Senior Child Protection Specialist – UASC-CM (P-5), FT, PG Child Protection, Outposted in Brussels – Belgium, # 00042115

The Senior Child Protection (CP) Specialist, Unaccompanied and Separated Children/Case Management (UASC/CM) supports delivery of UNICEF results related to prevention of family separation and response to the needs of UASC in humanitarian situations, as well as delivery of child protection case management for children at risk, for the Child Protection in Humanitarian (CPHA) Unit within the Child Protection Programme Team (CPPT).

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

 For every child, … a better life,

The Senior Child Protection (CP) Specialist, Unaccompanied and Separated Children/Case Management (UASC/CM) supports delivery of UNICEF results related to prevention of family separation and response to the needs of UASC in humanitarian situations, as well as delivery of child protection case management for children at risk, for the Child Protection in Humanitarian (CPHA) Unit within the Child Protection Programme Team (CPPT).

How can you make a difference?

The Senior CP Specialist, (UASC/CM) reports to the Senior Adviser, CPHA for general guidance and direction. The Senior CP Specialist, (UASC/CM) is responsible for managing and leading child protection programmes/projects on UASC & CP case management at HQ level, from strategic planning and formulation to achieving concrete and sustainable contributions to UNICEF’s global efforts to create a protective environment for children against all harm and to protect their rights to protection from all forms of violence, exploitation, abuse, and harmful practices as established under UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, international treaties/frameworks and UN intergovernmental bodies.

The Senior CP Specialist, (UASC/CM) is responsible for leading and managing the UASC/CM workstreams establishing the plans of action to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable programme/project results, according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

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

Strategic leadership

• Ensure a clear vision and implementation plan for UASC and Child Protection Case Management programming globally for UNICEF, in line with the Strategic Plan and Child Protection Strategy, with support of relevant teams. Anticipate evolution of the UASC agenda and humanitarian situations to position UNICEF to prevent and respond to family separation and other protection risks in emergencies and through the humanitarian development peace nexus. This includes designing and delivering strategic leadership on UASC for the Child Protection sector beyond UNICEF, galvanizing political will, a skilled workforce, and resources to deliver results for children in emergencies while strengthening systems.
• Lead strategic global engagement with UNHCR and IOM as it pertains to child protection in refugee, mixed-migration and IDP contexts respectively, in line with the UNHCR UNICEF Strategic Collaboration Framework, and the IOM UNICEF Strategic Dialogue.

Technical leadership

• Provide technical assistance and coordination in UASC/CM programming and strategy development in all humanitarian situations, including L3/L2/L1 in line with CEAP.
• Coordinate and develop the availability of technical experts (with Regional and Country Offices) to ensure timely support throughout all stages of programming/project processes in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations.
• Lead the development of global policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.
• Provide technical leadership in the Strategic Plan planning, implementation and monitoring, including the results framework and Corporate Standard Indicators reporting, related to UASC/CM.

Managerial leadership

• Establish and deliver the CHPA’s annual work plan results related to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations with the child protection programme team; set priorities/targets and performance measurements. Monitor work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.
• Mobilise resources and ensure their effective management and utilization in line with UNICEF regulations and donor agreements, in pursuit of the Strategic Plan and the unit work plans, including support to country offices as possible in line with their response plans and accountabilities.

Advocacy, Networking and partnership building

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through networking and advocacy with Member States, UN system agency partners, donors, internationally recognized institutions, NGOs, funding organizations, research institutes and private sector to reinforce cooperation and/or pursue opportunities to promote goals and achieve sustainable and results in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations.
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in inter-agency discussions and planning on child protection and related issues to ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered planning and agenda setting, including the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action and its UASC Task Force. Support COs to collaborate with inter-agency partners/ colleagues on UNSDCF planning and preparation of programmes/ projects including emergency preparedness.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable child protection programme/project initiatives in relation to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations, through advocacy and technical advisory services. Institutionalize and disseminate best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the generation of evidence through research, evaluations, and implementation science to advance technical excellence of programmes and policy. Lead the planning and updating of the situation analysis to ensure that current and comprehensive data on issues related to UASC/CPCM in humanitarian situations is 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.

The following minimum requirements:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.    
• At least ten years of professional experience in program planning and management related to child protection, preferably at an international level, additionally program planning and management within child protection in a UN agency or organization is essential, with experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is required.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience on issues related to unaccompanied and separated children and / or mixed migration is required. Experience on child protection case management an asset
• Demonstrated experience with coordination and handling of interagency engagement and partnerships at a global level a significant advantage.
• Fluency in English and French is required. Working knowledge of another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish) is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

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

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

 This post is subject to PBR approval

Detailed JD will be provided to candidates who will be called for interiews