UN Volunteer - Child Protection

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established by the United Nations General Assembly, is dedicated to advocating for the protection of children's rights, meeting their basic needs, and expanding their opportunities to reach their full potential. The organization operates globally, focusing on the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, ensuring that all children have equal opportunities regardless of their circumstances. UNICEF's mission is to translate the commitment to children's rights into tangible actions, emphasizing equity and sustainable national growth. In Uganda, UNICEF collaborates with the government to strengthen child protection systems and deliver quality services for child survivors and victims of violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Job Overview:
The UN Volunteer will play a crucial role in supporting the Child Protection team in Uganda, particularly in the Karamoja region. This position involves collaborating with various stakeholders to enhance child protection services and ensure effective implementation of child protection activities. The volunteer will participate in program coordination meetings, support the preparation of progress updates and reports, and contribute to the development of monitoring tools. The role also includes capacity development initiatives for the social service workforce, project proposal development, budget monitoring, and field visits to assess program impact. The volunteer will work closely with the Chief of Field Office in Moroto and the Chief of Section Child Protection in Kampala, contributing to system-strengthening initiatives that protect vulnerable children.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Actively participate in joint programme coordination meetings to ensure effective implementation of child protection activities, preparing agendas, documenting discussions, and following up on action points.
• Support the preparation and submission of high-quality progress updates and activity reports, ensuring data accuracy.
• Develop tools for monitoring and tracking progress of child protection activities.
• Assist in capacity development initiatives for the social service workforce.
• Contribute to project proposal design by analyzing relevant data.
• Monitor budgets and activity plans for compliance with UNICEF and donor requirements.
• Conduct field visits to assess implementation and impact of child protection activities.
• Develop and apply monitoring and evaluation frameworks for program effectiveness.
• Consolidate data for internal and donor reporting. 1
• Collaborate on communication materials to raise awareness and support resource mobilization. 1
• Strengthen partnerships with government entities and civil society organizations for coordinated interventions. 1
• Support research on best practices for child protection system strengthening.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates should possess a strong understanding of child protection issues and the ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders. They should demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to UNICEF's mission. The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment, and a commitment to gender equality. Strong organizational and problem-solving skills are essential, along with effective communication abilities. Flexibility and adaptability to work in potentially hazardous conditions are also required.

Educational Background:
A degree in social sciences, international development, or a related field is required. Additional training or certifications in child protection, social work, or humanitarian assistance would be advantageous.

Experience:
Candidates should have relevant experience in child protection, social services, or related fields. Experience working with vulnerable populations, particularly children, is highly desirable. Familiarity with UNICEF's policies and procedures, as well as experience in program monitoring and evaluation, will be beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory. Knowledge of local languages spoken in Uganda, particularly in the Karamoja region, would be an asset.

Additional Notes:
This position is a volunteer role with a focus on child protection in Uganda. The living conditions in the Karamoja sub-region may present challenges, including moderate to low security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security levels due to crime linked to cattle rustling. All new staff, including UN Volunteers, will undergo security briefings and receive regular updates from the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS). The role may require travel within the area of operations and a commitment to UNICEF's mission and values.