Fixed Term: Child Protection Officer, NOB, Islamabad, Pakistan

Contract

This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 contracts.

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, Protection!

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges.

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among others things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilisers, communities and families, and of course the children and adolescents themselves.

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

• Every child survives and thrives -- being in good health, immunized, protected from polio and accessing nutritious food.
• Every child learns.
• Every child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.
• Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

To learn more about UNICEF’s work in Pakistan, please visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan and videos on YouTube and Vimeo

Under the general guidance and supervision of the Child Protection Specialist Violence Against Children(VAC) NOC at Islamabad for overall technical supervision, the Child Protection Officer provides professional technical, operational and administrative assistance throughout the programming process for child protection programs/projects within the Country Program - with a predominant focus on the violence against children (VAC) mandate - from development planning to delivery of results. The Officer candidate shall prepare, execute, manage and implement a variety of technical and administrative program tasks primarily to facilitate VAC program implementation, program progress monitoring, evaluating and reporting in areas of designation.

How can you make a difference?

1. Support to programme development and planning

• Conduct/update situation analysis for the program sector/s for development, design and management of child protection related programs/projects in areas of designation.
• Research and report on development trends and (economic, social, health etc.) data for use in program development, management, monitoring, evaluation and delivery of results.
• Contribute to the development/establishment of child protection sectoral programme goals, objectives, strategies, and results-based planning through research, collection analysis and reporting of child protection and other related information for development planning and priority and goal setting.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical, programme, operational, and administrative transactions, preparing related materials/documentations, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluating results.
• Prepare required programme documentations/materials/data to facilitate the programme review and approval process.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations and/or to alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level interventions and/or decisions. Keep records of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess programmes/projects, and to report on required action/interventions at the higher level of programme management.
• Manage, monitor and report on the use of resources (financial, administrative and other assets), allocated for implementation of Child Protection programme interventions, verify compliance with approved allocation/goals organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity.
• Prepare regular/mandated sectoral programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Conduct regular programme field visits and suggest surveys/studies and/or exchange information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support. Take appropriate action to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.

• Provide technical and operational support to provincial government counterparts, NGO partners and UN system partners on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices on child protection and related issues to support programme implementation, operations and delivery of results.

4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with provincial government counterparts and stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve and sustain results on child protection.
• Draft and or provide inputs for preparation of communication and information materials for program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising efforts for child protection programs.
• Participate in inter-agency meetings/events as appropriate, on programming to collaborate with partners/colleagues on joint operational planning and preparation of child protection programs/projects, ensuring integration and harmonization with UNICEF position and strategies within the UNDAF development and planning process and UNICEF's Strategic Plan.
• Provide information on potential donors in area of designation; draft and or provide inputs for preparation of resource mobilization materials/briefs for advocacy, fund raising and partnership development purposes.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Research and report on best and cutting edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• An advanced university degree (Master’s) in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.
• *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• A minimum of two 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 child protection related areas in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is 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 values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

Competencies required for this post are Builds and maintains partnerships, Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, Drive to achieve results for impact, Manages ambiguity and complexity, Thinks and acts strategically, Works collaboratively with others

View our competency framework at: Competency Framework Brochure.pdf

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.

Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply

Remarks:

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• HEC Attested Degrees are a pre-requisite for employment at UNICEF. During the recruitment process candidates will be required to present HEC attested degrees/certificates.