Child Protection Associate

Volunteering Legal

Overview

Provide specialized programme and administrative support to UNICEF's programmes.

You have:

• Experience in program support functions
• Ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative data
• Skills in monitoring budgets and financial expenditures
• Proficiency in preparing reports and documentation
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Experience in capacity development activities
• Relevant experience in programme development in child protection related areas
• Experience programming related to social norms change
• Experience working with coordination platforms for ending child marriage

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF believes that all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfil their potential – to the benefit of a better world. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

In addition to duty station specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.

Under the supervision and guidance of the supervisor, the Programme Associate provides specialized programme and administrative support to facilitate the development, implementation and monitoring of UNICEF's programmes. The role involves substantial engagement in data analysis, budget tracking, reporting, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective delivery and compliance with organizational rules. Incumbent exercises judgment, anticipates needs, and recommends actions that contribute to programme planning, implementation and reporting results.

Specific tasks are as follows: 1. Project Management and Implementing Partnership Coordination • Support overall project planning, execution, and monitoring for assigned initiatives • Assist in establishment and operationalizing implementing partnership management functions by coordinating the processes required for risk assessments (Due Diligence, PSEA and Micro-Assessment, Spot checks) • Work with Programme Managers, Partners and relevant stakeholders in ensuring Funding Authorization and Certificate of Expenditures (FACE) requests submitted are aligned with the project workplan and processed timely. • Monitors prompt liquidation of Direct Cash Transfer (DCTs)

2. Data Management, Analysis & Reporting • Contribute to collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative programme data to support evidence-based decision-making. • Generate regular reports, dashboards and presentations on key performance indicators and donor reporting. • Support the application of digital and AI tools for synthesizing complex data and creating actionable insights for statutory reports, dashboards and presentations on key performance indicators.

3. Grant Management, Budget Monitoring and Reporting • Regularly track budget allocations, expenditures and monitor grant utilization for the section and individual grants using relevant systems (e.g., SAP). • Contribute to grants management, monitor their expiry, and support reprogramming or extension processes. • Prepare periodic and ad-hoc grant management reports for supervisors, programme leads and for donor reporting. • Facilitate generating funds utilization report to track expenditures and commitments. • Contribute to the development of funding proposals and the preparation of statutory reports, ensuring timely submissions.

4. Digital Innovation & Operational Efficiency • Use AI, automation tools and digital platforms to streamline repetitive tasks, such as data analysis and report generation. • Serve as a resource for digital platforms (e.g., SAP, Service Gateway, Power BI, Sharepoint) within the section. • Safeguard sensitive data and ensure adherence to UNICEF’s data privacy and digital workforce guidelines

5. Communication, Knowledge Sharing and Dissemination • Draft clear and well-structured communication to share reports, briefs, and knowledge products for internal and external use. • Maintain effective document repository systems and Sharepoint for digital and physical programme documentation. • Contribute to knowledge generation and documentation of lessons learned and good practices. • Support onboarding of new colleagues and knowledge transfer within the team.

6. Capacity Building & Event Coordination • Support the organization of capacity development activities, workshops and field missions. • Assist in preparation and dissemination of background materials, track logistics, coordinate vendor engagement and liaise with participants.

7. Flexibility & Surge Support • Adapt to shifting programme needs and provide support during emergency responses, surge deployments or re-prioritization events. • Liaison with focal points and provide backup support to other programme sections to ensure business continuity and team support. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (e.g. in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection Country Programme interventions; • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible

• Core Values o Care o Respect o Integrity o Trust o Accountability o Sustainability • Core Competencies o Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness o Works Collaboratively with others o Builds and Maintains Partnerships o Innovates and Embraces Change o Thinks and Acts Strategically o Drives to achieve impactful results o Manages ambiguity and complexity

Demonstrated interest or experience (up to 12 months) in: o Programme development in child protection related areas, especially community-based system development related to preventing violence against women and children and child marriage, in a UN system agency or organization. o Programming related to social norms change, adolescent empowerment, or community-based violence prevention. o Working in or with coordination platforms for ending child marriage or GBV.

Cameroon is family duty station. The country is with a tropical climate. There are two rainy seasons (April-May and September-October). The average temperature is 25 degrees Celsius. Health: UN Volunteers should be aware that they are exposed to several tropical diseases and should complete all medical formalities specified in the offer of assignment before travelling and bring with them sufficient and appropriate medical supplies. The following vaccinations are required and/or recommended prior to travel or upon arrival: Covid-19, yellow fever (required for travellers arriving), polio, rabies, tetanus/diphtheria, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), malaria (prophylaxis is recommended for almost all the country). UN staff has 24-hour access to a fully operational UN medical clinic, run by the UN Doctors, during office hours. There is also a selection of other health facilities available in Cameroon. Accommodation: most UN Volunteers share houses/apartments in compounds. The UNV Field Unit assists in identifying an apartment or house, e.g. by arranging to visit houses that are currently available. Power and water: in most regions, including Yaounde, both electricity and water is readily available. Most hotels have secured water and generators in the event of a power failure. Food and diet: fresh food is seasonal but varied. Most staple foods are common in the supermarkets. Yaounde has a selection of reasonably priced restaurants with good health standards. Restaurants can be found in the provinces as well, but the standard, the quality of food and the level of hygiene may be limited, while availability of certain foods may be limited or seasonal as well. The usual precautions need to be taken when eating outside the home: no salads, bottled water, and all meat to be thoroughly cooked. Minor stomach upsets are almost inevitable at some stage.

Bank and Communication: Upon your arrival in Cameroon, your account will be opened with a foreign bank. The currency of account is normally XAF. You can purchase SIM card in Cameroon from any of the leading telephone companies for your personal use; if required (based on your working requirements), you can be issued an official SIM card by the mission (upon request of your respective section). Besides the SIM card, you would also get the PIN Code from CITS to make international/local calls, which are usually cheaper than the mobile phones (and the cost of personal calls will be deducted from your monthly entitlements).

Cameroon is a unique country; however, it requires more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in hazardous and harsh conditions involving physical hardship and little comfort are essential. 14. Conditions of Service: A 12 monthly contract; monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) intended to cover housing, basic needs and utilities, settling-in-grant (if applicable); life, health, and permanent disability insurance; return airfares (if applicable); resettlement allowance for satisfactory service. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

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Potential interview questions

Added 2 months ago - Updated 1 month ago - Source: unv.org