Associate Child Protection Officer

Volunteering Admin Security

Overview

Support child protection initiatives and manage cases for refugees.

You have:

• Minimum 3 years of work experience with refugees and/or other people of concern in a protection capacity.
• Knowledge of UN policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of community communication and engagement approaches.
• Excellent drafting and analytical skills.
• Skills in conducting trainings and exercises with large groups of people.
• Ability to manage information in a confidential manner.

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

As of 30 June 2025, Uganda hosts 1,913,153 refugees, predominantly from South Sudan (52.8%) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (32.7%). Most (92%) of the refugees live in settlements while 8% live in Kampala. Secondary cities and other rural areas also host refugee households (HHs)1. Among the registered population women and girls make up 51%, while women and children together constitute 78% of the total refugee population. Children represent 52% of the total refugee population, with adolescents aged 12-17 comprising 17%. The youth population between the ages of 15-24 represents 25%, while the elderly population constitutes only 3% of the total refugee population.2

UNHCR Uganda has made significant progress in strengthening child protection systems through the implementation of the Best Interests Procedure (BIP), capacity-building efforts, and community-based protection initiatives. The operation has established strong collaboration with national structures to deliver protection services for children at heightened risk, particularly unaccompanied and separated children. In January 2024, UNHCR and partners launched the second phase of a joint initiative aimed at advancing new ways of working across humanitarian and development agendas. This initiative places strong emphasis on strengthening national and local systems, promoting the inclusion of refugees within host communities, and ensuring protection and prosperity for both populations. Refugee protection remains a central pillar of this approach. The Government of Uganda (GoU) has demonstrated strong commitment to the inclusion of refugees in national protection systems, with a focus on making child protection (CP) and gender-based violence (GBV) frameworks inclusive and services universally accessible. The current strategic direction of UNHCR and partners aligns closely with these national priorities and complements ongoing efforts to build sustainable, locally led protection systems.

Under the direct the supervision of the Senior Community Based Protection Officer - Protection, the UNV will undertake the following functions:

• Individual child protection case work according to best interests procedures; conducting best interests assessments (BIA), best interests determinations (BID) and family tracing/reunification in accordance with relevant UNHCR protection standards and IASC guidance, ensuring appropriate case tracking and follow-up of child protection cases.

• Support staff and partners in the strengthening of a functioning Best Interests system: identification, assessment, referral, response and assistance, monitoring and documenting of cases of children at risk.

• Support the organization of and trainings in Best Interests Procedures and Child Protection.

• Contribute to effective child protection reporting and information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.

• Contribute to the systematic application of participatory, community and rights-based approaches, ensuring that children, adolescents and youth are included (as appropriate) in participatory assessments and community-based protection initiatives.

• Contribute to capacity-building initiatives for communities, including children, adolescents and youth to assert their rights and to strengthen community-based child protection initiatives.

• Participate in the updating, implementation and monitoring of child protection related SOPs.

• Support the implementation of the child protection aspects of the Country Protection Strategy and programming in relation to individual case management but also participatory evaluations, setting up of alternative care arrangements, strengthening of child protection mechanisms and establishment of youth programming.

• Support other child protection activities and initiatives in coordination with colleagues in the operation.

• Contribute to the implementation of UNHCR framework for the protection of children, and specifically the child protection strategy in the Country.

• Specifics to sub/field offices work if support is needed and requested:

• Support/establish working BID panel and best interests system in close collaboration with staff and partners.

• Follow-up and support on child protection cases and BID/BIA case management, including referrals for family tracing and response to specific needs.

• In collaboration with colleagues, promote and find durable solutions for children (and their families).

• Support participatory, AGD-sensitive analysis to form the essential basis for UNHCR’s work.

• Intervene with authorities on child protection issues.

• Contribute to national/sub-national (child) protection (including sectoral/cluster) strategies, project submissions and budgets.

• Support other Child Protection related activities.

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNHCR; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNHCR procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNHCR in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Minimum 3 years of work experience with refugees and/or other people of concern in a protection capacity, individual case work (managing interviews, conducting assessments, counselling, case advocacy and management, identifying solutions, etc.). Inter-national experience required.

Desirable Qualifications and Skills:

• Knowledge of UN policies and procedures; • Knowledge / awareness of UNHCR’s Framework for the Protection of Children and Education and SGBV strategies; • Knowledge of community communication and engagement approaches; • Knowledge / awareness of cross cultural issues, especially in the context of child protection; • Knowledge / awareness of gender issues and how to apply rights and community based approach to identify and respond to specific needs; • Previous experience in child protection is a great advantage; • Previous experience in working with communities; • Skills in conducting trainings and exercises with large groups of people (e.g. trainings, participatory evaluations); • Excellent drafting and analytical skills; • Excellent interviewing and counselling skills; • Ability to manage information, in a confidential manner, and to use database management systems; • Ability to conduct individual and group assessments and to identify protection risks, to liaise with partners and pro-actively find solutions. • Other

Computer skills: Office Package (excellent knowledge of Word, good knowledge of Excel and Power Point) and Internet browsing.

Kampala is a Family Duty Station. The capital and administrative city of Uganda, Kampala has a lot to offer to a family. • Availability of expat-type accommodation ranges from impressive houses and gardens in secure compounds to condo-style blocks, to small family accommodation with modest gardens – again, usually with their own compound. • Getting a mobile connection in Kampala couldn’t be easier and finding an internet connection is no longer a difficult task. • Power supply might be irregular in some areas hence a generator or backup inverter might be necessary. • Medical facilities including hospital of good quality are available. The threats of malaria, hepatitis and other diseases and parasites are potentially high. However, you can significantly reduce the possibility of contracting any of these diseases by ensuring all your vaccinations are up-to-date before you arrive and by sleeping under a mosquito net. • There are plenty of international schools offering a variety of curriculum including IB, French and Cambridge/UK curriculum. • There are supermarkets in all residential areas, and there is a good choice of imported staples (like cereals and snacks) as well as good local vegetables and meat/fish. Online purchase and home delivery is picking up since covid and very convenient.
• There is no decent public transport available, but Taxis/Uber are commonly used, and vehicle purchase is an easy option as the offer is wide and process easy to manage. Traffic can be heavy at certain times of the day, roads sometimes badly surfaced. • Although Kampala and Entebbe are considered under a moderate security levels (Security levels III), many UN agencies and funds are headquartered in Kampala including UNHCR 's branch office to provide support on the mandate to protect and assist refugees of both Urban caseloads and those in settlements in the South west, Mid-west and West Nile regions. The major threats to staff include, but are not limited to, the prospect of terrorism, high road traffic accidents, common law crimes, and occasional political /civil unrest. The security management systems have put in place mitigation measures to avert the impact of the threats therein, and it is a collective responsibility of all staff members.

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Potential interview questions

Added 9 months ago - Updated 8 months ago - Source: unv.org