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 fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF employs a passionate workforce dedicated to creating a protective environment for children and ensuring their well-being. The organization values diversity and inclusion, welcoming individuals from various backgrounds to contribute to its mission.

Job Overview:
The Child Protection Specialist plays a crucial role in supporting the development and preparation of Child Protection Programmes. This position involves strengthening the Government’s capacity to reform legislative, regulatory, and budgetary frameworks related to child protection. The Specialist provides strategic guidance and oversight on various child protection initiatives, including diversion and restorative justice, child-friendly legal aid, and combating child labour. The role requires technical guidance and management support throughout programming processes, ensuring that UNICEF's strategic plans and accountability frameworks are met. The Specialist is expected to contribute to national and international efforts to create a protective environment for children, aligning with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international frameworks.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support programme/project development and planning by preparing and updating situation analyses for child protection programmes, ensuring comprehensive data is available for strategic policy advocacy and intervention.
• Engage in strategic discussions for planning child protection initiatives, formulating proposals that align with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and national priorities.
• Manage and monitor programme delivery, establishing performance indicators and benchmarks to assess accountability and results.
• Provide technical guidance to government counterparts and partners on UNICEF policies and best practices in child protection.
• Build partnerships with government, NGOs, and academia to enhance cooperation and achieve sustainable results in child protection.
• Innovate and implement capacity-building initiatives to enhance stakeholder competencies in child protection.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university law degree and have a minimum of five years of professional experience in social development planning and management, specifically in child protection and access to justice programming. Experience in policy advocacy and legislative reform in child protection is highly desirable. Familiarity with managing child protection projects within the EU Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) framework is also considered an asset. Relevant experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is advantageous.

Educational Background:
An advanced university law degree is required for this position, emphasizing the importance of legal knowledge in child protection and related areas.

Experience:
A minimum of five years of professional experience is required, focusing on social development planning and management in child protection, particularly in access to justice and justice for children programming. Candidates with experience in policy advocacy and legislative reform work in child protection will be preferred.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Turkish is mandatory. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve international recruitment. UNICEF offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid parental leave and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. The organization adheres to a zero-tolerance policy regarding misconduct and is committed to safeguarding the rights of children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous background checks, and appointments are subject to medical clearance and visa requirements.