Child Protection Specialist (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support), P-4, FT, Child Protection, Programme Group, NYHQ (#23558)

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 171,387 USD and 220,969 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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, equity

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF is currently undergoing organizational changes and many Divisions are moving to different locations. While this post is currently located in NYHQ, the incumbent may be asked to relocate to an elsewhere location at a later date.

Conflicts and disasters create new protection risks and worsen existing ones. UNICEF is working to adapt the systems approach to child protection to emergency and transition contexts, through strengthened vulnerability assessment practices, provision of frontline support and timely referral to support services such as mental health and psychosocial support and case management. Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is a key area of UNICEF emergency programme response, reaching millions of children around the world.

The post is located within the Child Protection in the Humanitarian Action Team within the Child Protection Programme Team of UNICEF. The Child Protection Specialist works in close collaboration with the other UNICEF sections, Regional and Country offices, staff of other UN Agencies, Government officials, international non-governmental organisations and other partners of UNICEF.

Under the guidance of the Senior Adviser, the Child Protection Specialist for Mental Health and psychosocial support will provide programme guidance and technical leadership to enhance UNICEF's provision of MHPSS to children, caregivers, and women across the humanitarian development peace nexus, as well as technical leadership in the interagency space for the sector.

The specific functions and responsibilities of the role are as follows:

Programme development and planning

• Contribute to defining the Programme Team’s annual work plan in the area of programming on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), including proposing priorities/targets and performance measurement. Monitor work progress in line with defined schedules and performance standards.
• Supervise personnel by providing them with clear objectives and goals, direction and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
• Lead in defining individual performance objectives, goals and timelines; Plan and ensure timely performance management.
• Contribute to increasing the financial resources available for MHPSS by supporting the

development of project proposals and preparing multi-country proposals, and maintaining partnership relationships.

Programme management and monitoring

• Working with the Planning and Evidence Building Team in the Child Protection Section, collaborate with internal and .external partners, including UNICEF Headquarters Sections, Regional and Country Offices to develop and implement monitoring frameworks, UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for programming on MHPSS.
• Prepare inputs for CPHA team and CPPT reports including UNICEF annual reports. Prepare donor reports for MHPSS projects in line with defined deadlines and endorsed guidance.
• Develop partnerships and manage Programme Cooperation Agreements (PCAs) and contracts and oversee timely implementation of defined activities and fund utilization.

Advisory services and technical support

• Provide remote and direct field technical support, expertise and capacity building to Country and Regional offices in programme planning and implementation, costeffectiveness analyses, programme scale-up, and methods and tools for programming on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), with a special focus on L3/L2 emergencies.
• Support the design and implementation of analyses and guidance and related documentation to ensure that current comprehensive and evidence based data on MHPSS guide and inform programming, policy making and advocacy.
• Establish and build processes and mechanisms with relevant Programme Teams and Issues Hubs, in close collaboration with Regional and Country Offices and external partners to develop and disseminate the latest evidence and guidance on the prevention and response of MHPSS.
• Design and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders in provision of MHPSS.

Knowledge management and innovation

• Track research developments in the area of MHPSS, collate and analyze data including from country programme experience (lessons learned, best practices, reviews and evaluations) so as to inform the revision of results frameworks, capacity building and reporting.
• Liaise with the Data and Analytics specialists to strengthen the development of methodologies, tools and guidance for outcome and impact monitoring related to MHPSS.
• Lead the development of global goods that meet the needs of the field and the sector.
• Generate and disseminate data-driven reports to.:identify gaps and strengths/weaknesses in MHPSS. Share lessons learned and use these to provide advice on programme refinement.
• Promote critical thinking and innovative approaches in MHPSS in emergencies initiatives, keeping abreast of current research on the issue;

Global advocacy, strategic partnerships and networking

• In close collaboration with the MHPSS lead in PGLT, contribute to the establishment and strengthening of strategic partnerships in MHPSS including the IASC Reference Group on MHPSS, as well as governmental actors, NGOs and the private sector.
• Build partnerships with all key MHPSS international actors with the aim of aligning programming, policymaking, guidance and standard setting with UNICEF's Strategic Plan and child rights international standards.

• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in international meetings and inter-agency discussions to ensure organizational position and priorities are fully considered.

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

• An Advanced University Degree in Social Sciences or other related field with specialized training in social work, psychology, community development, development studies or anthropology; AND

• A Clinical degree in Mental Health (MA or PhD) and expertise in multi-layer MHPSS interventions for children and families in humanitarian settings.
• A minimum of eight (8) years progressively responsible professional work experience at the community, national and international level in programme planning, management, monitoring and evaluation relevant to child protection or related field.
• Experience directly implementing MHPSS programs for children and families in multiple humanitarian settings
• Experience working with MHPSS research and M&E in humanitarian settings
• Experience with MHPSS in Child Protection, as well as multi-sectoral experience (eg. MHPSS in education and health) and understanding of the intersections with other technical areas (eg. CAFAAG, GBV, etc)
• Experience with training and capacity building MHPSS workforce
• Experience with global MHPSS donors and advanced understanding of MHPSS funding landscape
• Established relationships with key actors in other MHPSS UN agencies, coordination bodies, NGOs, Universities, and CBOs
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability (CRITA) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• 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)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework 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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.