Child Protection Specialist - MHPSS

Volunteering Medical & Health

Overview

Support Integrated Child Protection Package in Ebola Response.

You have:

• Minimum three years of professional experience in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) programming.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.).
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.
• Sound security awareness.
• Have affinity with or interest in Child Protection volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development.

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has officially declared a new outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) affecting the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, particularly the health zones of Mongbwalu, Rwampara, Bunia, and other areas of North Kivu. National authorities, with the support of humanitarian partners, have activated emergency coordination and response mechanisms to contain the outbreak.

The outbreak is unfolding in an extremely complex humanitarian context characterized by insecurity, armed conflict, population displacement, and limited access to essential services. High population mobility, overcrowded living conditions, and inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure significantly increase the risk of both healthcare-associated and community transmission. The current outbreak is caused by a strain of the Ebola virus for which no licensed vaccine is currently available. Consequently, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) interventions constitute one of the key pillars of the response, requiring the rapid scale-up of operations, close coordination, and robust surveillance systems across all affected provinces.

In this context, UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Health and national IPC coordination mechanisms to strengthen the overall response.

11. Sustainable Development Goals: 3. Good Health and Well-being Supervision, induction and duty of care of UN Volunteers

UN Volunteers should be provided equal duty of care as extended to all host entity personnel. Host entity support to the UN Volunteer includes, but is not limited to: • Introductory briefings about the organisation and office-related context including security, emergency procedures, good cultural practice and orientation to the local environment; • Support with arrival administration including setting-up of bank accounts, residence permit applications and completion of other official processes as required by the host government or host entity; • Structured guidance, mentoring and coaching by a supervisor including a clear workplan and performance appraisal; • Access to office space, equipment, IT support and any other systems and tools required to complete the objectives of the assignment including a host entity email address; • Access to shared host entity corporate knowledge, training and learning; • Inclusion of the volunteer in emergency procedures such as evacuations; • Leave management; • DSA for official travel, when applicable; • All changes in the Description of Assignment occurring between recruitment and arrival or during the assignment need to be formalized with the United Nations Volunteer Programme.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief Child Protection or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Child Protection Specialist - MHPSS will:

A. Support to Integrated Child Protection Package in Ebola Response • Assist in operationalizing the integrated CP package, including: – Psychosocial support for affected children and families (direct, indirect, community level) – child protection assistance for children at risk or survivors of violence and/or Ebola – Prevention and response to violence, including sexual violence • Assist technical teams in implementing child protection, MHPSS and GBV components of UNICEF's response to Ebola - support day to day internal technical coordination between national and field level, identify capacity building and/or operational needs to be relayed to Management

B. Social Work Strengthening and Case Management • Contribute to ensuring quality case management (identification, assessment, planning, referral, follow up, closure) • Ensure liaison with DISPE to rely on capacity building and support needs from the field

C. Coordination and Intersectoral Integration • Ensure UNICEF representation and active participation in the National MHPSS Commission and COUSP • Ensure integration of child protection considerations across other response pillars (Health, WASH, SBC, PSEA)

D. Support Donor Reporting and Communication/Visibility • Consolidate input and prepare compiled reporting on Ebola response, including for donors • Document promising practices and lesson learned • Liaise with Communication team to ensure the development of visibility products

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.

13. Results/expected outputs

• As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

o Strengthened implementation and coordination of Child Protection and MHPSS interventions in Ebola-affected areas, ensuring timely access to quality services for vulnerable children, adolescents, and caregivers. o Enhanced capacity of government counterparts, partners, social workers, and community structures through training, technical support, and supervision on Child Protection and MHPSS standards and approaches. o Improved monitoring, reporting, documentation, and community engagement mechanisms, contributing to evidence-based programming and effective integration of Child Protection and MHPSS activities within the Ebola emergency response

• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • 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.

Required Experience: Minimum three (3) years of professional experience in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and psychosocial support programming.

a) Qualifications, skills, experience:

• 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 Child Protection volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

15. Living Conditions

Democratic Republic of Congo is a unique country and a unique humanitarian operation. 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.

16. Conditions of Service

The initial contract is issued upon arrival for the period indicated above. The contract can be extended depending on continuation of mandate, availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectancy of renewal of the assignment.

A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), which is composed of a Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three).

The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs. The VLA can be calculated using by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate of US$ 1,602. The VLA base rate is a global rate across the world, while the PAM is duty station/country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis according to cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website - http://icsc.un.org.

In non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, international UN Volunteers receive a Well-Being Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station.

UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements).

UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for periodic home visit and for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). Resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment.

UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate.

17. Other accessibility info: ☒ We as host entity commit to the following statement: The UN system is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and commits to taking appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to access employment opportunities and benefit equally from employment related opportunities by providing reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation may differ depending on the disability and individual requirements. Reasonable accommodation means “necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms “(Article 2, UN CRPD).

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Potential interview questions

Added 17 days ago - Updated 11 days ago - Source: unv.org