Child Protection Specialist

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Description

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• 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
• 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 MENARO and COs 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 programmes (WASH, Health, Nutrition, Education, Child Protection, etc.) on PSEA and GBV risk mitigation.
• 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
• Review CO planning and reporting documents

• Incorporate GBV prevention and mitigation strategies into the policies, standards, and guidelines of all programmes in humanitarian action
• Advocate for the integration of GBV risk-reduction strategies into national and local policies and plans
• Equip and train UNICEF and partners on GBV risk mitigation
• Advice CO on safety audits across all programmes

• Support the IP Management 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
• Engage with the Risk Management team to ensure PSEA is fully integrated in UNICEF work (Programme and Operations)

• 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 CP in Regional Office coordination mechanisms for thematic areas with strong linkages with PSEA e.g., Accountability to Affected Populations and Disability inclusion
• 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

• Develop programme knowledge acquisition through systematic collection of country programme experience (lessons learned, best practices, reviews, evaluations) in the area of PSEA, including a key focus on the best practices; facilitate sharing of this knowledge between UNICEF country offices.
• Promote critical thinking and innovative approaches on PSEA, keeping abreast of current research and introducing and implementing cutting edge practices on reporting (e.g., U-report, Primero), victim/survivor assistance and protection, accountability, and prevention. Work to institutionalize and disseminate best practices and knowledge learned, including in humanitarian emergency settings.
• Contribute to innovative approaches for Accountability to Affected Populations, including the Complaints, Feedback and Response Mechanisms

• 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 8 years of relevant professional experience in programme design, planning, implementation, and management relevant to child protection, GBV, PSEA or related field, preferably with the UN and/or international NGO.
• Experience working in multiple humanitarians and/or development contexts on implementing PSEA or protection related programming for children or adults.
• Familiarity with the latest developments in PSEA, inter-agency PSEA responses and humanitarian cluster systems and understanding of the intersections of PSEA with other technical areas (e.g., GBV, Child Protection, AAP, etc.)
• Experience with training and capacity building in PSEA or relevant technical areas
• Excellent communication, facilitation, training, networking, and advocacy skills.
• Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions and exercise sound judgement in high-pressure situations.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.
• 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.

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