Corporate Volunteer Support Consultant (Drop-in Centers), 10 months (Home-based, South Africa, Giyani)

Under the supervision of the Child Protection Officer, and in close collaboration with the Communications and Partnerships team, the consultant plays a key role in the coordination of corporate volunteer engagements and events that will be held at the identified DIC in Babangu Village, Giyani. The consultant will be responsible for ensuring effective collaboration between key stakeholders (corporate donor, UNICEF and the Department of Social Development) in relation to volunteer engagement activities and onsite field support.

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. 

Child protection UNICEF South Africa

UNICEF South Africa is committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for every child.

In collaboration with the National Department of Social Development (DSD), UNICEF is providing technical and financial support to monitor and oversee implementation of the Risiha Programme. The Risiha programme is operationalised through Drop In Centres (DICs), a community-based facility that provides basic services to support the emotional, physical and social development needs of vulnerable children.

In the 2016/17 Financial Year, the National DSD conducted an audit and the audit found that from the sample of DICs audited there were gaps in:

• organisational governance;
• implementation of services and programmes; and
• compliance with national norms and standards.

UNICEF is funded by a corporate donor to ensure the operationalisation of the Risiha Programme in an identified DIC located in Babangu Village, Giyani. In addition to this, a key component of corporate volunteerism needs to be integrated and managed to enable staff to interact with the beneficiaries at the DIC. It is for this reason that UNICEF is seeking the services of a consultant to ensure active presence at the funded DIC to provide a support role relating to all volunteer activities, as well as oversight in the management of key deliverables by service providers onsite.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision of the Child Protection Officer, and in close collaboration with the Communications and Partnerships team, the consultant will play a key role in the coordination of corporate volunteer engagements and events that will be held at the identified DIC in Babangu Village, Giyani. The consultant will be responsible for ensuring effective collaboration between key stakeholders (corporate donor, UNICEF and the Department of Social Development) in relation to volunteer engagement activities and onsite field support.

The Child Protection section has a signed annual workplan to support government priorities as it pertains to community-based prevention and early intervention programmes. With the mobilisation of funds, it is becoming increasingly important to have UNICEF presence on the ground to optimise on donor engagement. With this, the consultant will support and lead in the following areas:

1. Volunteer engagement

The Volunteer Programme Coordinator will be expected to coordinate all the volunteer initiatives planned by the corporate donor. The responsibilities under this aspect include:

• Ensuring that the volunteer activities align with the needs and objectives of the beneficiaries at the DIC.
• Supporting the screening of volunteers who will have direct engagement with children in alignment with the Children’s Act, to ensure the safeguarding of children in collaboration with the Provincial DSD.
• Supporting and providing updates on upcoming opportunities and events; this includes mobilising children from the DIC to ensure their participation.

2. Documentation and reporting

Responsibilities under this aspect:

• Assist with beneficiary registration, engagement, and communication.
• Develop and maintain a record of volunteer activities undertaken, including beneficiary participation register.
• Develop reports on volunteer activities undertaken at the DIC with the inclusion of images in line with child safeguarding guidelines.
• Support with the documentation of volunteer activities by identifying strengths and areas for improvement.

3. Coordination and support

The responsibility under this aspect includes:

• Participation in on-going field visits where necessary, to support monitoring of effectiveness, efficacy, impact and sustainability of volunteer and other project activities.

4. Project planning and implementation

Beyond providing support for volunteer activities linked to the corporate donor, the consultant will also support the Child Protection Officer in planning, implementation and oversight of programme related activities at the DIC. The responsibilities under this aspect include:

• Consultation with the DIC to ensure buy-in and support for all programme related activities.
• Lead in the development of a work plan with clear project milestones to ensure activities are implemented and completed within schedule.
• Support the planning and execution of programme activities at the DIC.
• Assist in the logistical management to ensure successful implementation of event in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
• Support general administration including the scheduling of meetings, maintaining activity and attendance records, and the preparation of relevant documents in coordination with the Child Protection Officer.
• Support the coordination of meetings, workshops, and training sessions related to the programmes implemented at the DIC.
• Support in the identification of key priorities for future programme activities for consideration by engaging with the beneficiaries and ensuring that the voices of children are heard and integrated.

• A tertiary qualification in 
  • Child and Youth Development, or
  • Social Sciences: Auxiliary Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, and related fields
• A minimum of five years of professional experience in development
• Demonstrated experience in implementing child safeguarding procedures
• Experience in coordinating and organizing community-based programme activities
• The ability to communicate effectively with diverse people
• Excellent report writing skills 
• Working knowledge of databases and MS Office (especially Excel)
• Familiarity with emergency is considered an asset
• Fluency in English is required
• Knowledge of a local language is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.   

Child data role

The consultant is expected to interact with children and youth, in every-day conversations or through email or other official UNICEF channels, such as official social media accounts, and in challenging situations including moderation of comments in campaigns.

The successful candidate must have deep understanding of children’s needs or perspectives, putting the necessary child-protection measures in place and have realistic expectations of children when it comes to their participation in UNICEF and DSD content and campaigns, establishing clear boundaries, using age-appropriate language and seeking advice when needed.

Health insurance

The Consultant is fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health, and other forms of insurance covering the term of the Contract as he or she considers appropriate. The Consultant is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

Remarks:  

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.