Child Protection Specialist ( Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM), P3, Fixed Term, CO, Mogadishu, Somalia

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 74,649 USD and 97,747 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, Hope

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.

Strategic office context:

Child Protection Systems in Somalia remain weak due to more than two decades of armed conflicts and other humanitarian situations. Armed forces an groups are committing grave violations against children abduction, attacks against schools or hospitals, denial of humanitarian assistance, rape and other sexual violence acts, killing and maiming, and recruitment and use of children during armed conflicts. Somalia is one of the countries on the agenda of the Security Council for the implementation of the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) on the six grave violations against children.

The current objective of the Child Protection Programme is to strengthen child protection systems in the country, implement various components of the programme and support the work of the Country Taskforce on Monitoring and Reporting (CTMR) co-chaired by UNICEF and the UN Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).

The specific role of the child protection specialist, MRM, is to support the implementation of MRM in Somalia.

How can you make a difference?

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Support to programme/project development and planning

• Enhance effective sectoral or inter-sectoral planning, development and management by guiding, coordinating and supporting the timely completion MRM component of the Child Protection programme of the Situational Analysis and its periodic update through accurate and complete monitoring and analysis, and the timely preparation or finalization of sectoral input.
• Provide quality inputs in the formulation of country programme documents and plans of actions relating to Child Protection programme.
• Take primary responsibility for the development of the MRM work plan, and the preparation of timely and quality MRNM related reports for the Country Taskforce on MRM and the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.
• Plan, implement, monitor and evaluate capacity building of effective network of MRM actors throughout the country, in coordination with the Child Protection Working Group. Particular attention should be paid to the implementation of the action plans signed by national authorities regarding the prevention of and response to grave violations against children.

2. Programme management. Monitoring and delivery or results

• Plan and collaborate with colleagues and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators, other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurements, to assess and strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the MRM component of the Child Protection Programme.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required actions and interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and/or weaknesses in programme management. Identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits, surveys and exchange of information with partners to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems. Take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Monitor and verify the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations, procedures, donor commitments, as well as standards of accountability and integrity. Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners and donors on the interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF MRM guidelines and the implementation of Action Plans signed by Somalia, as well as on policies, strategies, processes, best practices, and approaches on child protection related issues to support programme management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Arrange and coordinate availability of technical experts with Regional Office/HQ to ensure timely and appropriate support throughout the programming process.
• Participate in child protection programme meetings, including programme development and contingency planning discussions on emergency preparedness in the country or other locations designated, to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders, global partners, allies, donors, and academia - through active networking, advocacy and effective communication - to build capacity, exchange knowledge and expertise, and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results in child protection.
• Participate in the meetings including the CAAC Working, the MRM Working Group and the Country Taskforce on MRM, and any other relevant inter-agency working groups relevant to the MRM agenda in Somalia.
• Ensure exchange of information, experience, identify new strategies and courses of action to accelerate/improve MRM data collection, reporting and analysis. Conduct field visits to monitor programmes and collect information as appropriate. Conduct periodic programme reviews with Government counterparts and other partners.
• Collaborate with Communication and Programme Communication groups to ensure development of effective communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and social mobilization efforts to prevent grave violations against children including the involvement of children in armed conflict.
• Overall coordination with relevant teams in the regional office and HQ Officers. Collaborate with other Programme/Project Officers to ensure linkages between MRM and other sectors.
• Collaborate with the Operations and Supply Sections and Government authorities to establish and maintain sound internal controls supportive of Child Protection programme planning and implementation, to coordinate financial and supply management requirements as well as to ensure accountability.
• Interact with Government, AMISOM and other partners, NGOs, UN and bilateral agencies in the different stages of programme/project implementation to follow up on agreements and recommendations. Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial and institutional capacity building measures to achieve Child Protection programme goals.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders, and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best practices in child protection management and information systems. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.
• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders to promote sustainable results in child protection and related programmes/projects.

6. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Prepare for the high-level Meeting including briefings for the Security Council working Group, Group of Friends and the Co-Chairs of Country Taskforce of Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism.
• Prepare and timely provide inputs to quarterly reports (GHN), country report on Children and Armed Conflict in Somalia and contribution to the SG annual report to the Office of the SRSG on Children and Armed Conflict - based on all consolidated MRM cases - submitted to Somalia CO CP and transmit it to the Somalia MRM CTFMR in for onward submission to SRSG-CAAC.
• Ensure capacity-building of identified partners and UNICEF MRM team to increase coverage, participants, reported cases of grave child rights violations and to strengthen the analysis of trends and response to children victims by remote and country-mission technical supervision, support, mentoring and coaching, as needed;
• Ensure the link between monitoring & reporting activities and programmatic response to children victims of violations by liaising with protection and child protection working groups for appropriate referral of cases;
• Provide inputs to UNICEF strategic sectoral programmatic documents and proposals and reports to donors related to MRM.
• Manage the partnership with organizations undertaking direct monitoring on MRM;
• On a monthly basis - with the supervision and support of the MRM Database Manager - all Somalia MRM cases documented in concerned Cross-border COs and by relevant CTF Agencies are compiled, reviewed (ensuring the credibility, reliability and verification of all cases), finalized and uploaded onto the MRM Database.

• Ensure quality CPiE programming – in particular on CAAFAG - in line with established standards, guidelines and procedures – through technical leadership to Somalia Country Office.

  Impact of Results

The strategic and effective advocacy, planning and formulation of child protection programmes/projects and the achievement of sustainable results in preventing and responding to grave violations against children contributes to the achievement of goals and objectives to create a protective environment for children against harm, all forms of violence and ensures their survival, development and well being in society. Achievements in child protection programmes and projects in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide programme services for mothers and children that promotes greater social equality in the country.

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

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in social development planning and management in child protection related areas is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset. Relevant experience in programme development in MRM in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is considered as an added advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. 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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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:

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is a role with direct contact with children, works directly with children, and/or is a safeguarding response role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) applies.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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

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 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.

UNICEF only considers Higher education qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net.

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