Child Protection Officer, Beijing, China, #128304 [Temporary Appointment for 364 days]

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, protection

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, 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.

UNICEF in China promotes policies and laws to foster children’s rights. We have been working with the Government of China and other partners to ensure that the benefits of the country’s development reach the most vulnerable children and their families. In partnership with the Government, and in alignment with the national priorities, UNICEF invests in actions that directly and indirectly impact the wellbeing and resilience of girls and boys, youth, caregivers and communities.

Through policy influence and advocacy, evidence generation, and implementation of pilots aimed at establishing scalable solutions, UNICEF China’s child protection programme embraced key strategic shifts and has a focus on strengthening child protection systems through preventive and responsive interventions to address abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence against children, particularly in rural/remote communities.

How can you make a difference?

The Child Protection Officer will a member of the Child Protection Section of UNICEF China. Under the supervision/guidance of the Child Protection Specialist, the officer will provide professional technical assistance and support for designing, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the child protection programs and projects.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

1. Technical and operational support to programme development and planning

• Research and analyze national political, social and economic development trends. Specifically, research and analyze documents and evidence on child protection systems. Collect, analyze, verify, and synthesize information to facilitate programme development, design and preparation.

2. Technical and operational support to programme implementation, monitoring and delivery of results.

• Guide the formulation and implementation of workplan deliverables, and in particular support the overall project management and coordination of the Integrated Child Protection Model Project. This will involve working closely and collaboratively with colleagues in Child Protection Section, partners at national and subnational levels, and technical institutes to prepare programme work plans, formulate structure and delivery mechanism, propose correction to the design of the programme or contents, develop practical tools and learning materials.
• Monitor and report on the use of programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verifying compliance with approved allocation, goals, organizational rules, regulations, procedures, donor commitments, and standards of accountability and integrity.
• Conduct technical evaluation to assess the relevance and effectiveness of the programme interventions, including providing technical guidance to review monitoring tools; assessing the routine data collection pathways; building the capacity of critical stakeholders and technical staff in implementing the M&E framework; and convening and facilitate meetings on M&E within the scope of the project team and the implementing partners, to ensure the process and deliverables outlined above are regularly  discussed, validated and approved by stakeholders.

3. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve and sustain results on education programmes.
• Draft communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and alliances, and support fund raising for education programmes.
• Participate in appropriate inter-agency (UNCT) meetings and events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners on UNDAF operational planning and preparation of education programmes/projects and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with the UNDAF development and planning process.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.

4. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Contribute to identifying, capturing, synthesizing, and sharing lessons learned for knowledge development and capacity development of stakeholders.
• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practice to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Research and report on best and cutting edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

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

The following minimum requirements:

• Education: A university degree in one of the following fields: social development programme planning, human rights, social work, psychology, sociology, law, or another relevant social science field. Postgraduate study is desirable.

• Experience:

• A minimum of one year of direct experience in child protection programming is required.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation of child protection programme interventions is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical, writing, communication, teamwork, time management and coordination skills.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in Chinese and English (spoken and written) is required.

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…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

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:

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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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. 

CO/ HQ specific: visa residence requirements: i.e.: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.