UNICEF recruits 01 Child Protection Officer

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, protection

Greece, as one of the major entry points into Europe, has received over a million refugees and migrants since January 2015, 37% of them children. As of March 2019, approximately 74,350 refugees and migrants remain in the country, out of which an estimated 28,000 are children, including 3,535 unaccompanied children (UAC). The UNICEF Refugee and Migrant Response in Greece aims to provide children with a safe environment, a sense of normalcy and access to basic services as well as to foster resilience and social integration. It centres on interventions in two key areas, child protection and education, building on UNICEF expertise and added value in these sectors. 

Key Expected Results

The strategic and effective advocacy, planning and formulation of child protection programmes/projects and the achievement of sustainable results, contributes to achievement of goals and objectives to create a protective environment for children against harm and all forms of violence and ensures their survival, development and well-being in society.

Achievements in child protection programmes and projects in turn contribute to maintaining/enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide programme services for mothers and children that promotes greater social equality in the country.

Under the direct supervision of the supervisor, accountable for supporting child protection programme, planning, design, implementation and administration in accordance with UNICEF’s Refugee and Migrant Response in Greece.

How can you make a difference?

The Child Protection Officer supports the development and preparation of the Child Protection programme to increase protection for refugee and migrant children including those at risk or affected by violence, exploitation, abuse or neglect. The Officer is responsible for managing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting of progress on related protection programmes within the country response. The Officer provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes to facilitate the administration and achievement of concrete and sustainable contributions to national and international efforts to create a protective environment for children against all harm and to protect their rights to survival, development and well-being as established under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, international treaties/framework and UN intergovernmental bodies.

The Officer contributes to achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

The Child Protection Officer (NOB) reports to the Chief of Child Protection (P4) for guidance and general supervision.

Key Accountabilities and Duties and Tasks

1. Knowledge Management for Programmes

• Support the preparation/design and conduct/update of situation analysis for the child protection programmes/projects and ensure that current comprehensive and evidence based data on child protection issues are available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy advocacy, intervention and development efforts on child rights and protection and to set programme priorities, strategies, design and implementation plans. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme management, efficiency and delivery.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results:

• Support to child protection programme/project development and planning
• Participate in strategic programme discussion on the planning of child protection programmes/projects. Formulate, design and prepare programmes/projects proposal for the sector, ensuring alignment with the overall UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and coherence/integration with inter-agency programme frameworks, regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors and achievement of results as planned and allocated.
• Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies and to determine national priorities/competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.

3. Optimum Use Of Programme Funds 

• Monitor and verify the optimum/appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity and ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular/mandated programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

4. Programme Monitoring and Evaluation

• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector in child protection programmes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and other reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in programme and management, identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.

5. Technical and operational support to programme implementation:

• Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and country office partners/donors on interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices and approaches on child protection and related issues to support programme management, implementation and delivery of results.
• Arrange/coordinate availability of technical experts with Regional Office/HQ to ensure timely/appropriate support throughout the programming/projects process.
• Participate in child protection programme meetings including programme development and contingency planning discussions on emergency preparedness in the country or other locations designated to provide technical and operational information, advice and support.
• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration.

6. Networking and partnership building:

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders and global partners/allies/donors/academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results in child protection.
• Prepare communication and information materials for programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for child protection programmes and emergency interventions.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning on child protection and related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on planning and preparation of programmes/projects ensuring organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in such planning and agenda setting.

7. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building:

• Apply/introduce innovative approaches and good practice to build the capacity of partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark and implement best practices in child protection management and information systems. Assess, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.
• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to promote sustainable results in child protection and related programmes/projects.

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

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, Social Development, Social Work, Psychology, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.
• A minimum of two years of relevant professional work experience in child protection (preferably including work with refugee, migrant and asylum seeker children and other persons of concern). Relevant experience working with UNICEF or another UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in Greek and English is essential.

Additional desirable skills

• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships.
• Good interpersonal skills, and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations within a team and with multiple stakeholders.
• Proven ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to multi-task, to handle stressful situations effectively and to work well under pressure and in response to changing needs.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity.

Core competencies:

• Communication (II)
• Working with People (I)
• Drive for Results (I)

Functional Competencies:

• Applying Technical Expertise (II)
• Analyzing (II)
• Learning and Researching (II)
• Planning and Organizing (II)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Creating & Innovating (II)
• Persuading and Influencing (II)

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:

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