Child Protection Specialist (Workforce Development)

Volunteering

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.

UNICEF’s work in the Pacific includes responding to violence, exploitation and abuse perpetrated against children. Violence occurs at home, online and in schools. Progress has been made in building child protection systems across the region, but significant gaps remain, including protection for children who encounter the law, shifting harmful norms and enabling changes in behavior. There is also a need to establish a social workforce cadre that is trained to respond to cases of violence against children. By providing support directly to child protection systems in the region. UNICEF’s new programme (2023-27) builds on previous work and puts greater focus on preventing violence and harmful practices, supporting stronger and more inclusive systems, targeting interventions for children at greatest risk, ensuring access to responsive services and empowering families, parents, and caregivers. This can be achieved with the availability of a strong social service workforce. UNICEF will address immediate, underlying, and structural causes by supporting, developing, and enhancing laws, policies and regulations as well as helping to build the capacity of child protection front line staff. This includes supporting the establishment of accredited qualifications, investing in long term capacity building/mentoring on the job, particularly to deal with the most difficult cases. UNICEF in partnership with academic institutions will develop up to date social workers curriculum to integrate new quality evidence-based child protection core modules into existing universities curricula, and to develop the capacity of university staff. This action will also develop the capacity of potential social workers that will respond effectively to child protection issues. The UNV will support the USP in the coordination and social workforce curriculum development workstream as per the description of the tasks in section.

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

• Provide overall coordination, communication, technical guidance, liaison with partners/stakeholders and other support required for the partnership between UNICEF and the University of the South Pacific (Fiji Campus).

• Support the collection of primary and secondary information required for the analysis of the current social workforce in the region.

• Compile a list & content of all training offered Child Welfare & Protection (Govt/NGO’s/Institutions) to inform identify levels and pathways available - Nursing/Police, teachers, counsellors, Church.

• Support coordinate meetings and consultations with partners and core group meetings as required for reviewing the current social work curriculum at USP and other partnership components.

• Support the mapping of the curriculum and requirements needed for registration or certification at different levels and cadres; and ensure the proper documentation of this mapping.

• Organize and support data collection and validation workshops, Talanoa & Key Stakeholder Interviews, across the region.

• Any other related tasks as required by the Supervisor.

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.

12. 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: • Successful implementation of the social workforce development workstream by: • Functional mechanism for overall coordination, communication, technical guidance, liaison with partners/stakeholders on the social workforce development • Collection of primary and secondary information/data required for the analysis of the current social workforce in the region. • List & content of all training offered for Child Welfare & Protection (Govt/NGO’s/Institutions) to inform identify levels and pathways available - Nursing/Police, teachers, counsellors, Church. • Coordinate meetings and consultations with partners and core group meetings as required for the review of the current social work curriculum at USP and other components of the partnership. • Mapping of the curriculum and requirements needed for registration or certification at different levels and cadres; and ensure the proper documentation of this mapping. • Organized and establish mechanism for data collection and validation workshops, Talanoa & Key Stakeholder Interviews, across the region.

• 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.

any development field, preferably social work.

• Work experience in experience with coordination is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization, USP or other academic institution;

• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;

• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, at different levels

• 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 Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and 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 and wellbeing, 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.

UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances:

The purpose of allowances for UN Volunteers is to enable them to sustain a modest and secure standard of living at the duty station. The allowances are in no way to be understood as a compensation, reward or salary in exchange for the volunteer work.

Monthly Living Allowance: FJD 2086.94

Entry Lump Sum: USD 400

Medical and life insurance (Cigna)

Leave entitlements (annual leave, sick leave, learning leave, maternity/ paternity leave – details can be found in the Conditions of Service: https://explore.unv.org/cos)

Access to UNV's learning and career development resources

Exit Lump Sum: FJD 173.91 for each month served, paid on completion of contract

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Added 13 days ago - Updated 4 hours ago - Source: unv.org