Child Protection Specialist (to support cluster coordination in child protection area of responsibilities) P3 Temporary Appointment in Warsaw, Poland

Overview

Support Refugee Emergency Response and coordinate child protection activities.

You have:

• An advanced university degree in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field is required.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in social development planning, coordinating and management in child protection related areas is required.
• Experience of working in emergencies and coordinating clusters related to child protection area of responsibility is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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, health

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, 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.

As a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine, Poland is currently hosting some 3.5 million refugees, of which 95% are children and women, representing the largest refugee crisis that hit Europe since the World War II. The situation in Ukraine is a child protection crisis of extraordinary proportions. In Poland additional support is required to build national capacities and support humanitarian coordination with other relevant actors. UNICEF is co-leading Child Protection sub-working group and is contributing to other working groups in the child protection area of responsibility, including PSEA and GBV. To ensure appropriate action-oriented and strategic level of coordination, an experienced professional with the appropriate seniority, skills and competencies is required to promote effective and efficient cluster coordination in child protection areas of responsibilities.

Job organizational context: The Child Protection Specialist will support Refugee Emergency Response in Poland and will reports to the Chief of Child Protection. The overall guidance and general supervision will be led by the Chief of Child Protection.

Purpose for the job: The Child Protection Specialist will support Refugee Emergency Response in Poland and will have specific focus to support coordination in the child protection areas of responsibilities within the protection, child protection, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and gender-based violence (GBV). In order to ensure adequate flow of information between clusters, UNICEF child protection team and other relevant actors and staff, incumbent will also support knowledge management and reporting in the child protection team. In addition, as the CP cluster coordinator, incumbent will enable cluster partners to respond more effectively to the needs of the affected population than they could do individually by working together in a coordinated manner and in accordance with the Principles of Partnership. S/he will provide leadership and work on behalf of the cluster as a whole, facilitating all cluster activities and developing and maintaining a strategic vision and operational response plan. He/she also ensures coordination with other clusters in relation tointer-cluster activities and cross-cutting issue

Finally, the Specialist will also support the development and preparation of the Child Protection programme(s), as well as implementation of agreed actions, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of the child protection programmes. The Specialist will provide technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes. The Specialist contributes to the achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Maintaining effective coordination mechanisms
2. Support application of standards, guidelines and good practice
3. Ensure adequate information management, monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the CP programme
4. Support to programme/project development and planning
5. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
6. Technical and operational support to programme implementation
7. Networking and partnership building

8. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

9. Maintaining effective coordination mechanism

• Ensure appropriate coordination with other UU agencies, international and national organizations, national authorities to the extent the political situation allows. This will involve liaising and working with relevant government counterparts to support or complement existing coordination mechanisms, particularly in the child protection area of responsibility. The Specialist will either represent the cluster at sectoral meetings led by national authorities or co-chair cluster meetings with national authorities as appropriate.
• Identify and establish contact with all other relevant sector stakeholders including national and international organizations, and representatives of affected populations. Invite these stakeholders to participate as partners in the work of the cluster as appropriate.

• Convene and facilitate meetings of the cluster (and/or joint meetings with another cluster), increasing or reducing their frequency as needed but being careful to avoid meeting overload. Ensure that cluster meetings are well-managed and action and results-oriented, with decisions clearly communicated to relevant cluster partners and stakeholders. Ensure that meetings are managed in line with the Principles of Partnership.

• Facilitate agreement on an efficient division of labour and the assignment of responsibilities amongst cluster partners which takes account of their comparative advantages and complementarities. Designate focal points or working groups for specific issues where necessary[1].

• Work closely with Chief of Child Protection to ensure that arrangements are made to allow for a proper hand-over of cluster coordinator responsibilities at the end of a coordinator’s assignment, to ensure there is continuity and that institutional memory is maintained for the cluster as a whole.
• Together with cluster partners, undertake capacity mapping and gap identification exercises to develop a capacity-development strategy for the sector.

• Identify the training needs of cluster partners and communicate them to the Chief of Child Protection.

• Raise awareness of and promote the integration of agreed priority cross-cutting issues (e.g. age, environment, gender, HIV/AIDS and human rights) in cluster/inter-cluster needs assessments, analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring. Work with cross-cutting issue focal points (if they have been designated) or, if necessary, call upon global cross-cutting issue focal points to support the effective mainstreaming of these issues within the response.

2. Support application of standards, guidelines and good practice

• Facilitate discussion and agreement on the use of common standards and tools among cluster partners. Promote awareness of and adherence to relevant policy guidelines, codes of conduct and examples of good practice by all cluster partners, taking into consideration the possible need for local adaptation both in terms of language and content.
• Ensure to the extent possible that cluster partners use common standards and tools for information collection/sharing and data management, including in needs assessments and monitoring (while respecting principles of confidentiality and protection concerns).
• Ensure that cluster partners are aware of relevant commitments that the Government has made under international human rights and humanitarian law and promote a response which is in line with these commitments.

3. Ensure adequate information management, monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the CP programme

• Facilitate adequate reporting and information sharing, both within the cluster and with other clusters through inter-cluster coordination mechanisms. This will involve contact list management and collecting 3 or 4W information (Who/What/When/Where) from partners and ensuring it is shared with the inter-agency coordination body so that it can be processed and redistributed at the cluster level and to other stakeholders.
• Ensure that updated and relevant cluster-specific information is included in general inter-cluster reporting including common web platforms, Situation Reports and other reporting mechanisms.
• Facilitate cluster agreement on what monitoring activities will be undertaken to review the impact of the sector’s humanitarian response and ensure they are implemented. Make adjustments to the overall strategy and programming as appropriate. Regularly review the functioning of the cluster and encourage an atmosphere conducive to raising and addressing concerns.
• Help facilitate real time evaluations.

4. Support to programme/project development and planning

• Support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the child protection programmes/projects to ensure that current and comprehensive data on child protection issues is available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy advocacy, intervention and development efforts on child rights and protection, and to set programme priorities, strategies, and design and implementation plans. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of child protection programmes/projects. Formulate, design and prepare programme/project proposals for the sector, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s overall Strategic Plans and Refugee Response Plan, regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans for the sector using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.

• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national priorities and competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.

• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.

5. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of 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 assigned sector in child protection programmes.
• 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.

6. 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 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.

7. 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.

• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances and to support fund raising for child protection programmes and emergency interventions.

• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning on child protection related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues.

8. 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.

Impact of Results

The strategic and effective advocacy, planning and formulation of child protection programmes/projects and the achievement of sustainable results, 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.

UNICEF values and competency Required

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust

• Accountability

  Core Competencies

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)

• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

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

Education: 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.

Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience in social development planning, coordinating and management in child protection related areas is required.

Experience of working in emergencies and coordinating clusters related to child protection area of responsibility is considered as an asset.

Relevant experience in programme development in child protection related areas 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.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit 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.

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 may 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.

[1] In the case of the protection cluster, Focal Point Agencies are responsible for specific technical areas and at the country level the Protection Cluster may put in place similar arrangements, where appropriate.

Potential interview questions