Child Protection Specialist (Gender Based Violence in Emergencies) at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (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.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Child Protection Specialist (Gender Based Violence in Emergencies)

Job No: 543853
Location: Nigeria
Contract Type: Temporary Appointment
Level: NO-3
Categories: Child Protection

How Can You Make a Difference?

• Under the overall supervision and general guidance of the Child protection Manager, the Child Protection Specialist (Gender Based Violence in Emergencies - GBViE) will work proactively to operationalize GBViE interventions within coordinated interagency efforts to respond to the North East humanitarian crisis by: providing timely and sustainable technical support on GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response to UNICEF and partners, strengthening the skills and knowledge of child protection partners to report and respond to GBV, and enhancing multi-sectoral linkages to improve coordination and referral to other services.
• The Specialist will also strengthen community actions to save survivor identification, reporting and response using the PSEA data for the GBV response.
• The staff will work in close collaboration with the SGBV cluster coordinator and with other sector partners and integrating PSEA into GBV programming. 

Tasks / Responsibilities
Provide timely and sustainable technical support on GBV Prevention, risk mitigation and response programming to UNICEF sectors and partners in the North East by:

• Assessing the technical capacity of UNICEF partners to prevent and respond to GBV and PSE
• Support trainings for UNICEF child protection and other sector partners and service providers on GBV prevention, mitigation and response and improving procedures/practices around GBV disclosures and first-line support for GBV survivors
• Support child protection sector planning processes to ensure that GBV is reflected in the child protection operational plans and tools, including PSEA integration in all sectors response actions
• Support UNICEF implementing partners to carry out sensitization activities on GBV and SEA in communities and ensure all UNICEF programmes budgeted for community sensitization, risk assessment and capacity building on PSEA
• Work with the Information Management Officer (IMO) for Child Protection to regularly update the database on GBV and SEA cases and case management of child victims’ assistance
• Conduct trainings (refresher) for all UNICEF programme section staff to integrate GBV risk mitigation and gender sensitivity in their programmes and support all UNICEF programme sections to include GBV and SEA outputs and indicators in all programme documents.

Enhance the capacity of UNICEF staff and child protection partners to report and respond to GBV in Emergencies by:

•  Together with communities, review, update or develop and implement up to date community mechanism that supports safe survivor identification, reporting and responses to GBV and PSEA
• Ensure appropriate integration of GBV and PSEA into all UNICEF sectors and PSEA reporting mechanisms
• Provide technical support and monitoring for the implementation of UNICEF Borno Office PSEA Action Plan, with a focus on UNICEF Nigeria Office.
• Strengthen UNICEF partners capacities to provide access to safe and child sensitive reporting channels, including within community-based complaint mechanisms; access to victims centered assistance.

Strengthen integration of child protection services into GBV referral network/referral pathways, in coordination with the GBV Sub-sector, CP AoR and PSEA network by:

• Ensuring that existing referral pathways includes comprehensive case management services for boys and girls up to durable solutions and that the services meet the do no harm principles
• Ensure program staff and UNICEF partners are aware of safe referral pathways and procedures, protection principles and PSEA policies.
• Support implementation of the Nigeria Country Office’s commitment to the IASC GBViE response and PSEA inter-agency initiatives, including providing technical guidance in-country PSEA Networks in the North East.

Strengthen GBViE programming in all operational sites in the North East for efficient and effective delivery of services to affected populations by:

• Contributing to resource mobilization activities, draft reports, project proposals, drafting of advocacy materials and other relevant documents as required.
• In coordination with the GBV officer (Maiduguri), ensure that child victims of SEA access assistance and support Immediately refer victims to appropriate service providers so that they receive the medical, psycho-social, legal and material support they may need
• Support the establishment of girls/adolescent safe spaces in camps. communities and schools to provide dignified, enabling, and protective environments for adolescent girls.
• Consistently review the GBV referral pathways in UNICEF supported programme sites including schools and ensure the pathways and service directories are in use to provide professional assistance to GBV/SEA survivors aligned to IASC GBV guidelines and UN Victim Assistance framework.
• Work with partner NGOs and relevant government ministries to carry out child-friendly awareness activities for community stakeholders and community members including children and adolescents in schools to increase awareness on CP/GBV/SEA related topics and promote access to services to respond to incidents of GBV/SEA.
• Conduct and facilitate structured GBV safety audits and risk assessments in UNICEF programme locations and schools, health and WASH facilities and work with partners and communities to address identified concerns.

To Qualify as an Advocate for Every Child You Will Have

• An Advanced University Degree in Social Sciences, Social Work, Political Science, Law or a relevant field from a recognized university is required.
• A First University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience will be accepted in lieu of an  Advanced University Degree.
• Five years of relevant professional work experience in emergency settings with focus on children’s and women’s rights and violence prevention and response, particularly in gender-based violence in emergencies; and on child protection is required. 
• Knowledge of current GBViE and PSEA developments and activities at UNCT and HCT level and its partners is required. 
• Proven success in developing and facilitating training and capacity-building activities on PSEA and GBViE is required. 
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills and an ability to conduct face-to face and remote learning events is required. 
• Experience in community engagement and development of community-based complaints and feedback mechanisms is required. 
• Fluency in written and spoken English and working knowledge of the local languages (Hausa and Kanuri) is required.
• Experience of implementing support/reintegration programmes for girls and women associated with armed groups/victims of conflict related sexual violence is desirable. 
• Experience of working with community structures and/or religious groups and leaders is desirable. 

For every Child, you Demonstrate

• UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).
• The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...
  • Builds and maintains partnerships (I)
  • Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (II)
  • Innovates and embraces change (II)
  • Drive to achieve results for impact (II)
  • Manges ambiguity and complexity (I)
  • Thinks and acts strategically (I)
  • Works collaboratively with others (II).

Application Closing Date
5th October, 2021; W. Central Africa Standard Time.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Remarks

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• To view our competency framework, please visit here.
• Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.
• 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 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.