Associate Child Protection Officer

Deadline for ApplicationsOctober 28, 2025

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)B

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate TypeIUNV International

Target Start Date2025-11-01

Terms of ReferenceGeneral
Assignment title: Associate Child Protection Officer

UN Host Entity: UNHCR
Country of assignment: UGANDA
Duty station: Kampala
Security UNDSS Level: Country-2(low), Duty Station (Central SRM area - 3/Moderate)

Volunteer category: International UN Specialist Volunteer
Duration: 6 months
Extension under donor funds not possible
Expected starting date: 1 November 2025
Sustainable Development Goal: Choose an item.

Details
Organization mission and objectives
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. UNHCR’s mandate under the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is to lead and co-ordinate action for international protection to refugees; seek permanent solutions for the problems of refugees and safeguard refugee rights and well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate concerning issues of statelessness, as it is given a designated role under Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Preventing, identifying, and responding to fraud and corruption in the context of protection processes is integral to the management of UNHCR’s operations; all of UNHCR’s protection functions must be implemented with efficiency, integrity, and transparency. Effective prevention and response to fraud enhances UNHCR’s ability to execute its mandated responsibilities, ensuring confidence by persons of concern, donors, and host and resettlement states.

As of 30 June 2025, Uganda hosts 1,913,153 refugees, predominantly from South Sudan (52.8%) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (32.7%). Most (92%) of the refugees live in settlements while 8% live in Kampala. Secondary cities and other rural areas also host refugee households (HHs)1. Among the registered population women and girls make up 51%, while women and children together constitute 78% of the total refugee population. Children represent 52% of the total refugee population, with adolescents aged 12-17 comprising 17%. The youth population between the ages of 15-24 represents 25%, while the elderly population constitutes only 3% of the total refugee population.2

Assignment context

Uganda operations is the largest refugee operations in Africa and ranks third globally: https://data.unhcr.org/en/country/uga .
UNHCR Uganda has made significant progress in strengthening child protection systems through the implementation of the Best Interests Procedure (BIP), capacity-building efforts, and community-based protection initiatives. The operation has established strong collaboration with national structures to deliver protection services for children at heightened risk, particularly unaccompanied and separated children.
In January 2024, UNHCR and partners launched the second phase of a joint initiative aimed at advancing new ways of working across humanitarian and development agendas. This initiative places strong emphasis on strengthening national and local systems, promoting the inclusion of refugees within host communities, and ensuring protection and prosperity for both populations. Refugee protection remains a central pillar of this approach.
The Government of Uganda (GoU) has demonstrated strong commitment to the inclusion of refugees in national protection systems, with a focus on making child protection (CP) and gender-based violence (GBV) frameworks inclusive and services universally accessible. The current strategic direction of UNHCR and partners aligns closely with these national priorities and complements ongoing efforts to build sustainable, locally led protection systems.

Task description
• Provide technical guidance to partners and national actors on child protection standards, ethical case management, and safeguarding.
• Support context-specific assessments of national and NGO/RLO capacity and willingness to absorb BIP responsibilities.
• Capacity Building: Facilitate training and mentorship for NGO/RLO partners to strengthen their ability to manage BIP cases and uphold minimum safeguarding standards.
• Promote integration of child protection into broader national systems and community-based mechanisms.
• Ensure that BIP is focused on children at heightened risk, including unaccompanied and separated children.
• Support with the identification of cases that must remain under UNHCR’s direct responsibility due to protection risks and support responsible case closure where necessary.
• Strengthen community-based child protection structures and promote prevention-focused approaches.
• Support transparent communication with communities regarding changes in services, referral pathways, and available support.

Under the direct supervision of Snr Community-Based Protection Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

[Hosting UN Entities are encouraged to apply a tandem approach between International UN Volunteers and National UN Volunteers to maximize the impact of activities wherever feasible.
Assignments for International UN Volunteers should be able to be carried out regardless of the arrangements (i.e. with or without NUNV, it needs to be designed so the tasks can be implemented independently).
Assignments for National UN Volunteers should be designed as a tandem approach with another, international UN Volunteer assignment.]

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
Requirements
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Law; Political Science;
International Affairs; Social Sciences; or other relevant field.
Minimum experience: 3-5 years in developing country with some understanding of international displacement.
Skills and experience description

• Essential
At least 1 year of progressively responsible experience in the field of protection of children, broader protection or social work involving children and youth, with knowledge of issues relating to child protection, education, gender, humanitarian and development issues, and GBV prevention and response. Applied experience in child protection prevention and response. Demonstrated knowledge of and implementation of multi-sectorial child protection prevention and response programming. Knowledge of protection in forced displacement settings and knowledge and demonstrated use of UNHCR and Interagency child protection tools and guidance. Skills and experience in interviewing and working with children and families including on case management of at-risk children.

• Desirable
The ideal candidate is a dedicated professional with at least 2–3 years of relevant experience in child protection, preferably in humanitarian or displacement settings. Preferred qualifications include prior experience with the Best Interests Procedure (BIP) and supporting national child protection systems. The candidate should have strong knowledge of child protection standards, safeguarding, and ethical case management, along with experience in community engagement, capacity-building, and data protection. Familiarity with case management systems such as proGres is an asset. The candidate should demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and a commitment to advancing child rights through inclusive, community-based approaches.

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Other informationNAThis position doesn't require a functional clearance

RemoteNo