Child Protection Officer/ Violence Against Children Officer

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.

As part of efforts of the Governments of Sokoto State to reduce vulnerability of children in the State. The Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with relevant CSO partners and with support of UNICEF verified and registered about 249,523 vulnerable children including out of school adolescents’ girls (113,208 Almajiris and 136,315 OOSAGs) through a household survey or visit to tsangayas where many of the Almajiris recides with their Mallams. The target includes other children at risk children such as survivors of GBV, VAC and children in contact with the law.

Under the guidance of His Eminence of the Sultan of Sokoto, a multi-sectoral programme of intervention was developed to address the vulnerabilities and risks of the identified 249,523 Almajiri and out-of-school adolescent girls in Sokoto State by the Sultan Committee on Almajiri Reform. Despite increasing primary enrolment in Sokoto State, 113,208 Almajiri children (mostly boys) are living outside of family care and 136,315 adolescent girls remain out of school.

A data analysis by UNICEF on the verified and registered children revealed the types of vulnerabilities that confront these children with the aim of developing and implementing case management strategies that will reduce their vulnerabilities. Some of the identified issues that emerged and will be addressed through individualized and group case management include lack of formal education, social protection, alternative care and family reunification services among others.

UNICEF’s mandate for the protection of the rights of children and protecting them from all forms of violence aligns perfectly with the goal of the Almajiri and Out of school Adolescent girls project to end violence against Children and ending harmful practices including child marriage.

Under the supervision of the UNICEF Nigeria Child Protection Specialist, Sokoto field office, and the overall supervision of the Chief of Filed Office Sokoto, the UNV Child Protection Officer will assist in the implementation of a community-based child protection case management mechanism that ensures a viable strengthened community structure supported by social workers to provide child protection services that are visible, and that children and families know where they can go for help if they experience or become aware of abuse or violence.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Child Protection Specialist Sokoto field office or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Child Protection Officer will assist in providing support to the child protection programme to ensure that Almajiri children and girls who are victims or at significant risk of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, receive quality preventive and responsive services from a functioning child protection system in Sokoto State. The incumbent will be expected to visit focus LGAs of Project implementations which are Binji, Sokoto South, and Dange Shuni. The Volunteer is also expected to visit any other LGAs to which the project may be extended to during the subsistence of the assignment. The position will contribute to the following outcomes of the Almajiri and Out of School Adolescent Girls program, in close collaboration with the Child Protection Specialist based in Sokoto and the Chief of Section and team in Abuja:

1. Review and strengthen appropriate legal standards and regulations, including education reforms

- Support the development and implementation of a memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as part of multi-sectoral implementation plan. - Develop and Implement standards on the provision of alternative care for children out of family care

2. Support Inclusive and equitable quality learning for all of out of School children, Almajiri and other at-risk children.

- Support the Mapping of all Community Learning center, community learning hubs, plus other facilities that provide access to in and out of school children with enrollment. - In collaboration with education colleagues support accelerated Learning Programmes and modalities for the placement/enrollment of out of school children in the learning facilities including Islamic Board schools. - Organize annual Stakeholders review and planning/meetings with Sokoto State Association of owners of Qur'anic schools, Council of Ulamas council of Islamiyya school, religious Affairs and Sultanate Council.

3. Strengthen Preventive and Responsive Child Protection and Child Welfare System at community levels.

- Mapping assessment and strengthening of women development centers, community skills centers, apprentice outlets, and private sector that provides skills apprentice and entrepreneurship services. - Support the deployment and implementation of an integrated case management for 25,000 vulnerable children captured on the CPIMS data in the State to ensure access to child protection services, including the provision of psycho-social support to vulnerable children and their families. - Support the empowerment of 1700 adolescent girls, especially married or at risk to be married, with access to SRHR knowledge and services, life skill and access to formal education, apprenticeship and vocational skills. - To sensitize household and communities for prevention and promotion of family care, including Family tracing and re-unification, positive parenting, and alternative care. - Support the establishment of 2 Child Protection Multi-Purpose Community Based Centers in line with safety protocols. - Support the strengthening of community-based surveillance/early warning mechanism and reporting systems for VAC and child marriage as part of the effort to strengthen community-based child protection mechanisms in Sokoto at State and LGA levels. - Support the engagement with religious and traditional/community leaders through community-based sensitization and dialogues to adequately identify, report, respond and refer cases of abuse and violence against adolescent girls, including at risk girls in situation of child marriage to appropriate authorities.

4. Strengthen Social Protection system at household and community levels

- Support in the design and implementation of family and Child-centre cash transfer intervention that will prevent family separation and enhance children, Almajiri and adolescent girls’ rights realization to basic services (education, protection, health and shelter) - Support the process for the integration of the recent Almajiri and out of school adolescent girls’ data into the State social register for future social protection intervention opportunities

5. Support Skills acquisition, life skills (including formal education) welfare readiness and empowerment of Adolescent and young people

- Support and empower 2,000 girls and boys with access to formal education, skills and vocational training, entrepreneurship, and life skills. - At least 1 women’s center is refurbished to provide micro enterprise development skills and referral to decent employment including small business and livelihoods opportunities, vocational skills including life skills for at least 500 girls through the engagement of the local private sector.

Coordination/Meetings • Provide support on inter-agency coordination related activities by representing UNICEF in Coordination forums, events, and participating in working groups and committees as needed. • Contribute to inter-agency coordination on ending violence against women and girls, including harmful practices to achieve coherence and alignment of UNICEF programmes with other agencies and partners in Sokoto State in line with the Almajiri and out of School Adolescent girls’ intervention as indicated in the UNICEF Sokoto State field office Child Protection approved Workplan

Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation • Participate in field visits to the LGAs of project locations to supervise and monitor field level activities of the programme. • Drafting of activity and quarterly narrative reports.

Communication • Develop Human interest stories, advocacy papers, communication reports and support the documentation of programme implementation process, best practices and lessons learnt

Other • Ensure all Almajiri and out of School Adolescent girls program interventions are considerate of Persons living with disability (PLWD) • Collaborate with and provide support to state-partner Ministries, Department and Agencies as may be required under the guidance of the Child Protection Specialist. • Support initiatives aimed at strengthening the social service workforce in the state, including capacity strengthening for auxiliary social workers.

A. Core Values

• Care • Respect • Integrity • Trust • Accountability

B. Core Competencies • Nurtures, Leads and Manages People • Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness • Works Collaboratively with others • Builds and Maintains Partnerships • Innovates and Embraces Change • Thinks and Acts Strategically • Drives to achieve impactful results • Manages ambiguity and complexity • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science or related field; • At least 4 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in the field of VAWG, VAC, or Gender and girls and women’s rights, or other relevant programmes; experience with UNICEF is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization; • Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • 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; • Have affinity with or interest in working for children, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

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