Social Protection Officer

Contract

This is a UNV National Expert contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Expert contracts.

In 2018 UNICEF initiated its response to the Venezuelan migration in Roraima and established an Office in Boa Vista and in 2019 an outpost in Pacaraima, border with Venezuela. The response works in coordination with the Brazilian Federal Government response, Operação Acolhida (OA). Still, migrants and refugees face challenges to access social protection, healthcare, early childhood development, education, sustainable livelihoods, and child protection services mainly due to a lack of comprehensive public policies on migratory issues that puts families and children at higher risk of not guaranteeing basic rights.

Building on its development programme to support the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in Brazil, UNICEF’s response focuses on ensuring access to essential services and programmes, strengthening the capacity of actors responsible for providing social protection, child protection, education, health/nutrition, water and sanitation services (including Government, non-governmental and community organizations), so that they are fully equipped to assist children on the move and their families. Moreover, Terra Indigena Yanomami, with most of its territory in Roraima, also endures a critical humanitarian crisis. UNICEF joined the national Emergency Operation Center of the Ministry of Health and has representatives in the local coordination groups to strengthen coordination efforts at national and local levels.

Considering both crises, UNICEF works to ensure the nexus between the humanitarian response and the development-oriented initiatives at municipal level, state and federal level, in particular (but not limited to) by the Selo UNICEF, which aims to stimulate and recognize real and positive advances in the promotion of children and adolescents' rights in municipalities of the semi-arid region and in the Amazon territory. At the federal level, UNICEF initiated a partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger, the state of Roraima and the municipal governments of Boa Vista and Paracaima aiming to provide better services and benefits for migrants and refugees by improving the inter-federative governance model for the migration response in Brazil.

Based on a situation analysis that reveals important gaps in basic services coverage for migrants and refugees, the priority is guaranteeing that migrants and refugees are registered in the Single Registry (CadÚnico), a first step to access social protection. In this sense, UNICEF is convening these actors to expand the registration capacity by creating CadÚnico stations in the triage posts (PTRIG) and implementing active search in shelters and spontaneous occupations for migrants and refugees that have not been registered in CadÚnico yet.

To ensure effective coordination and technical support to Social Protection activities in migration and Yanomami responses as well as the Humanitarian-Development nexus, UNICEF will recruit a UN Volunteer who will be based in Boa Vista.

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Social Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation and the guidance of the Chief Field Office in Roraima, the selected UN Volunteer will contribute to UNICEF’s work undertaking the following tasks:

Provide technical support to the Social Policy and Social Protection agendas in Roraima • Liaise with key stakeholders and partners at municipal, state and federal level; • Provide technical support and advice on UNICEF’s strategic engagement with federal, state and municipal social protection counterparts; • Provide technical support to advance UNICEF Social Policy and Social Protection agendas Roraima; • Constantly map out bottlenecks, barriers and opportunities to strengthen Social Policy and Social Protection in Roraima; • Report regularly and timely the ongoing initiatives and results achieved in Roraima.
Support the programmatic implementation of the Social Protection initiatives, considering the migration and Yanomami response, the Humanitarian-Development nexus: • Coordinate CadÚnico strategy in partnership Ministry of Development, Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger, the state government of Roraima and the municipal government of Boa Vista; • Provide technical support in social protection to Selo UNICEF strategy, including technical support to its implementing partner; • Strengthening the humanitarian-development nexus in Social Protection activities; • Extend technical support in particular to the Implementing Partners and to the Social Protection local Network, and actively contribute to UNICEF initiatives and to the existing coordination mechanisms of Operação Acolhida; • Support evidence generation and needs assessments related to Social Protection; • Assist in capacity building activities related to social protection and to the Humanitarian-Development nexus. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisors.

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.

Results/expected outputs:

• Improved information management and relationship between social protection field partners (municipal government, non-government organization, UN agencies, and others) and UNICEF in Boa Vista. • Quality material and knowledge products for internal and external audiences produced in a timely fashion, including for trainings. • Adequate support provided to Social Protection team. • Capacity development and technical assistance provided, when working with governmental or non-governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs), considering also the Humanitarian-Development nexus • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

• 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 mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Social Development, of which at least two years of experience in the field of Social Assistance; • Have affinity with or interest in child rights, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System; • Advanced knowledge of the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS) will be considered an asset; • Experience working with social assistance or social programmes at municipal level will be consider an asset; • Experience working with child rights, public policy analysis or/and migration will be consider an asset; • Experience with indigenous population will be an asset; • Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization will be considered an asset;

The assignment will be in Boa Vista. Boa Vista is a family duty station and classified B (hardship). Basic health services are available and most of the specialized services are offered locally. No furnished housing available. Power cuts are frequent but short.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.

Brazil is security level 3 (moderate). United Nations Department of Safety and Security UNDSS Brazil advises to exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to high levels of serious and violent crime, particularly in major cities. Violent crime as muggings, armed robbery, kidnappings, and sexual assault, is very high. Avoid shanty towns (favelas) in the big cities and if you are attacked or robbed, do not resist. Demonstrations can occur at any time and may turn violent with little or no warning. All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment in Brazil. For missions in rural areas or indigenous reservations, special procedures may apply; UN personnel should consult with the local DSS office in advance.

Roraima is a unique State and has a unique humanitarian operation. It provides an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.