Child Protection Officer (Child labor & EVAC)

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.

Protecting children and adolescents from violence, abuse and exploitation is a critical component of Viet Nam’s national development agenda as these issues remain a major concern that hinders the realization of children’s rights.

Violence against children (VAC), a widespread issue, is exacerbated by the social norms and behaviors that undermine children’s and adolescents’ safety and protection. Violence clearly affects children in all settings - in the home, at school, online and in the community. 4.4% of women experience sexual violence before the age of 15 whilst 72% of children aged 1-14 report experiencing corporal punishment and violent discipline at home . Though banned in school setting, corporal punishment is also widespread, with over half of children below 8 reporting witnessing teachers who resort to corporal punishment . Online abuse and exploitation have also become more and more prevalent, with 2% of children aged 15-17 being subjected to online sexual abuse and exploitation . Gender-based violence and discrimination also remain a serious issue for women and children, especially adolescent girls. Child labor remains the most traditional and widespread form of exploitation in Viet Nam with around 5.4 % of children aged 5-17 years considered child laborers.

Against this background, one of the four prioritized components of the UNICEF Viet Nam Country Office (VCO)’s Country Programme 2022-2026 aims at protecting children and adolescents, especially the most vulnerable girls and boys, from violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect, and unnecessary family separation, through inclusive and effective child protection, child care and justice systems, empowerment with knowledge and skills against harmful social norms, practices, and improved mental health and psychosocial support. To support Viet Nam to address the above issues, UNICEF will focus on the following four main outputs, based on its comparative advantage vis-à-vis other major development partners including UN agencies, and the remaining gaps to address in child protection in Viet Nam:

• Output 1. By 2026, legislators, authorities at national and sub-national levels, and key non-state actors have enhanced capacity to formulate, coordinate, allocate adequate budget and implement evidence-based child protection laws and policies that prevent and respond to violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect and unnecessary family separation. • Output 2. By 2026, the trained child protection workforce across the social welfare, health, education, and mass organizations are capable to provides accessible, inclusive, quality child- and gender-responsive prevention and response services, including mental health and psycho-social support.
• Output 3. By 2026, justice institutions and law enforcement authorities have enhanced capacity to implement inclusive, child-friendly and gender-responsive procedures, and provide coordinated services for increased access to justice for children and adolescents in contact with the law. • Output 4. By 2026, children, adolescents, families, communities, and the private sector are equipped and empowered to address negative social norms and harmful practices and promote nurturing family environments.

Under the direct supervision of the Child Protection Specialist (Child Exploitation) and overall guidance by the Chief of Child Protection Programme, the National UN Volunteer Child Protection Officer (Child Labor and Ending Violence against Children - EVAC) will provide support the implementation of three projects: (i) “Work: No Child’s Business - Joining forces to scale up action against child labor”; (ii) Safer Internet, Safer Childhood; (iii) Elimination of Violence against Women and Children (EVAWC) in Viet Nam 2021-2025 by ensuring timely and duly communication, coordination and support to the implementation of all activities listed in the Work Plans (WP) in accordance with the national rules and regulations and in accordance with agreed rules and regulations stipulated in MOU signed by UNICEF and SCI, UNICEF and World Vision and UNICEF and UNFPA, respectively. Specifically:
• Liaising and coordinating with all relevant stakeholders in providing inputs in the design and planning of these projects’ activities and workplans (WPs); communicating with implementing partners working on related activities to minimize duplication and enhance synergies; • Monitoring the implementation of activities and objectives listed in the WPs, and ensuring that these activities are conducted in a timely manner and according to the WPs and budgets; monitoring all events set forth in the project monitoring schedule plans, and update the plans as required; • Facilitating, coordinating and assisting accurate and timely submission of FACE forms, quarterly and annual activity progress reports, financial reports to UNICEF; managing requests for the provision of financial resources by UNICEF, through advance of funds, direct payments, or reimbursement; • Monitoring and pre-reviewing relevant deliverables and reports to be submitted to UNICEF prior to submission and liaising with staff members, consultants and implementing partners to ensure that the quality of the deliverables and reports submitted to UNICEF are according to relevant guidelines issued by PMU, TORs, concept notes, and meet the expected standard of quality and HACT procedures; • Conducting monitoring activities per UNICEF policies; documenting project related lessons, best practices and success stories; collecting and compiling required information for project implementation, monitoring and evaluation; ensuring that all supporting documents are maintained; an orderly filing system is in place; and taking meeting and workshop minutes; • Providing administrative and logistical support to project activities and personnel when required including arranging and attending meetings, donor visits, and field trips when required; • Provide administrative programme support and other tasks as deemed necessary to achieve the progamme/project objectives according to the request of the Chief of Child Protection.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• 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.

• Diversity and inclusion: Treats all people with dignity and respect; shows respect and sensitivity towards gender, cultural and religious differences; challenges prejudice, biases and intolerance in the workplace; encourages diversity wherever possible. • Integrity: Maintains high ethical standards; takes clear ethical stands; keeps promises; immediately addresses untrustworthy or dishonest behaviour; resists pressure in decision-making from internal and external sources; does not abuse power or authority. • Commitment: Demonstrates commitment to UNICEF’s mission and to the wider UN system; demonstrates the values of UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours; seeks out new challenges, assignments and responsibilities; promotes UNICEF’s cause. • Communication: Speaks fluently; expresses opinions, information and key points of an argument clearly; presents information with skill and confidence; responds quickly to the needs of an audience and to their reactions and feedback; projects credibility; structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience; presents information in a well-structured and logical way. • Working with people: Shows respect for the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy; listens, supports and cares for others; consults others and shares information and expertise with them; builds team spirit and reconciles conflict; adapts to the team and fits in well. • Drive for results: Sets high standards for quality of work; monitors and maintains quality of work; works in a systematic, methodical and orderly way; consistently achieves project goals; focuses on the needs and satisfaction of internal and external partners; accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

o At least, 3 years working experience in combination with Master's Degree (or 5 years of experience in combination with Bachelor's Degree) in coordinating and monitoring related projects in the development context; o Management, organization and coordination skills as an asset; o Good time management skills with the ability to work under tight timelines; follow deadlines, accuracy and attention to details; o Excellent communication skills; o Experience in documenting success stories, lessons learnt and best practices; o Experience in working with UN agencies and NGOs is desirable; o Fully proficient computer skills, including use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, internal databases.

Viet Nam is a middle-income country which has witnessed rapid economic growth with impressive results in poverty reduction over the past twenty-five years. The country has deepened its integration into global and regional institutions such as the WTO, the UN institutions and ASEAN.

The incumbent will live in Hanoi which has most of the economic and social amenities at a reasonable cost. Depending on living arrangements, housing can be expensive. Security is good. Hanoi has a humid, tropical climate and monsoons. Summers months, between May and September, are very hot with plenty of rain, while winters, from November to March, are cold and relatively dry.

Living conditions in Hanoi are relatively good by developing country standards. In line with further improvements in the availability of goods and services, health facilities, and housing, the level of hardship in the duty station has recently been upgraded from C to B. Security is also reasonably good relative to other developing country large cities. Viet Nam was recently ranked as one of the more secure and stable places to live and do business by outside research groups.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.