child protection Officer

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)H (no hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate TypeCONS Local

Target Start Date2024-05-01

Job Posting End DateFebruary 15, 2024

Terms of ReferenceTerms of Reference for Individual Contracts

1. General Background of Project or Assignment:

The Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) identifies “the appropriate economic, social and cultural inclusion of refugees” as a local solution pending a durable solution becoming available; and commits states and relevant stakeholders to “contribute resources and expertise, including technical guidance on legal and institutional frameworks that foster the peaceful and productive inclusion of refugees and the well-being of local communities”. This overall ambition of inclusion is consistent with the Sustainable Development Goal commitment to ‘leave no one behind’, to which UNHCR has committed to contribute. UNHCR in general and the Division of International Protection in particular is increasingly focused on the inclusion of refugees within national protection systems. UNHCR Strategic Directions 2022-2026 include a focus on engagement with development actors, which is aimed at strengthening the inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless people in national systems and services.
The Child Protection Unit (CPU) sits within the Field Protection Service, Division of International Protection at headquarters and provides technical support and guidance to field operations across humanitarian and refugee operations through developing policy, guidelines, and tools, facilitating learning and development events, coordinate and work with colleagues and partners to enhance the prevention, mitigation, and response strategies to protect children of concerns as well as strengthening youth engagement. Strengthening inclusion of refugee children within national child protection systems is a key priority of the CPU. The Child Protection Unit works closely with other Units within DIP on inclusion and protection, including the Gender-Based Violence Unit, the Community-based Protection Unit, and the Development Mainstreaming Unit, as well with Regional Bureau and the Division of Resilience and Solutions.

UNHCR has a long history of working on strengthening inclusion of refugee children in national child protection systems. This work generated two key publications at the regional level: a mapping of child protection systems in refugee-affected contexts: Bridging the Humanitarian-Development Divide for Refugee Children in Eastern Africa and the Great Lakes Region; and a synthesis of learning from efforts to strengthen inclusion: Inclusion of Refugee Children in National Child Protection Systems: Guidance for Practitioners in East Africa. At the global level, a mapping tool was finalised and disseminated which enables the assessment of the capacity, appropriateness and accessibility of national child protection and refugee protection systems for refugee and asylum-seeking children and an indicator for inclusion was finalised in 2023. The current consultancy will build upon this previous work to advance inclusion of refugee children in national child protection systems. It will also expand to focus on inclusion in national child protection and GBV systems, as well as on strengthening localisation of protection case management, building on the update of the Guide to Protection Case Management taking place in 2023-24 in collaboration with NRC and IRC.

In addition UNHCR’s work on inclusion is anchored in UNHCR’s 2022-2026 Strategic Directions and UNHCR’s 2023-2026 Focus Area Strategic Plan on Mainstreaming Development Engagement From the Outset which includes the Child Protection Inclusion Indicator. In 2023, UNHCR has also released an Interim Guidance on Inclusion for which operational tools will be developed in 2024. Furthermore, DIP is leading on the development of training materials on protection for development partners as well as training materials on development engagement for UNHCR protection staff.

2. Occupational Safety and Health Considerations
To view occupational safety and health considerations for specific duty stations, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
Specific Occupational Safety and Health Considerations to this assignment (if applicable):

3. Overall Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

The consultancy will be managed overall by the Child Protection Unit in the Division of International Protection (DIP) UNHCR, Geneva. The management of each of the specific components are outlined below.

1. Inception phase

The consultant will review the previous documentation from the 2023 consultancy on child protection systems strengthening, conduct planning meetings with UNHCR CPU, GBV Unit, CBP Unit and Development mainstreaming Unit, as well as a joint meeting between UNHCR CPU and UNICEF and will then produce a workplan for the consultancy with specific timings. The consultant will convene an inception workshop with UNHCR staff to agree on the workplan. The consultant will also liaise with UNHCR Regional Bureaux and Country Offices as appropriate to identify priority countries for technical support. The consultant will in the workplan identify opportunities for synergies between the different streams of work.

2. Field support on child protection and inclusion

The consultant will continue to provide technical support to UNHCR and UNICEF regional Bureaux and field operations on inclusion of refugee children in national child protection systems. The consultant will provide remote and/or in country field support. This will include follow-up with countries with Prospects countries to ensure child protection is appropriately integrated into planning and implementation of prospects programming (see below also). It will also include follow-up and technical support to UNHCR offices and authorities to implement child protection pledges made at the GRF to strengthen inclusion. Technical support will be adapted to the needs of regional Bureaux and country operations but may include documenting experiences and provide ongoing follow-up, support in mapping inclusion in national systems using the tool, and/or transitioning from humanitarian programming to inclusion in the field of child protection. In addition, three field missions are planned to support inclusion – to be selected in the inception phase above. Wherever appropriate, integrated field support will be provided on child protection, GBV and localisation of protection case management (see below).

The field support will also include rolling out the child protection inclusion indicator in at least 5 operations including in countries receiving Prospects funding. The consultant will work with the Child Protection Unit and the Global Data Service and DSPR to integrate training on the inclusion indicator in global capacity building for child protection indicators, and in collaboration with GDS will ensure visualisation of the indicator, dissemination and use of this indicator as part of UNHCR’s overall work on inclusion. The consultant will also provide support on UNHCR’s work on child protection indicators in Prospects planning as needed.

3. Global learning on child protection and protection inclusion

The consultant will continue to implement learning on inclusion in national child protection systems, and support learning on other areas of protection as needed. The virtual learning series on child protection and inclusion will be repeated and expanded and opened to UNHCR, UNICEF, partners and authorities. This virtual learning series consists of least 5 virtual learning sessions on inclusion and child protection. In addition, at least 1 webinar will be held on inclusion into national GBV protection systems and 1 webinar on localisation of national protection case management.

The consultant will also support learning for national authorities on inclusion and child protection – the precise format of this learning will be determined in the inception phase, but if funding is confirmed from Prospects, will include at least 1 study visit. The consultant will also coordinate the global level work on inclusion and child protection with UNICEF including Prospects funded activities, and will engage with other actors including the World Bank, IFC and ILO on these issues as appropriate.

Furthermore and under the overall supervision of Marije van Kempen, Senior Policy Officer in the Development Mainstreaming Unit, the consultant will support the integration of learning on inclusion in child protection, GBV and/or protection case management systems within UNHCR’s overall work on development. This will include contributing to DIPs work on protection and inclusion, as well as contributing to global initiatives to implement the High Commissioners Global Strategic Priority on Development. This will include providing technical inputs into the DIP Protection Dividends Report to document the results and process of inclusion in protection systems. The consultant will focus on strengthening an integrated approach to inclusion in justice, social welfare and civil registration systems. The consultant will also document at least one good practice on inclusion (either as video, written documentation etc) and produce an updated ppt package on inclusion. They will also ensure that UNHCR COP page on Development and Inclusion is maintained and updated.

4. Global Advocacy

The consultant will support the ongoing global advocacy on inclusion into national child protection, GBV and protection case management systems. The consultant will strategically connect to, create synergies with, and integrate the child protection, GBV and protection case management inclusion work into UNHCR’s broader policies, training materials and approaches on inclusion and development engagement that are currently being worked on and piloted in operations and at the global level including in Prospects funded projects. The consultant will also provide expertise and inputs on protection to these policies and materials, including based on lessons learned in this work. The consultant will support the development of practical tools/materials on inclusion in and the strengthening of national protection systems, leveraging the resources and expertise of development actors. The consultant will also ensure that relevant materials are adequately stored on the protection-development sharepoint and community of practice.

In addition, the consultant will support follow-up to the GRF pledges as they relate to inclusion in national child protection systems, as noted above.

5. GBV

The consultant will work with UNHCR and GBV partners to advance inclusion in national GBV systems. The specific focus of this stream of work will be finalized during the inception period above but will include: technical guidance development (including adaptation of existing tools) and technical support to UNHCR country operations including prospects countries on inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers in national GBV systems, fundraising for this stream of work, developing joint products or guidance with partners and integrating GBV inclusion into UNHCR’s global tools on inclusion and, where feasible, in global guidance of other key stakeholders. This stream of work will be supervised by Constanze Quosh from the GBV Unit.

6. Localisation of protection case management

The consultant will develop guidance on the localization of protection case management, including child protection and GBV case management, and a basic orientation package to introduce this guidance to Bureaux, operations and partners (see webinar above). This guidance will outline how to transition from predominately internationally provided case management to local case management – including by authorities, civil society and/or refugee led organisations. The consultant will review existing guidance and good practices on this area and identify partners who have expertise and/or relevant initiatives in this area. The consultant will develop guidance for UNHCR on when and how protection case management can be transitioned, including case studies and support fundraising for this stream of work as appropriate – note the specific format of this guidance will be determined and may include guidance, a toolbox and/or summary of good practices. The consultant will work closely with UNHCR colleagues working on localization, including in relation with women- and refugee-led organisations. This stream of work will be supervised by Ricardo Pla Cordero from the CBP Unit.

4. Required level, qualifications and work experience:

Level of responsibilities required (mark as appropriate) for individual contractors and fellows:

Senior Level Support

OR

1 The assignment is for an Individual Consultant

Qualification and experience required (degree required, years of work experience, field of expertise, language required):

- advanced degree (PhD or Masters) in social sciences, anthropology, sociology, international/community development studies, law or a related field.
- 10 or more years of experience in humanitarian programming including field experience
- Field experience in child protection in refugee settings essential with either UNHCR and UNICEF, experience working with both UNHCR and UNICEF is an asset
- Demonstrated expertise in child protection, GBV and refugee protection
- Expertise and experience in inclusion and development, including national protection systems
- Excellent drafting skills: with ability to write with clarity, high level of analysis, and conciseness; Experience in writing practical, reader-friendly guidance is an asset
- Experience in presenting analysis of results through visualisations;
- Demonstrated organisational skills: the ability to work independently and productively in a fast-paced environment;
- Flexible work attitude: the ability to work productively, independently, and to handle requests or issues as they arise;
- Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies and able to work effectively with partners; and
- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

5. Monitoring and Progress Controls (report requirements, periodicity, format, deadlines):

a. The final product (e.g. survey completed, data collected, workshop conducted, research documents produced specify): See deliverables below
b. Work on the basis of time employed: Yes 0 No 1

c. If it is to result in a written product specify:
i. Number of pages: 15-30
ii. Language(s): English
iii. Number of copies: 1

The final product: See deliverable five below

Delivery periodicity: See below.

31 May 2024 Deliverable One

• Inception workplan with timeline
• Conceptualization of GBV inclusion opportunities, way forward including time line in Prospects (Support Opportunity Fund proposal preparation and beyond) and review of tools (i.e. technical note and mapping tool) that can be adapted for GBV

30 June 2024 Deliverable Two

• Report on:

a) technical support provided to regional Bureuax and field operations on child protection, GBV and localization of protection case management ;
b) progress on implementation of the child protection global component of prospects funding;
c) support to monitoring and reporting of prospects including indicator rollout

30 Sept 2024 Deliverable Three

• Child Protection inclusion indicator visualization for five operations
• Technical inputs on Protection Dividends through Humanitarian-Development Cooperation
• Review of existing GBV indicators and identify/develop inclusion-specific indicators and brief guidance for use.

30 November 2024 Deliverable Four

• Child protection learning series materials including videos, ppts updated on UNHCR CP Community of practice
• First draft of guidance on localization of protection case management and basic orientation package.

31 January 2025 Deliverable Five

• Final report including: field support provided to operations relevant to CP, good practices on GBV inclusion and localization of protection case management; progress on implementation of Prospects MAGRP CP interventions; summary note on opportunities or available information on operation’s progress on strengthening inclusion in national GBV systems; fundraising efforts; final version of guidance on localization of protection case management services and basic awareness raising package.

Standard Job Description

Child Protection Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
UNHCR is committed to the effective protection to children of concern, with children representing more than half of the persons falling under its mandate. UNHCR adopts a rights and community-based approach to address the protection needs of children, with a strong emphasis on inclusion within national child protection, child friendly procedures and working with other sectors to protect children including education. Child protection is recognized as global organizational priority for UNHCR. Dedicated child protection positions are needed to provide technical support to improve UNHCR's operational capacity to deliver effective protection to children, adolescents and youth of concern.
The Child Protection Officer is a member of the protection team in a Country or Sub-Office. S/he may report to a Senior Child Protection Officer, Senior (Community-Based) Protection Officer, Head of Sub-Office or to the Assistant Representative for Protection. In smaller Offices, the post may report directly to the Representative. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for child protection staff. S/he provides functional child protection oversight to information management and programme staff. The incumbent works directly with communities and children of concern to identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect themselves, their families and communities. The incumbent also acts as an advisor to senior management in designing a child protection strategy that fits within the broader Protection and Solutions Strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with persons of concern, including children, adolescents and youth. The incumbent plans and undertakes quality, timely and effective child protection responses in line with UNHCR's Framework for Child Protection, in an age, gender and diversity inclusive manner.
The Child Protection Officer will maintain a close working relationship with the Bureau and the Division of International Protection for system-wide coherence.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
Needs Identification, Strategy and Advocacy
- Support timely assessment, monitoring, reporting of child protection issues including through multi-sectoral and protection specific assessments and monitoring including the meaningful participation of children, adolescents and youth and lead the analysis of child protection related findings.
- Monitor the implementation of UNHCR's Child Protection strategy within the overall Protection and Solutions strategy.
- Ensure compliance with UNHCR's child protection policy, priorities and commitments, as well as other aligned policies on age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP), GBV, gender equality, disability and youth empowerment.
- In collaboration with partners, assess the capacity of national child protection system and services, work towards the inclusion of children of concern into national child protection laws, policies and services and build the capacity of the national child protection system to provide quality support to children of concern.
- Oversee child protection data and evidence collection, analysis and dissemination within UNHCR and partners.
- Support the participation of children, adolescents and youth of concern to inform protection and assistance programming, support their engagement in protection solutions and ensure that UNHCR meets its commitments to accountability to children, adolescents and youth of concern.
- Ensure that existing protection monitoring mechanisms adequately capture protection risks facing children, adolescents and youth.
- Support evidence-based advocacy with UNHCR senior management, authorities and other actors on child protection.

Programme planning and implementation
- Design and monitor the implementation of UNHCR's child protection programme, including multi-sectoral activities to address the protection needs of children of concern.
- Establish/enhance and oversee Best Interests Procedures for children at risk including referral systems, follow-up and monitoring in line with UNHCR Best Interests Procedures Guidelines.
- Establish/update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for child protection services in collaboration with partners.
- Ensure UNHCR and partners' child protection information management systems are functioning in accordance with UNHCR's Policy and procedure as well as interagency data sharing protocols and standards.
- Strengthen community-based child protection programmes and approaches in collaboration with communities and community-based protection colleagues.
- In collaboration with UNHCR colleagues, ensure that UNHCR procedures, including registration, refugee status determination, solutions and accountability mechanisms are child-friendly and are in line with AGD approach.
- Provide technical support to UNHCR colleagues to effectively mainstream child protection in UNHCR's overall response.
- Monitor and refine child protection programs implemented by UNHCR and partners.
- Support the integration of child protection in the operation's planning, reporting, communication and fund raising.
- Provide functional guidance to UNHCR and partner staff involved in child protection activities.
- Advise UNHCR programme and senior management to ensure that the necessary human and financial resources are allocated to protect children of concern.

Partnership and coordination
- Establish and/or strengthen partnerships for Child Protection with community-based, local, national, and international organizations, with a focus on ensuring continuity and sustainability.
- Establish, strengthen and where appropriate lead Child Protection coordination mechanisms, within the broader protection working group/cluster and in consultation with the Senior Protection Officer or Head of Office.
- Represent UNHCR's position and priorities in relation to child protection in inter-agency fora.
- Contribute to interagency monitoring and reporting on child protection issues and programmes.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
- In collaboration with partners, assess learning needs on child protection for UNHCR teams, partners and government counterparts.
- Develop and implement child protection capacity development plan and activities for UNHCR staff and partners, supports relevant interagency capacity building and integrates child protection within broader UNHCR capacity building plans and initiatives.
- Provide child protection technical guidance to UNHCR and partner staff in protection, education, health and other relevant sectors.
- Introduce innovative approaches, document and disseminate lessons learnt and good practices in child protection and apply relevant knowledge on effective child protection programming to the operation/region.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
International Law, Human Rights, International Development, International Relations, Anthropology, Social Work,
Political Science Social Science or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
At least 4 years 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, knowledge and demonstrated use of UNHCR and Interagency child protection tools and guidance. Strong experience in interacting with and building partnerships and synergies with UN agencies, NGOs and civil society organizations. Skills and experience in interviewing and working with children and families and supervising staff on case management of at risk children.

Desirable
Knowledge of the international legal and policy framework governing refugees, asylum seekers and returnees and IDPs. Demonstrated knowledge of community communication and engagement approaches including community-based child protection. Extensive experience in working with children, adolescents and youth and participatory child friendly approaches. Demonstrated coordination and consensus building skills to manage multiple stakeholder consultation processes. Experience managing child protection case management programmes, including implementation of best interests procedures. Demonstrated understanding of critical issues around child protection data and knowledge of safe and ethical data collection analysis and conducting assessments. Experience using ProGres, CPIMS or other protection data management systems. Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of position and/or interagency child protection learning programme. Demonstrated knowledge of engagement with child protection Interagency humanitarian architecture, experience in interagency coordination and strong skills in working with partners

Functional Skills
*PR-Child Protection Prevention and Response Programming
IT-Computer Literacy
DM-Data Management
CO-Drafting and Documentation
TR-Training - Virtual and face to face
PR-Child Protection Case Management and Best Interests Procedures
PR-Child Protection Information Management System
CO-Cross-cultural communication
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate)
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Required Languages

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Desired Languages

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Additional Qualifications

SkillsCL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, CO-Cross-cultural communication, CO-Drafting and Documentation, DM-Data Management, IT-Computer Literacy, PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate), PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Child Protection Case Management and Best Interests Procedures, PR-Child Protection Information Management System, PR-Child Protection Prevention and Response Programming, TR-Training - Virtual and face to face

EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): Anthropology, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Human Rights, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Development, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Work

Certifications

Work Experience

Other informationCost Center 95508: 40,000 USD
Cost Center 96143: 55,040 USD + 9,000 USD TravelThis position doesn't require a functional clearance

Home-BasedYes