Child protection mainstreaming in Local Integration strategies and programmes, PR-Child protection mainstreaming into other sectors, PR-Child Protection National Legal and policy framework, PR-Children recruitment by armed forces and groups prevention and response, PR-Child-specific participatory assessments, PR-Child trafficking prevention and response, PR-Community-based alternative care arrangements, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention programming, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) response programming, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) risk mitigationBA: Human Rights Law (Required), BA: International Refugee Law, BA: Law, BA: Social Work (Required)

Certifications

Annual Budget OL in Operation/Office, Number of Persons of Concern Served, Number of Workforce in Operation/Work Setting, Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Asylum Seekers, Working with Persons of Concern: Others of Concern, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Add.2 to Bi-annual Compendium 2022 - Part BThis position doesn't require a functional clearance

---