Child Protection Technical Specialist (Social Welfare)

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Organisational Context and Project Description

UNICEF Pacific Child Protection Programme aims to fulfill the right of all children to be protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation. The Programme provides technical and financial assistance to strengthen child protection systems to prevent and respond to child protection concerns in 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICT’s), through three programme components: (i) strengthening of the legal, policy and coordination framework; (ii) building the capacity of services across social welfare, justice, police, health and education sectors; and (iii) promoting social and behaviour change.

Nauru passed its Child Welfare and Protection Act in 2016 and drafted its policy, implementation plan, terms of reference for the child protection working group and inter-agency guidelines and referral pathway in 2018. The latter four documents are yet to be finalized, endorsed and stakeholders trained on their respective roles in their application. The Child Protection Division (CPD) under the Department of Women’s and Social Development Affairs (WASDA) has 9 staff: Director, Senior Officer, 4 Child Protection Officers and 1 Administrative Officer, and a Welfare Supervisor and Child Counselor recruited in 2020. UNICEF delivered Modules 1, 2 and 3 of a five-week child protection social work training course in 2019, but was unable to deliver modules 4 and 5 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. CPD is also conducting awareness-raising on child protection in communities and schools. CPD is planning to train existing Community Liaison Officers (CLO’s) (a total of 18, with a minimum of one in each district) in child protection prevention, early intervention and response, based on their specific role, to link communities with CPD. CPD is also in the process of developing early childhood development (ECD) and juvenile justice (JJ) programmes.

The Department of Education has expressed interest in developing a child protection

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Child Protection Specialist with UNICEF Pacific Multi-Country Office in Suva (Fiji), or his/her designated mandated representative, the UN Volunteer will provide technical assistance to the Child Protection Division of the Women’s and Social Development Affairs Department to fulfill its functions as child protection mandated statutory authority, and lead of the multi-sector multi-stakeholder child protection system, as follows:

Build the capacity of CPD personnel, through various modalities including on-the-job coaching, mentoring and/or training, in child protection case management and referral, management skills and engagement with communities, and review organizational structure and job descriptions if needed.
Support CPD in the training of Community Liaison Officers and establishment of community-based child protection mechanisms for prevention, early intervention and response in every district.
Strengthen the regulatory framework for delivery of child protection services, including technical assistance to adapt, contextualise, revise or develop child protection case management guidelines, procedures and forms, and standards and procedures for alternative care.
Strengthen CPD systems to monitor child protection services, including technical assistance to adapt, develop or revise processes, guidelines and tools/templates for supportive supervision, individual performance evaluation, service quality monitoring, regular review/planning meetings, reporting, case record information management system, etc.
Strengthen CPD early intervention activities/services
Strengthen CPD prevention activities, in particular behaviour change communication, with support from UNICEF Pacific specialist.
Support CPD in planning, budgeting and reporting, ensuring child protection is included in national and sectoral plans and policies, advocating for resource allocation for child protection budgets and human resou

, Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment and Motivation, Empowering Others, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Self-Management, Working in Teams

At least 8 years of relevant professional work experience, i.e. direct social work with children in need of care and protection and their families and communities; management of social services, including child protection services; drafting of standards/procedures for child protection services; training of social workers and social welfare managers on child protection social work practice and management; technical assistance to and/or coaching of social workers/social welfare officers in child protection. Experience working with government statutory child protection services/government child, family, and community social services including child protection essential. Experience working with social welfare system emphasizing working with families and communities. Demonstrated facilitation/training skills Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners; relating with people, teamwork, networking Excellent communication skills, in particular, ability to communicate technical concepts, knowledge, and skills in a clear, simple, and jargon-free language; ability to present information in a well-structured, logical manner Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;

Nauru is one of the world’s smallest independent states; located in the Pacific Ocean, 42 kilometers south of the Equator, with a population of 12,581 people (World Bank, 2019). A raised, fossilized coral atoll, Nauru is one of three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean – the other two being Banaba in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia. Nauru does not have an official capital city. Nauru is ringed by a stunning coral reef and does not have a port, although works are currently underway to construct one.

UN presence in Nauru

The UN has been present in Nauru since 1984, with 12 agencies implementing programs: FAO, IOM, OHCHR, UNDP, UN Environment, UNESCAP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNISDR, UN Women, and WHO.

Development goals and objectives

The United Nations Pacific Strategy (UNPS) 2018-2022 is a five-year strategic framework that outlines the collective response of the UN system to the development priorities in 14 Pacific Island countries and territories, including Nauru, and supports governments and peoples in the Pacific to advance a localised response to the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UNPS complements the Nauru National Sustainable Development Strategy 2005-2025 “Partnership for Quality of Life”; particularly in the areas of economic development, infrastructure, and social and community development.