Child Protection Officer (Birth Registration)

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

UNICEF birth registration component within the Child Protection programme focuses on strengthening capacities oof the National Population Commission, the allied ministries, agencies and LGA structures, to deliver a decentralized birth registration services and to increase demand for it with focus on children under 1 year of age, as part of a civil registration and vital statistics system in all settings.

While the National Population Commission (NPC) has mechanisms for registering births and frequently using simple, handwritten paper printouts, remarkable progress was recorded in 2022 with the systematic automation of the birth registration process, with improved digitalized birth registration and birth certification system in 20 states and with the registration of over 3 million children registered through the digitalization process. UNICEF is supporting the efforts of the government (NPC) and other civil registration ecosystem stakeholders at the states and community level to reach the hardest areas using fully digitalized technology to leapfrog the outdated, paper-based birth registration systems and offer more inclusive methods of providing unique identities to the underserved and giving more children a foundation for full participation in society.

The UN Volunteer for this assignment will provide technical guidance and management support to digitalized birth registration process within the wider framework of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) reform in Nigeria. Under the supervision of the UNICEF Nigeria Child Protection Specialist (Birth Registration ) in the Abuja Country Office and the overall supervision of the Chief of Child Protection Section, the UNV Birth Registration Officer will assist to coordinate the implementation of Child Protection programmes with a particular focus on Birth Registration process within the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System and contribute to the achievement of Child Protection birth registration targets and results for year 2023.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief, Child Protection Section and Child Protection Specialist, the UNV Birth Registration Officer) will support the birth registration programme and ensure that the current and comprehensive data is available to guide the birth registration programme, advocacy, intervention priorities, strategies, design and implementation plans at the Federal level and in targeted States. The UNV will be expected to travel to different locations of the programme. The position will contribute to the following outcomes of the birth registration programme:

• Implement the strategy, delivery, and process improvement for successful integration of birth registration process within the health programmes including solo Birth Registration Activities. • Provide the right process to adopt and create a synchronization structure for the success of the Birth Registration digitalization process. This includes the provision of the right template for evidence of activity, information disbursement process, readiness assessment checklist and operational guidance for state and LGA level digitalized birth registration process. • Ensure that the digitalized birth registration process is linked with other IT platforms within the government, such as the health information systems, national identity (ID) system, the electronic management of immunization data and the vital statistics system, and securely store data at scale, in a cost-effective way. • Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in birth registration programme management. Identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals on birth registration. • Improve demand for birth registration and certification and conduct social mobilization drives at the community level and mobilize traditional and religious institutions to improve birth registration coverage.

More specifically, the incumbent will support the following aspects of the programme, in close collaboration with the Child Protection Specialist: A. Implementation • Provide technical and operational support to guide the efforts of National Population Commission to achieve a digitalized birth registration process and to implement the digital solutions and appropriate model of operations to register under-5 children massively. • Promote linkages between civil registration and the health sector to improve the coverage and completeness of birth and death registration in Nigeria. • Support the efforts of National Population Commission (NPC) that are underway to having in place a comprehensive electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (eCRVS) system and coordinate the implementation of birth registration activities at the National, State and Local Government levels and facilitate timely and efficient delivery of digitalized birth registration process. • Support the management of state and community level actions of the birth registration digitalized process and escalate any key risks and issues for UNICEF and NPC senior management decision making actions • Provide support to the Child Protection Specialist on the development of concept notes and implementation of activities in line with the birth registration programme set targets for the year. • Provide supervisory support to State level (5) UNV Coordinators on increased birth registration process.

B. Coordination/Meetings • Provide technical support to the Child Protection Specialist on coordination related activities, meetings, events, and participating in birth registration related working groups with health and other partners as required. • Proactively build and strengthen strategic partnerships through networking and advocacy with governments, UN system agency partners (UNFPA, WHO, UNDP, UNHCR, IOM) and internationally recognized institutions, NGOs, and the private sector and internet providers in order to leverage these partnerships to achieve wider acceptance of the eCRVS process according to international standards. • Organize workshops for relevant stakeholders on issues related to birth registration and on development and training of health and NPC personnel (Deputy Chief Registrars, Registrars, ad hoc registrars, etc) on the digitalized birth registration process, collation and management of data generation.

C. Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation • Participate in field visits and travel to the locations of the programme to supervise and monitor field level activities of the programme. • Gather inputs from the States and coordinate the preparation of monthly and quarterly narrative digitalized reports and other status reports. • Document reports of programmes conducted, lessons learned and best practices while working in collaboration with the national, States and LGA actors on birth registration digitalized process.

D. Communication • Report on the progress of existing digitalization initiatives across the states and document reports, solutions and lessons learnt • Develop initiative briefs and other products supporting the digitalized process • Support identification of potential implementation partners for identified digitalized system, and facilitate partnership building • Develop Human interest stories, advocacy papers, communication reports and support the documentation of programme implementation process, best practices and lessons learnt.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

implementing and/or supporting national CRVS frameworks and digital CRVS systems, including mobile and web-based applications, with demonstrated capacity to manage programmes involving many stakeholders at the national or international level is required. • An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Information technology, Social Sciences, International Humanitarian Law, Development Studies, Community Development, Public Health, Education and/or related field is required. • A first-level university degree in a relevant field combined with 3 years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. • Experience with large scale projects including ICT, mobile and web-based technologies, particularly designing or deploying tools. • Prior experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage. • Experience with CRVS digital solutions (e.g., as a user or administrator) is an asset. • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness.

Nigeria is a unique country, and it provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials