Child Protection Cluster Coordinator, P-4, Lebanon Beirut, PN119212

Contract

This is a L-4 contract. More about L-4 contracts.

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, advocate

The Child Protection in Emergency Working Group (CPiEWG) is established at national level and the field. The CPiEWG coordinates responses and collaborates closely with the overall inter-sectoral and protection coordination mechanism within Lebanon Crisis Response Framework and other coordination mechanisms. The CPiEWG under LCRP is co-led by UNICEF and a representative from the civil society sector, while non-refugee response is coordinated by OCHA. Government engagement remains a challenge.

As part of UNICEF’s Core Commitment for Children in Humanitarian Action and UNHCR’s Framework for the Protection of Children and the Best Interest Guidance, UNICEF will provide leadership and support to the sub-regional and national protection/child protection coordination structures within the response to the crisis. To fulfill this function, UNICEF Lebanon Country is recruiting a Child Protection Coordinator to coordinate child protection responses at national and field levels.

The Child Protection Coordinator will lead the CPIEWGs in preparedness and response in line with relevant global CPWG guidance on child protection coordination. CP Coordinator is expected to build sustainable engagement with the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) to lead the WG and strengthen its capacity to play an increasingly active and leading role in the coordination of the Child Protection Sector.

How can you make a difference?

• Coordinate CPiEWG and collaborate with the broader protection and other coordination mechanisms by ensuring and facilitating active participation from key actors, including, in particular the Government of Lebanon, specifically the Ministry of Social Affairs and at municipal level the child protection units within the Social Development Centres and children`s services;
• Lead the CPiEWG and ensure sub-national level coordination and that issues related to children are closely coordinated.
• Support the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) to strengthen its capacity to play an increasingly active and leading role in the coordination of the Child Protection Sector;
• Ensure Child protection in emergencies working group is coordinated through demonstrated meetings (at least 1x a month), capacity building plan developed (including general CPiE, IDTR, PSS and CPRA, CPIMS) in line with commitments of the sector under the LCRP and subsequent response plans adopted;
• Ensure engagement of Core Group members on monthly basis or as deemed necessary for discussing specific CP priority issues and for other technical or sensitive decisions and advocacy;
• Ensure participation and active support to PSS Committee and CMTF specially in regard to upkeeping tasks in sector annual workplan and also to support in the review, production and dissemination of technical tools, guidance and material;
• Carry an annual CP retreat to identify key sector priorities and develop a yearly action plan for the sector;
• Continue to issue CP Real Time Monitoring (RTM) reports (bi-monthly) that capture the situation on the ground as reported by CP sector partners and flag on gaps, accessibility issues and emerging CP trends and behaviors
• Closely work with protection working groups and other Inter-Sector and Inter-Agency coordination meetings, as well as field-based coordination as needed; Child Protection sectoral planning documents maintained and updated regularly, including contingency planning, 4Ws, contingency planning for emergency in close collaboration with relevant partners;
• Support and train child protection focal points at sub-national levels who are coordinating the CPiEWG;
• Support the implementation of the any needs assessment to inform response by members of the CPiEWG in the targeted locations, and support the development of systems for monitoring the needs of children affected by the crisis;
• Via the CPiEWG (and supported by the UNICEF, and MOSA CP IMO), facilitate:

- Completion of a 4Ws matrix, mapping out child protection interventions and gaps to inform response;

- Development of a child protection strategy for the LCRP;

- A strategic action/work plan and budget for the CPiEWG for current work in line with sector and regional work plans: RRP, government plans;

• In close consultation with MOSA, Core Group members, CP colleagues and partners, develop a child protection advocacy strategy for the CPiEWG and associated key messages taking into consideration the overall refugee protection strategy both at regional and national levels;
• Collaborate with the Protection, GBV and other relevant response areas to ensure holistic protection responses. Assist other sectors to mainstream child protection measures into their sector plans, assessments and activities;
• Advance cross-sectoral work with Education, Livelihood, Food Security and other sectors as deemed necessary for advancing joint programing;
• Develop child protection tools (such as tools for monitoring cross-sectoral case management and checklists for field monitors to monitor child protection issues including service directories and SOP for referrals) in close collaboration with PSS Committee and CMTF and in consultation with other coordination working groups; this is key to standardize interventions (e.g. checklists on CFS, case management, BIDs);
• Facilitate and support training of CPiEWG members on tools developed;
• Facilitate the Child Protection Sector to develop and deliver projects that respond to overall child protection priorities in the context of the crisis and identified child protection issues including importantly refugee priorities and advocate for appropriate funding for the sector in line with global standards and best practices.;
• Provide training to chairs of CPiEWG on roles and responsibilities of CP coordinator with particular emphasis on immediate onset emergency/response so that chairs and members of CPiEWG;
• Facilitate and lead in the development of contingency planning for the sector;
• Coordinate with other sub-regional coordinators UNICEF MENARO and UNHCR Regional Office in Amman on trends in abuse, violence and exploitation of Syrian refugee children, as well as the incidence and response for unaccompanied and separated children, and other tasks as required;

The main objective is to reinforce the CPiEWG in accordance with global TORs (adapted locally) and leave in place systems / capacity for the CPiEWG and its members to discharge their role and responsibilities effectively.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law or other social science field is required. A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in in social development planning and management in child protection and/other related areas at the international level is required, at least two of which field based dealing with large-scale emergencies or displaced/refugee situations.
• Relevant experience in child protection and related areas, program/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is required.
• Previous experience in Cluster approach as CPiE Cluster Coordinator is a strong advantage.
• Knowledge and experience in application of international technical guidelines and standards in Child Protection.
• Demonstrated experiences in organising and conducting training activities and information campaign on education related issues.
• Proven technical expertise in the area of education assessments including survey, program implementation, monitoring and coordination.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Core competencies skills

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing (3)
• Deciding and Initiating action (2)
• Applying technical expertise (3)
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts (2)
• Relating and Networking (2)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable women from industrial countries will be prioritized.