Needed Senior Child Protection Specialist

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, Senior Child Protection Specialist

In Syria, close to 29,000 children of foreign fighters are languishing in camps, detention centers or orphanages. They face massive legal,logistical and political challenges in accessing basic services or returning to their countries of origin.Some 20,000 children are from Iraq and more than 9,000 are from around 60 other countries. At least 20,000 Syrian children related toarmed groups’ suspects require equal attention. In the MENA region, several hundred children related to armed groups face administrativedetention or are prosecuted under national security legislation and not specialized child justice legislation guided by international standards.UNICEF recognizes each country’s sovereign right to protect its national security interests. The firm commitment of the internationalcommunity to ensure a safe and dignified reintegration is a concrete step towards preventing further violence. We must ensure childrenremain safe. Any sense of insecurity can lead to more conflict.UNICEF and partners have tools to support children, families and their communities with sustainable recovery and reintegration. Post conflictreintegration entails appropriate support and opportunities for children and their caregivers/families for meaningful participation insocial, civic, and economic life. If they are treated equitably and if communities work together to reconcile and accept their children,returnees can reintegrate into normal life.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of Regional Child Protection Adviser, the Senior Child Protection Specialist provides technical leadership, qualityassurance against child rights standards, coordination and high-level advocacy for the protection of foreign children and other vulnerablechildren in war zones.

1. Coordination, Monitoring and Reporting:• Coordinate MENA region action plan on the foreign caseload and other vulnerable children in war zones• Facilitate communication and coordination between UNICEF country offices of war affected countries and countries of repatriation• Coordinate action with other concerned regions as required• Prepare regular briefing and reports for internal use and for advocacy purposes• Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in program and management, identify lessonslearned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.• Monitor programs/projects to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issuesand/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution• Submit/prepare reports to stakeholders to keep them informed on program progress and critical issues2. Technical support to country offices in the MENA Region:• Provide technical support to country offices in the MENA region on case management, IDTR, BIA/BID, psychosocial support, safereintegration.• Contribute to drafting policy and guidance documents• Conduct periodic progress reviews and quality assurance in line with performance indicators and international standards.• Support the development of country situation analysis, risk analysis to inform action in the best interest of children.3. Partnership development and management, fund raising:• Contribute to building institutional collaboration with UNHCR, ICRC, IOM and other concerned protection organizations• Identify and mobilize high-level technical partnerships/collaborations on case management, BIA/BID, repatriation, safe reintegration,mental health interventions and psychosocial support• Develop information sharing protocols with relevant partners• Lead fund raising initiatives for the implementation of programme interventions4. Data management and situation analysis:• Support the MENA region on the periodic analysis of data on the foreign caseload in Syria, Iraq and Libya.• Prepare briefings for internal and external use5. Strategic representation and advocacy:• Engage with member states on the safe repatriation of children and reintegration support.• Advocacy with high-level government officials for the safe, dignified and voluntary return to and reintegration of children in their countriesof origin.• Respond to request for information, guidance and support from member states.

Impact of Results:

The efficient technical leadership, diplomatic skills and strategic thinking of the Senior Child Protection Specialist will contribute to thefollowing goals:- Establishment of international protection mechanisms for children from war zones (safe repatriation, care and reintegration)- Member states’ commitment to the protection of children in war zone with focus on durable solutions.- Establishment of multi-country and multi-agency coordination on foreign children and other vulnerable children comprising: informationsharing; standard procedures; and efficient use of resources- Development of programme strategies and partnerships to deliver appropriate services, case management and reintegration programmes in in a complex operating environment- Resources are mobilized to implement programme interventions

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

1. Education: An Advanced University degree in international development, public health, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law or othersocial science field is required.
2. Experience: A minimum of 10 years of professional experience preferably in child protection in humanitarian contextsSolid experience developing systems in the following areas: case management, BIA/BID, IDTR, mental health and reintegration of childrenaffected by armed conflict.
3. Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are….

Core Values:• Care• Respect• Integrity• Trust• Accountability

Core competencies:• Communication (III)• Working with people (III)• Drive for results (III)

Functional Competencies:• Leading and supervising (III)• Formulating strategies/concepts (III)• Analyzing (III)• Relating and networking (III)• Deciding and initiating action (III)• Applying Technical Expertise (III)

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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