Child Protection Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them realize their potential from early childhood through adolescence. The organization is committed to providing diverse professional and personal development opportunities to its employees, fostering a culture of inclusion and diversity, and offering attractive compensation and benefits. UNICEF's core values include care, respect, integrity, trust, accountability, and sustainability, which guide all actions and operations.

Job Overview:
The Child Protection Specialist will be based in Bangui and will have responsibilities that include monitoring and analyzing grave violations against children, implementing strategies for the prevention and reintegration of children associated with armed forces and groups, providing technical support for high-level visits, and coordinating inter-agency efforts. The role requires a strong focus on ensuring that children released from armed groups receive effective reintegration support and that all actions are community-based and inclusive. The specialist will also be responsible for drafting proposals and reports to donors to ensure funding and sustainability of protection and reintegration programs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Monitor and analyze grave violations against children, ensuring the collection and analysis of information related to these violations in conflict situations, in collaboration with the MRM and national task forces.
• Finalize and implement strategies and action plans aimed at preventing and reintegrating children associated with armed forces and groups, ensuring a sustainable and community-based approach.
• Provide technical support for high-level visits by preparing necessary documents and information notes.
• Support the functioning of the national task force, providing ongoing training to UNICEF staff and partners on MRM and management of children associated with armed forces and groups.
• Implement and monitor action plans with armed groups to end grave violations against children.
• Strengthen coordination between monitoring violations and programmatic responses to ensure effective reintegration of released children.
• Contribute to the preparation of proposals, concept notes, and donor reports to secure funding for protection and reintegration programs.

Required Qualifications:
Minimum requirements include a higher university degree in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">international law, or a relevant social sciences field. Candidates should have at least 5 years of experience in child protection or related SBC/Education programs in conflict situations, as well as prior experience in human rights and child rights monitoring and reporting. Advanced technical knowledge of MRM and strong analytical and communication skills are essential. Familiarity with international human rights law and humanitarian law is highly desirable, along with experience in developing programs related to child protection within UN agencies or organizations.

Educational Background:
A higher university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or any other relevant social sciences field.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in child protection or in SBC/Education programs related to explosive risk education in armed conflict situations or managing children associated with armed forces and groups. Previous experience in human rights and/or monitoring and reporting on child rights is essential. Experience working in a developing country is considered an asset, as is relevant experience in program development in child protection within a UN agency or organization.

Languages:
Fluency in French and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language of the duty station is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The position is temporary and may involve international recruitment. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages applications from qualified candidates regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic origin, or disability status. The organization offers various benefits, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. All candidates selected will undergo a rigorous background check, and UNICEF maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding behaviors incompatible with the aims and objectives of the UN and UNICEF.