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 from early childhood through adolescence. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development, fostering a culture of belonging and growth. UNICEF employs a large workforce dedicated to its mission, providing an attractive compensation and benefits package to its staff.

Job Overview:
The Child Protection Specialist position is critical within UNICEF, reporting directly to the Chief of Child Protection. This role involves providing strategic leadership and technical oversight for all protection and safeguarding initiatives, particularly focusing on online safety. The Specialist is responsible for ensuring that adolescent and youth protection principles are integrated across all workstreams, maintaining coherence, compliance, and quality assurance in program delivery. The position requires collaboration across various sections, including Innovation and Education, to advance the agenda against violence towards children. The Specialist will engage in program/project development, monitoring, and evaluation, ensuring that UNICEF's policies and strategies align with national priorities and international frameworks.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties of the Child Protection Specialist include supporting program and project development by preparing and updating situation analyses related to violence against children. The Specialist will contribute to strategic discussions and develop proposals that align with UNICEF's strategic plans and national priorities. Responsibilities also encompass program management, where the Specialist will establish monitoring benchmarks and indicators for interventions, participate in evaluations, and actively monitor programs through field visits. The role requires providing technical guidance to partners, drafting policy papers, and building partnerships with various stakeholders to enhance responses to violence against children. Additionally, the Specialist will apply innovative approaches to build capacity among partners and stakeholders, ensuring sustainable results in child protection initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's level or equivalent) in fields such as International Development, Sociology, Human Rights, Psychology, law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">International Law, or Social Sciences. A minimum of five years of professional experience in child protection, humanitarian assistance, program management, or related fields is required. Skills in program management and partnership management are essential, along with a strong understanding of context knowledge and analysis. Fluency in English is mandatory, while knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree at the Master's level or equivalent in relevant disciplines such as International Development, Sociology, Human Rights, Psychology, International Law, or Social Sciences. This educational foundation is crucial for understanding the complexities of child protection and the various factors influencing children's rights and welfare.

Experience:
The position requires at least five years of professional experience in areas closely related to child protection, including but not limited to humanitarian assistance, program management, violence prevention, online safety, and safeguarding. Candidates should have a proven track record in monitoring and evaluation, partnership management, and policy advocacy, particularly in contexts that involve emergency preparedness and capacity building.

Languages:
Fluency in English is a mandatory requirement for this position. Additionally, knowledge of another official UN language such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish, or a local language, is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's application.

Additional Notes:
This position is a fixed-term role within UNICEF, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding and child protection. The organization promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce, encouraging applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, nationality, or background. UNICEF offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid parental leave and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. The recruitment process includes rigorous background checks, and candidates must comply with medical clearance and vaccination requirements as mandated by UNICEF. The organization does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and is committed to maintaining high standards of integrity and accountability.