Child Protection Officer (Peacebuilding and Emergencies)

Contract

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

UNICEF Sierra Leone’s child protection programme aims to ensure that by 2023, more children in Sierra Leone are better protected from violence, abuse and exploitation, including in emergencies.

The UNICEF child protection programme component in 2020-2023 aims to further systematize and accelerate the approach commenced in the current programme in the development of a more comprehensive child protection system, with three major interlinked strategic elements: child-friendly justice system; child-focused social welfare system; and family and community strengthening, supported by an enabling legal and policy framework.

In this light, UNICEF prioritizes strengthening the management and coordination of activities within the framework of the Peace Building Fund (PBF) project 2022-2023 in collaboration with UNDP and overall emergencies. There is a need for strong capacity to manage and coordinate across several government and NGO partners to ensure programmes and services are having an impact on the ground, resulting in good outcomes for children.

Under the overall guidance of the Chief Child Protection and direct supervision of the Child Protection Specialist, the Child Protection Officer (Peacebuilding and Emergencies) will be responsible for the monitoring and ensuring high quality and timely inputs, and for ensuring that the PBF funded project maintain its strategic vision and that activities result in the achievement of their intended outputs in a cost effective and timely manner.

The Child Protection Officer (Peacebuilding and Emergencies) will be also responsible for the overall coordination of the child protection programmes during emergencies; assisting the team in preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual reports on programme progress; monitoring activities at both national and district levels on a regular basis; developing and maintaining the IMS across all programmes; analyzing statistics; developing infographics; and creating and updating dashboards.

The Child Protection Officer (Peacebuilding and Emergencies) works in close collaboration with the Child Protection team, the Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (PME) team, the Emergencies coordinator, government institutions, and non-government and civil society organizations.

Under the direct supervision of Child Protection Specialist (Child Protection Systems Strengthening, Child Justice and Birth Registration), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Contribute to analysis and strengthening of the management of the PBF funded project by development of tools to streamline reporting against results across various data sources (Partnerships with civil society, government administrative data etc.); • Support implementing partners and Child Protection team members in utilization of the tools and monitor and provide regular support for systematic data collection and analysis; • Contribute to strengthening of child protection activities in emergencies by reviewing and analysing global and regional trends and national data, including DHS, census and other household surveys and qualitative data from reliable sources and come up with data visualization tools including infographics and dashboards to easily communicate the findings; • Support the team to coordinate Mental Health and Psyco-Social Support (MHPSS) services for children and women in partnership with the Ministry of Social Welfare and MHPSS Emergency Pillar; • Contribute to knowledge management and resource mobilization for child protection in emergencies by providing inputs to project documents and reports, designing tools to capture good practices and lessons learned and facilitating knowledge/information exchange among the team members, relevant UNICEF programmes, UNDP Governance colleagues and partners; • Support the team to better coordinate and liaise with the PBF Secretariat at HQs, the PBF Chief Technical Adviser and Resident Coordinator Peace and Development Adviser.

Adaptability and Flexibility Building Trust Client Orientation Commitment and Motivation Commitment to Continuous Learning Communication Creativity Ethics and Values Integrity Judgement and Decision-making Knowledge Sharing Planning and Organizing Professionalism Respect for Diversity Self-Management Technological Awareness Working in Teams

(up to three years) and/or demonstrated interest the design and implementation of peacebuilding, peacekeeping projects implemented by national/international NGOs/UN bodies/ Government; •Experience or demonstrated interest in designing tools and strategies for data collection, analysis and production of reports; •Expertise in analyzing qualitative and quantitative data; •Sensitivity to local cultures, and understanding of community level drivers of violence against children; •Strong networking skills: able to negotiate effectively and engage diverse stakeholders (Government, religious, youth, community-based organizations) •Familiarity with tools and approaches of child protection in emergencies; •Able to work with initiative and drive forward programmes with minimal support; •Have affinity with or interest in humanitarian relief, post-conflict situations, electoral vio-lence, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.
•Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

The UN Volunteer will be based at UNICEF’s Sierra Leone Country Office in Freetown with periodic travel to districts. Freetown is classified by the United Nations as Family duty station and living conditions are good.

The UN Volunteer will be responsible to bear the costs of their own accommodation and other related expenses. UNDSS clearance to ensure adherence to minimum safety standards is required and will be facilitated by the Office.

Currently, UNICEF's Sierra Leone Country Office has two Regional Offices: Makeni and Kenema covering 14 districts all situated in UN Security Phase Two conditions. Living conditions at both regional field offices are also good. UNICEF does not have any guest houses in those locations and visiting staff staying overnight are expected to stay at hotels.

Freetown is the capital city of Sierra Leone, situated on the Atlantic coast of West Africa. Sierra Leone is generally safe, the security level is low, and the society is very religiously tolerant. Freetown is a family duty station. Floods and mudslides have been identified as the two main risks in the country in terms of emergency, in addition to epidemics including Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks, which Sierra Leone faced in 2014-2016.

The cost of living for expatriates is generally fair, and there are good supermarkets, restaurants and hotels available. There are good communication services, including mobile and internet services, available with a fair price. Local and regional banks deal in both local and foreign currencies. ATMs are available, and credit cards are accepted in some establishments. However, this is generally a cash economy.

Freetown has a tropical climate, with very high rainfall in the rainy season, Sierra Leone boasts the finest beaches in West Africa, within easy reach of Freetown, with excellent seafood, surfing and sunshine.