Child Protection Specialist (MRM/PSEA), P-3, Fixed Term, Bangui, CAR #98744/ Req. 546157

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up !

For every child, an advocate

In line with UNICEF’s core commitments for children in humanitarian action, the purpose of this fixed-term assignment is to ensure that effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms of the grave violations of children rights are in place and strengthened to inform programmatic responses and advocacy.  This will include capacity building of partners on how to document and report the gross violations of human rights against children in a systematic and ethical manner. The post incumbent will also act the PSEA focal point for UNICEF CAR, thus supporting the implementation, monitoring and reporting of UNICEF CAR country Action Plan on PSEA and enhancing UNICEF and partners’ capacity to prevent and respond to SEA.

Job organizational context: The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens addressing inequity not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. Therefore, the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

CAR remains one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world, and one of the most dangerous for humanitarian workers. Conditions for children are desperate. The proportion of people in need of humanitarian aid remains among the highest in the world: one in two children requires humanitarian assistance to survive.  Civilians are constantly under threat and forced to leave their houses to find protection in IDPs camps or in host families.

The security situation remains highly volatile throughout the country with continued armed confrontations between the armed groups and government forces as well as inter-clan clashes. Efforts to implement the 2019 Khartoum peace agreement, signed between the CAR government and 14 armed groups, have been insufficient to return the country to stability and reconstruction. In the run-up to and after the general elections of 27 December 2020, armed conflict between Government forces and a coalition of armed groups in several towns of the Central African Republic (CAR) forced nearly 200,000 people – almost half of whom are children – to flee their homes. Conflict and violence have forced almost one in three Central Africans to flee either internally or to a neighboring country, with the largest number of internally displaced persons (IDP) registered since 2014. These movements of population are exposing children to increased protection risks including gross violations of their rights as stipulated in the UNSC resolutions. According to the Population Movement Commission, 713,000 people were internally displaced as of August 31, 2021 (13% more than a year earlier). More than half of the displaced population are children.

CAR remains also one of the worst countries to be a child, with all parties to the conflict continuing to commit grave violations of children’s rights.  Children are recruited and used by armed groups and forces; they are victims of sexual violence, killed and maimed as the direct results of the ongoing armed confrontations between the government and its allies and the many armed groups. The increased use of explosive ordnance, a new development in the CAR context, is creating additional protection risks for children and their families, including the risk of being killed and maimed. To exemplify, at least 29 incidents involving 39 persons (with 79 people killed including 75% civilians) were recorded by UNMAS between January and September 2021

Among other deteriorations and deprivation of children’s and women’s rights, sexual exploitation, and abuse (SEA) and gender-based violence (in particular sexual violence) rank as one of the worsts. Multiple cases of sexual abuse against children, mainly involving UN peacekeepers, international forces, UN and NGO staff have been brought to the attention of the UN and international human rights organizations, as well as being widely communicated in the media.  Rising to this challenge is a significant commitment for UNICEF and all other child-focused organizations working in CAR. UNICEF CAR is committed to taking all necessary steps to prevent and respond to SEA of children by UN/UNICEF staff and related personnel as well as ensuring systems are in place to prevent and protect children from abuse of any kind, regardless of the perpetrator. UNICEF’s commitment to addressing SEA involves institutionalizing SEA prevention and response across all programmes and offices in CAR.

Gender-based violence (GBV) is on the rise with one incident reported every hour by the humanitarian alert system, which covers only 42 per cent of the country. The impacts of the Covid-19 have increased women and girl’s vulnerability to gender-based violence due to loss of income and Covid-19 related containment measures such as the closure of schools. Between January and December 2020, UNICEF child protection partners documented and supported some 1,487 GBV cases against children. Though armed actors are often cited as the main perpetrators, rape by civilian men/community members is also frequent. Both PSEA and GBV in emergencies programming are priorities for UNICEF at global level, WCAR regional office and UNICEF CAR country office

Purpose for the position: The Child Protection Specialist reports to the Chief Child Protection for guidance and general supervision. He/She will focus on PSEA/MRM and will work in collaboration with the Child Protection Officer (NOC) in response to the high number of cases taking place in CAR. This CP Specialist will also support the broader programme to address GBV in emergencies related concerns.

How can you make a difference?

1. Support to programme/project development and planning

• Support the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the child protection programmes/projects to ensure that current and comprehensive data on child protection issues is available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy advocacy, intervention and development efforts on child rights and protection, and to set programme priorities, strategies, and design and implementation plans. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions on the planning of child protection programmes/projects. Formulate, design and prepare programme/project proposals for the sector, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s overall Strategic Plans and the Country Programme, as well as coherence and integration with the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Establish specific goals, objectives, strategies, and implementation plans for the sector using results-based planning terminology and methodology (RBM). Prepare required documentations for programme review and approval.
• Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies, and to determine national priorities and competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.

MRM-related programme planning and implementation.

• In close collaboration with the MINUSCA Child Protection Section, co-chair monthly meetings of the MRM Technical Working Group, and follow-up on recommended actions.
• On a monthly basis – ensures all the cases documented through the child protection networks and other relevant stakeholders are compiled, reviewed (ensuring the credibility, reliability and verification of all cases), finalized and inputted in the MRM Database.
• In collaboration with MINUSCA child protection section,  provide inputs to the drafting of quality and timely quarterly reports (GHN), country reports and contributions to the Secretary-General (SG) annual report to the Office of the SRSG on Children and Armed Conflict for approval by the co-lead of the MRM task force.
• Provide to the UNICEF Chief of Protection with technical, advice on the MRM in order to support UNICEF’s co-lead role of the MRM Country Task Force.
• Provide training to the relevant actors on monitoring and reporting of the gross child rights violations and relevant security council resolutions. 
• Participate as needed in field missions to verify allegations of gross child rights violations and in verification exercise of children associated with armed groups in CAR.
• Supports the preparation of the meeting of MR Country taskforce, including the development of the meeting agenda and preparation of power points presentations for the meetings.

PSEA-related programme planning and implementation

• Provide awareness-raising sessions on sexual exploitation and abuse for all staff and other personnel in the Entity on a regular basis, including for newcomers. 
• Make appropriate recommendations to management on enhancing prevention strategies.  This could include collecting and analyzing information on actual/potential risk factors for vulnerability to sexual exploitation and abuse and elaborating measures to address them.
• Facilitate, in coordination with the in-country PSEA Network, awareness-raising in local communities on their rights and supports the establishment and capacity building of community-based complaints mechanisms through which community members (including children) would raise concerns regarding SEA allegations.
• Receive complaints, reports and questions about alleged acts of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by all categories of the Entity’s personnel as well as the personnel of other entities wherever approached, including when the institutional affiliation of the alleged perpetrator(s) is unknown or uncertain.
• Drafts internal SEA reports, including the SIR and IRF, in accordance to UNICEF internal reporting protocols and information sharing procedure agreed with the PSEA Task Force.
• Ensure children victim of SEA receive timely and quality response through referral to existing support services.

GBViE related programme planning and implementation.

• Provide technical leadership and operational support to UNICEF partners in the design, planning and development of UNICEF’s GBViE programming to ensure overall efficiency and effectiveness of programmes.
• Ensure GBViE interventions are in line with UNICEF global child protection strategy and that they address both risk mitigation, prevention and response.
• Undertake safety audits in affected communities to identify GBV risks and design appropriate actions to address these risks.
• Work with UNICEF CP Programme Team as well as other programmatic sections (such as WASH, Health, Education, Nutrition, etc.) to ensure GBV is adequately integrated into programmes.

Impact of Results

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Officer to program preparation and planning and implementation of programs/ projects, contributes to achievement of sustainable results to create a protective environment for children against harm and all forms of violence and ensures their survival, development and well-being in society. Success in child protection programs and projects in turn contribute to maintaining/enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide program services for mothers and children that promotes greater social equality in the country. UNICEF has timely and reliable data on grave child violations against children and other child protection in CAR inform programming and advocacy efforts.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An Advanced University Degree in International Development, Human Rights and Psychology, Sociology, International Law or other Social Science field is required. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in social development planning and management in child protection and/other related areas at the international level some of which preferably were served in a developing country is required.
  Relevant experience in child protection and related areas, program/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset. Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.

• Fluency in French and English is required.
  Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. The competencies required for this post are:

Core Values: Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability.

Core Competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3)

• Works Collaboratively with others (3)

• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3)

• Innovates and Embraces Change (3)

• Thinks and Acts Strategically (3)

• Drives to achieve impactful results (3)

• Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)

Functional Competencies:

• Persuading and influencing (2)

• Applying technical expertise (2)

• Entrepreneurial thinking (2)

View our competency framework at: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

* Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

* Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

* The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.

* Please note that this is a non-family duty station.

Employment is conditional upon receipt of medical clearance, any clearance required, the grant of a visa, and completion of any other pre-employment criteria that UNICEF may establish. Candidates may not be further considered or offers of employment may be withdrawn if these conditions are unlikely to be met before the date for commencement of service.