Child Protection (Violence against Children) Officer

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.

The Kyrgyzstan Country Office will start a new Country Programme in 2023 with four outcome areas: 1) social policy, 2) child protection, 3) education and adolescent development and participation (ADAP), 4) health, nutrition and safe environment. There is a communications team, social and behaviour change specialist, and the office has a dedicated gender officer. Work on addressing violence against children (VAC) cuts across all outcome areas. The UN Volunteer will support coordination of efforts to ensure harmonised implementation across outcomes/sections. The Country Office is currently implementing, and will finalise by mid-2023, the EU funded UN Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls (joint project led by Resident Coordinators Office with UNDP, UN Women, UNFPA and UNODC).

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Child Protection, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1) Support conceptualisation of a multi-sectoral gender transformative prevention and response of violence against children (VAC) programme for UNICEF Kyrgyzstan. This includes defining VAC for the Kyrgyzstan context (it can for example include child marriage, child trafficking (linked to child labour)). It will involve liaising with all UNICEF sectors (child protection, social protection, health and education sections), as well as the communications and social and behaviour change units to define the different roles and responsibilities each sector/unit has to preventing and responding to VAC/GBV (gender-based violence). The Volunteer will also reach out to other key UN agency partners working on VAC/GBV to ensure harmonisation and collaboration across the UN.
2) Support efforts to identify potential donors to fund the multi-sectoral VAC programme; draft concept notes and proposals for VAC programming. Prepare documents and presentations to explain the UNICEF Kyrgyzstan programme in an interesting manner. 3) Support efforts to strengthen the roles of different actors at all levels. This may include designing practical competency-based training for community level workers (para so-cial workers) to address VAC and GBV; training adolescents and young people to support disclosure of violence and peer-to-peer psychosocial support. Preparing ad-vocacy briefs and orientation sessions for Members of Parliament, child rights moni-toring institutions. 4) Support ongoing VAC and GBV programmes. 5) Where needed support work across section on GBV risk mitigation and PSEA (pre-venting sexual exploitation and abuse).

☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Client Orientation ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Communication ☒ Creativity ☒ Empowering Others ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Managing Performance ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Working in Teams

• Child protection • Violence against Children / GBV • Youth work • Designing and conducting training

Bishkek is the capital and the largest city of Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan is in Central Asia, west of China. The climate is dry continental to polar in the high Tien Shan Mountains, subtropical in the southwest (Fergana Valley) and temperate in the northern foothill zone. The official languages are Kyrgyz and Russian. Kyrgyz is dominant in state circles and is more widely used in the south and in rural areas. Russian is preferred by most business partners. The Cyrillic alphabet is commonly used for public notices, including road signs and street names. English is used in business circles. Hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners usually have some English-speakers. Interpreters are readily available. The main religions are Islam and Christianity. The security risk in Kyrgyzstan is low. The currency of Kyrgyzstan is the Som (KGS). Kyrgyz hospitals have not globally highest standards, but the medical service is cheap and serviceable. In recent years, luxury style apartment buildings have found their way into the Bishkek skyline, making reasonably-priced, high-standard accommodation options available. Expats can also find houses with more personal space 20-minute drive away from the city centre. Furnished and semi-furnished apartments are the most common housing options. A semi-furnished apartment may require kitchenware, linen and small appliances. A fully-furnished house will include everything needed to live comfortably. There are several agencies in Bishkek with English-speaking agents who can narrow down available properties to suit an expat’s budget and preferred neighbourhood.